The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments
1 Corinthians 2:15
This verse unveils the difference between spiritual discernment and human reasoning. The apostle speaks from a place of divine revelation, demonstrating that the Holy Spirit transforms the way believers perceive, think, and act.
The Spirit-filled person does not view life through the lens of human wisdom. Instead, the Spirit opens the heart to perceive truth as God reveals it. The believer who walks in the Spirit evaluates all things by divine light. Paul does not describe a harsh critic but a discerning soul who measures life by God’s truth rather than by emotion or intellect. Spiritual discernment empowers the believer to recognise what pleases God, to test motives, and to walk wisely amid a world filled with deception.
In 1 John 2:27, the author writes that the anointing believers receive teaches them all things. The Spirit becomes an inward teacher who leads into truth. The world may prize cleverness and intellect, but the Spirit grants insight that transcends human understanding. The spiritual person hears what others cannot hear and perceives what natural eyes cannot see. This is why Paul contrasts human wisdom with the wisdom that the Spirit reveals earlier in 1 Corinthians 2.
Paul continues by saying that the person with the Spirit “is not subject to merely human judgments.” This means that the world cannot rightly evaluate those who live by divine direction. Human minds cannot interpret spiritual motives. When people rely on natural perception, they misread the actions of those led by God. Jesus experienced this misunderstanding throughout His ministry. The Pharisees judged Him by outward standards, but He acted from perfect unity with the Father. In John 3:8, Jesus compares those born of the Spirit to the wind, saying that no one can predict or control its movement. In the same way, an ordinary man cannot explain the life of someone led by the Holy Spirit.
Paul’s message harmonises with the wisdom of Romans 8:5-6. Those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on what the Spirit desires. The Spirit governs their thoughts, shapes their choices, and fills their hearts with peace. The writer of Proverbs captures this same principle: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5). Trust replaces self-reliance. Spiritual people live by faith rather than calculation. They depend on revelation rather than mere reason.
The person with the Spirit must, however, exercise discernment with humility. Spiritual judgment never fuels pride or harshness. It flows from compassion and alignment with God’s will. The Spirit leads believers to act wisely, love deeply, and walk righteously. Paul reminds the Galatians that those who live by the Spirit must keep in step with the Spirit. True discernment always produces harmony with God’s character.
Paul’s statement in 1 Corinthians 2:15 remains timeless. Spiritual discernment lifts believers above confusion and anchors them in truth. The world may question or misjudge those who follow the Spirit, but divine wisdom shields them from error. The Spirit grants believers the mind of Christ, and that mind sees beyond what the natural world can grasp.
When believers surrender to the Holy Spirit, they begin to judge all things with clarity and peace. They no longer depend on human approval because divine truth defines their worth. The Spirit-filled life moves with quiet confidence, guided not by noise or opinion but by revelation. The person who walks in the Spirit stands firm, sees clearly, and lives freely under the wisdom of God.
Living It Out
Invite the Holy Spirit to shape your thoughts and guide your steps each day. Pause before reacting and ask, “Lord, what is true here?” As you yield to His wisdom, your vision clears and your choices align with His will. Walk daily in discernment, peace, and the mind of Christ.