John Calvin Commentary John 7:24

"Judge not according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment." — John 7:24 (ASV)

Judge not according to the appearance. Having concluded his defense, he also rebukes them because they are carried away by wicked dispositions and do not form a judgment according to the facts and the matter at hand.

Circumcision was rightly revered by them; and when it was performed on the Sabbath day, they knew that the Law was not violated by it, because the works of God harmonize well with each other. Why do they not reach the same conclusion concerning the work of Christ, if not because their minds are preoccupied by a prejudice they have formed against his person?

Judgment, therefore, will never be right, unless it is regulated by the truth of the matter; for as soon as people appear in public, others focus their attention on them, so that the truth immediately vanishes. While this warning should be observed in all matters and affairs, it is especially necessary when the question concerns heavenly doctrine; for there is nothing to which we are more prone than to disliking that doctrine because of hatred or contempt for people.