Render True and Peaceable Judgment in Your Gates, and Love No False Oath, Says the Lord Almighty (Zech. 8:16–17)

“Gates”: these are the gates of the soul, through which various thoughts and impressions enter into her.

“Your”: these gates alone truly belong to man.

“Judge”: the judge who sits at the gates and pronounces judgment is our mind:[1] it examines and scrutinizes thoughts and impressions as they come to the gates of the soul, in order to admit into the temple of the soul those that ought to be there, and to bar those that ought not.

“Judge true and peaceful judgment at your gates”: the mind, the judge sitting and pronouncing judgment at the gates of the soul, must, in its examination of thoughts and impressions, admit only those that are true. A true thought, a true impression—that is, one flowing from the Lord, who alone is “the Truth”—brings with it into the soul an inexpressible peace and stillness; by this it is recognized as coming from the Truth, from Christ, who gives His disciples peace, or (what is the same thing) humility, so that their hearts may not be troubled by any earthly affliction. By contrast: “thoughts that proceed from demons,” says the Great Barsanuphius, “are filled with agitation and grief from the very outset, and secretly and subtly draw the mind after them. The enemies clothe themselves in sheep’s clothing—that is, they suggest thoughts that appear right, but inwardly are ‘ravening wolves’ (Mt 7:15), that is, they snatch away and ‘deceive the hearts of the innocent’ (Rom 16:18) with what seems good but is in reality harmful.[2] Scripture says of the serpent that he is the most cunning: therefore continually watch his head (Gen 3:1, 15), lest he find a hole in you and, dwelling there, work devastation. The head of the serpent is the beginning of his thought or imagination.”

“Love not false oaths”. A demonic thought, approaching the gates of the soul, seeks to assume the appearance of righteousness and brings to the mind—the judge sitting and pronouncing judgment at the gates—countless justifications, in order to gain entry into the soul. But these false assurances, this false oath, the Prophet forbids us to love. We must not only refuse to receive such thoughts and agree with them, but must not even parley with them;[3] rather, at the very first appearance of a sinful thought, we must immediately flee with prayer to the Lord God, that He may drive the enemy away from the gates of the soul. Amen.