Therefore from now on we recognize no man according to the flesh; . . 2 Corinthians 5:16

According To The Flesh – How do you look at life? How do you evaluate the actions of others? Forget that nonsense about “not judging.” We know judgment concerning the final outcome of every human being belongs to God. He is the Judge of all mankind and we have no place in that arena. But we are still asked to discern good from evil, right from wrong and righteousness from unrighteousness. How else would be we able to join together as one Body in spirit and in truth? So, Sha’ul’s exhortation to no longer view men “according to the flesh” is an essential element of spiritual maturity. The question is really pretty simple: what do you look for in another human being?

Rabbi Sha’ul doesn’t leave us guessing. He uses the phrase kata sarka in other letters to describe what he means. You will find it in Romans 1:3, 4:1, 8:4, 8:5, 8:13, 9:3 and 9:5; 1 Corinthians 1:26; 2 Corinthians 10:2 and 3, and 11:18; Galatians 4:23 and 29; Ephesians 6:5 and Colossians 3:22. There are no Greek occurrences in the LXX.

So, what do we find when we look? Sha’ul uses the phrase in two distinct ways. The first is an idiom for ordinary human connection. Yeshua came in bodily form as an ethnic Jew “according to the flesh.” Slaves are to serve their masters who have an ownership relationship over them “according to the flesh.” In instances like this, “flesh” describes some bodily relationship between human beings. It carries no moral or spiritual implication.

But in the second sense of the phrase, Sha’ul contrasts two different paradigms. “According to the flesh” is the paradigm that views the world in terms of human goals, achievements and processes. It stands in opposition to the way of the Spirit which views the world from God’s point of view. “According to the flesh” is the equivalent of “conformed to the systems of this world.” If I evaluate a man according to the flesh, I will measure him by the world’s standards. Is he noble? Is he powerful? Is he wealthy? Is he worthy? Is he charismatic? Is he beautiful? Is he inspiring? Is he acceptable? Sha’ul proclaims that we who follow the Way will no longer accept any of these measures of value. We refuse to use the systems of the world to determine what is good and what isn’t in any man.

What happens when we leave these measures behind? Suddenly, some things that seemed so vitally important no longer matter. Prestige, wealth, power, perfection, beauty, charm, success are all inadequate measures. What matters, what really matters, is seeking after God, being a delight to Him and a blessing to others. We recall the end of Ecclesiastes. We could apply a simple little guide: If you leave it behind at the grave, then it wasn’t really that important, was it?

What would happen to your relationships if you refused to measure others “according to the flesh?” Would your desperate love and hope for their relationship with God grow as the other false measures slipped away? Would you put your efforts into relationship building for eternity rather than systems accumulation now? Would you be excited about your new glasses and the new focus they bring?

Think of it this way: we all know Sha’ul’s exhortation about walking according to the Spirit. Now, can you convert all those qualities of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5) into tangible behaviors so you can see the hands and feet of Yeshua? That’s the way we should be measuring others – and ourselves.

Topical Index: according to the flesh, kata sarka, 2 Corinthians 5:16