“Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.”
My Notes
What Does Philippians 2:4 Mean?
Paul commands a radical shift in attention: "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." The word "look" (skopeō) means to fix your gaze on, to give careful attention to, to make your focus. The command redirects your default attention—which naturally fixes on your own interests—toward the interests of others.
The word "also" is crucial: Paul isn't saying ignore your own interests entirely. He's saying add others' interests to your field of vision. The natural human gaze is self-focused. Paul expands it to include others. Self-interest isn't eliminated. It's supplemented. The revolution isn't in what you stop looking at. It's in what you start looking at.
The context is the mind of Christ (verse 5): Paul is describing what it looks like to think the way Jesus thinks. Jesus' attention was consistently directed toward others' needs, not His own comfort. The command to look at others' things isn't a generic moral principle. It's an imitation of Christ—the one who, being in the form of God, emptied Himself for the sake of others (verses 6-8).
Reflection Questions
- 1.When you scan the room, what do you see first—your needs or others'? How would adding others' interests change your daily attention?
- 2.The command isn't 'ignore yourself'—it's 'also look at others.' Where have you been so self-focused that others' needs are invisible?
- 3.If this command imitates Christ—who gave up divine prerogatives for your sake—what are you willing to give up for someone else?
- 4.Whose 'things' do you need to start looking at this week—whose needs, circumstances, or struggles deserve your attention?
Devotional
"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others." Redirect your attention. Your natural gaze is fixed on yourself—your problems, your needs, your goals, your comfort. Paul says: keep looking at those things. But also start looking at theirs.
The word 'also' saves this command from being superhuman. Paul isn't saying forget yourself entirely—he's saying expand your vision. Your own things still matter. But they can't be the only things you see. The needs of the person next to you deserve your attention too. Not instead of your own. In addition to.
The context makes the command deeper than general niceness: Paul is describing the mind of Christ. Jesus looked at others' things—specifically, He looked at your need for salvation and gave up His own divine prerogatives to address it. The command to look at others' interests isn't a social courtesy. It's an imitation of the one who looked at your desperate condition and said: I'll give up My form of God to become a servant. For them.
What are you looking at? When you scan the room—literally or figuratively—do you see your own needs first and stop there? Or do you see the needs of others alongside your own? The woman next to you at church. The colleague who seems fine but isn't. The friend whose silence means something. Paul says: look. Actually look. Not just at your own things. At theirs.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Look, not every man on his own things,.... Not but that a man should take care of his worldly affairs, and look well…
Look not every man on his own things - That is, be not selfish. Do not let your care and attention be wholly absorbed by…
Look not every man on his own things - Do nothing through self-interest in the things of God; nor arrogate to yourselves…
The apostle proceeds in this chapter where he left off in the last, with further exhortations to Christian duties. He…
Look Better, with documentary evidence, looking. "Look … on" becomes in R.V. "look … to," a change not greatly needed.…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture