Quotes of the Day for July 11, 2025 – Thoughts on why we should not judge others
- Michael Haldas
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
“Our evaluations of others are quite incomplete and subjective; we not only can’t look into their souls, but often know nothing about them. Christ didn’t condemn obvious sinners—neither fornicators, nor adulterers, because He knew these people’s earthly paths weren’t over yet and they could still move to the path of amendment and virtue. Only the judgment after death draws the final line on everything a man has done in his life. We see how a man sins, but we don’t know how he repents…Very often, the Lord allows us to fall into precisely the same sins for which we condemned others.” (Archpriest Pavel Gumerov)
“Let me share a spiritual law with you: whatever you judge will happen to you. Try not to judge because you don’t want it to happen to you. This law exists because God wants us to understand that while our brother may be weak, it doesn’t mean he isn’t trying. He might not even realize what he’s doing wrong. We are not in God’s position to judge. God will be his judge, and He alone can save him.” (Bishop Emilianos)
“The main thing that is required of every person-- do not judge anyone. It seems simple, but begin to fulfill it and it seems difficult. The enemy violently attacks a person and suggests thoughts of judging. The Lord says, "Forgive," while the enemy suggests, "Take vengeance on the offender. He's reviling you, you revile him." You should not listen to the enemy, but must struggle against him.” (St. Barsanuphius of Optina)
“It is the height of folly that we condemn others for doing what we ourselves have done. Criticizing, blaming, and accusing others is a sure sign that we have stored our sins away in a forgotten chamber of our minds, and banished the thought of God’s righteous judgment. We have chased our sensibility to sin and punishment away by thinking that God is longsuffering, or that our sins are not “that bad,” or that the Almighty has canceled His Word of judgment against them…Paul repeats a clear and undisputable Word of scripture: “God… will render to each one according to His deeds” (Matthew 2:6). The Lord himself said the same: “For the Son of Man will come in the glory and His Father with His angels and then He will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:27).” (Fr. Basil)
“Christ’s teaching [Luke 12:47-48] says that judgement is personal, not everyone will be held to the same standard. There is no one-size-fits-all morality or spirituality. To whom much is given, much will be required of them; to those whom less is given, less will be expected. These teachings should discourage us from looking around to compare ourselves with others…Rather than removing judgment from all humanity as universalists suppose, Christ’s victory over death makes Him the sole judge of all humanity (John 5:22; Rom. 14:4). No one but Christ exercises judgment over human persons, including the devil and his demons. They no longer have any claim. Christ is the Lord and so the judge of all.” (Fr. Ted Bobosh, Fr. Stephen De Young)