Rebelling Against Public Opinion

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4 For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one's praise will come from God.

The Criminal mind is at war with those public laws because the criminal heart wants to live beneath them. The compromise of public morality is still too demanding for that person. The Christian lives at war with public opinion because they want to live above it.

This is ultimately where Paul is in our passage. He is not belittling the force of public opinion because it places to high a demand upon his life and ministry but because its demands are imperfect and so ultimately unfit to set the standard for his life and ministry.