Pope Shenouda III speaks in this lecture about the concept of judgment as mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount, explaining that the Lord Christ did not intend to cancel discernment between good and evil, but warned against the spirit of condemnation that is based on rushing to judge people, despising them, or exposing them.

Pope Shenouda III explains that there is a kind of judgment that is not sinful, and may even be a duty, such as condemning wrongdoing by those who have authority and responsibility like the father, the priest, the judge, or the Church in confronting heresies and doctrinal deviations, provided that this judgment is done with knowledge, love, and humility.

He also explains that a person may judge an action as wrong, but has no right to judge a person’s heart, intentions, or destiny, because God alone knows the hearts, circumstances, and hidden things.

He also discusses the difference between spiritual rebuke and sinful condemnation. Acceptable rebuke is done with love and compassion and aims at reform, not humiliation, exposure, or revenge. Therefore, the Holy Bible instructed that correction should first be between the person and his brother privately and with a calm spirit.

Pope Shenouda III also speaks about the different forms of condemnation, such as condemnation in thought when a person internally occupies himself with the faults of others, or condemnation by the tongue through gossip, slander, defamation, and contempt, as well as condemnation by listening when a person enjoys hearing the faults of others and encourages those who speak about them.

He also confirms that condemnation harms the person himself before harming others, because it causes him to lose grace and leads him to pride and harshness, and may allow him to fall into other sins because of the departure of God’s help from him.

He also warns against justifying wrongdoing or reversing spiritual standards, because Christianity calls for mercy without considering evil as good or wrongdoing as right. Truth must remain clear without injustice or cruelty.

At the end of the lecture, Pope Shenouda III calls the person to guard his heart, tongue, and ears from the spirit of condemnation, and to occupy himself with repentance for his personal sins instead of following the faults of others, because judgment belongs to God alone, while man is called to love, mercy, and humility.

For better translation support, please contact the center.