Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The knowledge of good and evil is the ability to know, determine, execute, and experience judgement. This is the human conscience (15). However, human knowledge and conscience are usually distorted by something else obtained from Adam, the driving force to avoid good (aka sin). Sin damages and distorted the conscience.
The knowledge of good and evil has side effects. The ability to judge can be good when it is focused on reviewing my motives and thoughts before God with a desire to change and be changed. The ability to judge is not good when I focused my judgement on someone else. Judging others is a side effect of the conscience.
When I pass judgement on others I pass judgement on myself for I do the same thing (1). I may say, “I never murdered. Therefore, I am right in the judgement of others.” Yet Jesus taught whoever is angry and hates is guilty of murder (Matt 5:22). So I cannot and should not judge a murderer.
I may say, “I never committed adultery. Therefore, I am right in the judgement of others.” Yet, Jesus said that anyone who looks at another with lust has committed adultery in the heart (Matt. 5:28). So I cannot and should not judge an adulterous.
Jesus’s point is that sin is born in and comes out of the heart (3, 12). I cannot judge others because every sin possible resides as a seed in my heart.
Because the seed of all sin is in the heart the Law was given. The Law is consciousness in written form (14, 15). Written words do not change. Therefore, the written consciousness, the Law acts as a judge (12, 13).
A good conscience will live by the Law (7). The Law kept perfectly, never been broken in heart or thought will be rewarded (7, 13). Break one law and the laws will condemn (8, 12).
Recognizing these truths of the nature of human existence is the beginning of wisdom. Fear is the beginning of wisdom. Accepting these verses as the definition of my nature is the beginning of wisdom. The end of wisdom is love and forgiveness.