The sin of judgment (and as a consequence: contempt, humiliation, treating a person as filth, scum, nothingness) is heavier than any other sin, so much so that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself said: “Hypocrite, first remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly (with a merciful, simple, bright eye of love-mercy-humility) to remove the speck (splinter) from your brother’s eye” (see Luke 6:42); and the sin of the neighbor (any: murder, pedophilia, homosexuality, fornication… judgment (we know how to judge those who judge, for judging – this is complete madness!)) He likened to a speck (splinter), and judgment – to a plank. (The sin of judgment is heavier than any sin, because the one who judges will inevitably fall (if he does not repent) into the same sin for which he judged-despised his neighbor (by the spiritual law: in what you judge someone, you will stay in that), or into an even heavier sin (that is, sins the same as the one he judged, but to that same sin in which he judged his neighbor, he adds the sin of judgment-despise-hypocrisy-deceit, for which alone (without other sins) great woe is pronounced on the person (see Matt. 23). The neighbor sinned, and the one who judged, besides sinning with the same sin, also added the sin of deceit-hypocrisy-madness-blindness!). Judgment surpasses any other sin. There is nothing heavier, nothing worse than the judgment (which is always followed by: contempt, humiliation, disgust, considering a person as nothing, treating them as filth, scum, uncleanness) of a neighbor. Nothing so angers God, nothing so exposes a person and leads to God-forsakenness, nothing so distances a person from God, as judgment, slander, contempt, humiliation of neighbors (and every neighbor, especially one “of the least of these” – is Christ – see Matt. 25). “Bear one another’s burdens!” “Love covers a multitude of sins!”.
Judgment always follows a trial. Therefore, not to judge, you need not to judge (anyone and anything, about anyone and anything)! Do not even participate in the trial. (“Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked (judges who judge everyone and everything), and does not stand in the path of sinners (cunning hypocrites who judge people, claiming that they are “not like other people”)” (see Ps. 1)). And if you cannot avoid judging (not being present at the trial, where they judge), avoid the trial (leave this assembly, action), passing judgments (about someone, something), then be there in the role of an advocate (peacemaker)!
Do not judge! And to not judge – do not judge, do not stick your nose where it is not asked! Did the person do good or bad, not good? – do not judge people or their actions (if it is not your service). Discern (be conscious) constantly, but do not judge anyone or anything, be a judge of nothing and no one, but only an advocate (defender-comforter), if you cannot avoid participation in the trial! Judging about something and someone (he killed, he stole, he betrayed…) – this is not yet judgment (he is a murderer, fornicator, scoundrel, criminal, etc.). But the one (sinner) who judges (hastens to judge) will inevitably fall into judgment! Discernment (awareness of reality, seeing everything and everyone in the light of Truth, Love-Mercy) – is the greatest virtue. Without discernment, there is no virtue
. (Discernment – the greatest virtue, and judgment – the greatest sin! Be vigilant, how dangerous is the path you walk!). But to discern (be a peacemaker, bring true peace in love-mercy) and to judge and condemn – these are indications of different realities-actions-states (although they have a common root-essence – “judge, judgment”). To discern (to arbitrate) – is to reconcile, to unite (in truth and good, in love-mercy) the opposing sides; to condemn – is to divide, to reject, to separate… Fear to judge, be vigilant about yourself, judge yourself, not your neighbors, condemn yourself to hell, not your neighbors (for whom the Lord Jesus Christ died, to save, to free them from hell and death). And if you do not judge-condemn your neighbors, then no one will judge and condemn you! Be vigilant not to judge anyone and be discerning at all times!
The letter kills, but the spirit, the essence gives life! Do not judge by appearance,
“do not judge by face, but by heart” (Gregory Skovoroda). And only God sees the heart! And you believe in the person (the image of God). Who has seen his neighbor, has seen his God! (My neighbor is my brother, my God!). This is how saints see people, being in the Holy Spirit.
“My joy” – St. Seraphim of Sarov said to every person. But the foolish and blind hypocrites with cunning eyes “see” only evil (“nonexistent,” fleeting), but they do not see good, they do not see the providence of God. And in every person – whom God immeasurably loves – there is so much good that the evil with which the human being is sick, is like a drop of water (= evil) compared to the ocean (= good). But the foolish and blind do not see good. The “cunning eye” cannot see good, it perceives everything as evil, sees everything as evil. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God and the image of God in every person. Therefore, do not judge, do not condemn, but have mercy, pity, love – and you will never go wrong, for every person needs mercy. It is necessary to constantly be vigilant so that our eye is always simple, sincere, merciful, and not to forget that behind the visible (obvious), transient, behind the form, the letter stands the invisible: the essence, the spirit, the person, the immutable, the eternal…