Outward appearance

Outward appearance can reveal the truth

Spiritually

Matthew 7:16–20 AV 1873

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

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Emotionally

Proverbs 15:13 AV 1873

A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: But by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

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Outward appearance can be deceptive

Matthew 23:25–28 AV 1873

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

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While people may judge by outward appearance, God does not

People take note of outward appearance

John 7:23–24 AV 1873

If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

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God looks at the heart

1 Samuel 16:6–7 AV 1873

And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him. But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

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The folly of boasting in outward appearance

Luke 20:45–47 AV 1873

Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples, Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts; which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

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What is unseen is more important than outward appearance

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 AV 1873

For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

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Beautiful physical appearance

Examples of the problems and opportunities caused by beautiful outward appearance

Sarah’s beauty led to Abraham’s folly; Joseph’s handsome appearance led to his being tempted by Potiphar’s wife; ; ; ; Bathsheba’s beauty tempted David; ; ; Esther’s beauty was an opportunity for God.

The cultivation of inner beauty encouraged

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