The Danger of Regarding Others After the Flesh: A Lesson in Faith and Submission (Part 1).

As we step into this new year, the word of the Lord is clear: 

“Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer.” (2 Corinthians 5:16 NKJV). This scripture holds a powerful truth for our spiritual journey, the need to see beyond the surface and recognize the greater work God is doing in others, even if it doesn’t always fit our expectations or understanding. 

It’s a call to shift our perspectives and stop evaluating people based on worldly standards or their past history, and to focus on God’s potential in their lives.

The Pitfall of “Fleshly” Comparisons

In our walk of faith, one of the most subtle traps we can fall into is the tendency to compare ourselves and others according to the flesh; that is, by what we can see, understand, or judge with our own limited human perspective. We find this same error in the lives of Miriam and Aaron in the Old Testament. 

Do you remember when Miriam and Aaron, the sister and brother of Moses, began to criticize Moses for marrying a Cushite woman? They started comparing themselves to Moses, questioning his leadership, and even implying that they too were worthy of the same kind of divine authority and favor. The Bible tells us that, “Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married; for he had married an Ethiopian woman. So they said, ‘Has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?'” (Numbers 12:1-2 NKJV).

But what happened next? God heard them! He responded with divine authority, rebuking Miriam and Aaron for challenging His appointed leader. “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream. Not so with My servant Moses; he is faithful in all My house. I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings…” (Numbers 12:6-8 NKJV).

God had given Moses a unique level of access and authority, and Miriam and Aaron had no right to compare themselves to him. They failed to see Moses as God saw him — set apart and chosen for a specific purpose.

The Sons of Korah: A Similar Mistake

Then there’s the story of the sons of Korah. These men, along with others, were part of the Levites who felt they were also entitled to the high positions of leadership that Moses and Aaron held. They too tried to make comparisons based on fleshly standards, saying, “Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” (Numbers 16:3 NKJV). But they failed to understand that the access and anointing Moses and Aaron had were not based on their own merits or birthrights. It was God’s sovereign choice.

The sons of Korah were, in fact, questioning God’s authority. They failed to recognize the unique access Moses had to God, and because of this rebellion, they faced dire consequences. The earth literally opened up to swallow them whole (Numbers 16:31-33). Their sin was rooted in a failure to recognize the divine anointing and authority that had been placed on Moses’ life.

The People of Nazareth: Missing Jesus’ Authority

Let’s fast forward to the New Testament. Even Jesus, the Son of God, faced the same issue of being regarded after the flesh. The Bible tells us in Matthew 13:54-57 (NKJV) that when Jesus returned to His hometown of Nazareth, the people were amazed at His wisdom and the miracles He performed. They were astounded by His words and works, but instead of embracing Him as the Messiah, they took offense. 

“Is this not the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? Where then did this Man get all these things?”* (Matthew 13:55-56 NKJV)

They couldn’t get past the fact that He was “just Jesus,” the carpenter’s son — someone they had known all their lives. Their familiarity with His earthly origins prevented them from recognizing His divine authority. As a result, Jesus did not perform many miracles there because of their unbelief (Matthew 13:58).

This is a powerful example for us today. How often do we fail to recognize the grace of God working through people simply because we are too familiar with them? Do we sometimes reject the very vessel God is using, simply because we know their past or their natural identity?

The Jealousy That Blocks Grace

The people of Nazareth were offended not because of what Jesus was doing, but because they were jealous and too proud to submit to the authority He carried. After all, why would someone they knew — a carpenter’s son, someone from their own hometown — have the audacity to speak and act with such authority? Rather than rejoicing in the miracles and wisdom Jesus brought, they were offended.

And this is where the challenge lies for us: 

Do we also struggle with submitting to the grace upon the lives of others?

Are we quick to dismiss people because of what we perceive in the flesh — their background, their age, their status? Or do we celebrate what God is doing in their lives, acknowledging His power and grace even when it comes through unexpected vessels?

When We Regard Others After the Flesh, We Miss the Move of God

The bottom line is this: when we regard others according to the flesh, we limit our ability to receive from them, and we miss the divine flow of grace that God is releasing through them. Just like the people of Nazareth, we can become so focused on a person’s natural identity, their background, or their history, that we fail to recognize the powerful work God is doing in them.

But here’s the good news: God’s grace is often most evident in the most unlikely people, the ones who have been overlooked by society or rejected by others. And if we can stop regarding others according to the flesh — if we can look beyond the surface and see the heart of God in those around us — we will find ourselves in the midst of some incredible breakthroughs.

What Changed for Me: Learning to See Beyond the Flesh

If I’m honest, I’ve struggled with this. I’ve had moments where I saw someone’s past, their mistakes, or their current circumstances, and I judged them based on that. But over time, I’ve learned that God sees differently. His perspective is always higher, and His anointing often comes upon the least likely of people. I had to let go of my judgment and pride and start looking at people through the lens of faith — seeing them as God sees them.

What I’ve learned is this: when we stop measuring people by their earthly past or present circumstances, we open the door for God to move powerfully in our lives. His grace can flow freely, and we can begin to see miracles, healings, and breakthroughs in places where we least expect them. 

A New Perspective for a New Year

As we continue through this year, let’s take to heart the instruction from 2 Corinthians 5:16. Let’s challenge ourselves to regard no one according to the flesh — to stop limiting our view of others based on what we see with our natural eyes. Instead, let’s choose to see people through the eyes of faith, recognizing the grace and anointing that God has placed on their lives.

You might be surprised at how God will move through the very people you least expect. Don’t miss the opportunity to receive the blessings and lessons that God is bringing your way, just because you’ve made a decision to regard someone according to the flesh. 

Now, I’ll leave you with a question: 

Are you ready to stop looking at the natural, and start seeing the supernatural potential in those around you? Because if you do, you’re about to experience a whole new level of breakthrough and blessing!