If anyone hears my words and does not observe them, he has condemned himself.Why would Jesus make such a remark? Why would Jesus think that he is condemning the world? Something must have been going on. People must have been talking, and their talks must have been bordering on Jesus condemning them. We only have to recall an earlier statement by a section of Jesus’ followers to have an idea of what might have been going on: “This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?” (cf. John 6:60). To the people, the proposals put forth by Jesus appeared insurmountable. Jesus was claiming to have come to bring them life eternal, but the conditions that came with it were just preposterous: loving enemies, turning the other cheek, not judging and condemning, sharing one’s blessings with the less fortunate and so on. Because what Jesus was asking of them appeared out of this world, the fullness of life that Jesus was claiming to have brought them appeared out of their reach. Such a frustration might have come across as a condemnation. However, they failed to realize that on a closer look, all that Jesus was asking of them is to simply live their lives as human persons. The commands of Jesus were already things that were expected of them as people created in the image and likeness of God, that is, as creatures gifted with intelligence. Loving, showing kindness, helping those in need, treating people fairly, being good to those whom one encounters are simply human values. They only become Christian when practiced by followers of Jesus. 
When we fail to live these human values, problems begin to emerge. When we fail to love, show kindness, or help those in need, then we begin living in fear. This is the condemnation that Jesus refers to. It is our failure to live our human calling that lowers the value of our lives and puts obstacles between us and eternal life.