James Expounds on Faith Volume 46

 The Warning Against Worldliness Part 8

James 4:11-12 Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? KJV Note: NKJV=New King James Version

In an earthly family 👪, there is often times conflict, callousness, and corrupting behavior between siblings that lead to words being said and even physical things being done that it regretted. The Body of our Lord Jesus Christ is a spiritual family 👪 that consist of redeemed sinners who have been born again spiritually (of all types of sinfulness and from every tribe, tongue, and people of the human race) that now are to become one in Christ. God is our Father and we are His adopted children 🧒, therefore, it is His will for us to be unified in our Lord Jesus Christ which means when conflicts arise in Christ Body we should not go behind the brother or sisters back and slander them to others because we are then acting like our enemy the devil 👿 in operating in that manner, but instead we should do as it is written by the Apostle Matthew with these words, "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the Church. But if he refuses even to hear the Church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector." (Matthew 18:15-17) (NKJV). The Apostle James has already spoken to these Jewish converts to Christ back then and to everyone of us who belong to our Lord Jesus Christ today and from every era and generation about the evils of the tongue and how much damage it can do when used to tear down another instead of building them up (James 3:1-12). The Apostle James now reaffirms, reiterates, and reminds them and us this same principle with these next words here, "Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?" (James 4:11-12) (KJV). In verse 11, the little English phrase 'speak not evil' is translated by the Greek word katalaleō meaning to be a traducer, that is, one who attacks the reputation of another by slander or libel: - speak against (evil of). The English word 'judgeth' in verse 11 is translated by the Greek word krinō meaning (as used here) to condemn. In other words, it is not the will of God for each of us to be our brother or sister 'in Christ' judge, for the 'Law of God' is sufficient for that work in the inner man 👨 or inner woman 👩 because unlike God we cannot see into there, so it is only for each of us to stand against any brother or sister 'in Christ' who willfully, wantonly, and willingly does what is opposed to the 'Law of God' and the Word of God and in some instances try to get us to go along with their disobedience to God the Father. Here is what the JFB Commentary says on this matter of speaking evil of another and speaking evil of the law, "Those who superciliously condemn the acts and words of others which do not please themselves, thus aiming at the reputation of sanctity, put their own moroseness in the place of the law, and claim to themselves a power of censuring above the law of God, condemning what the law permits [Calvin]. Such a one acts as though the law could not perform its own office of judging, but he must fly upon the office [Bengel]. This is the last mention of the law in the New Testament. Alford rightly takes the 'law' to be the old moral law applied in its comprehensive spiritual fullness by Christ: 'the law of liberty.'" The only One who has the authority to condemn, that is, to declare or judge unfit for use or habitation is the One who only can save and that is our Lord Jesus Christ, for He alone knows truly if someone has turned to Him only in repentance and faith or who of His sons and daughters who have repented from their way ward behavior, for He is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). The Lord Jesus Christ gives 'saving faith' to a repentant sinner and He completes that work of faith in each and everyone of us (Philippians 1:6), therefore, we should never condemn another because we have no authority or power to do so. Amen!!!

Here is what Matthew Henry had to say about James 4:11-12, "The Greek word, katalaleite, signifies speaking any thing that may hurt or injure another; we must not speak evil things of others, though they be true, unless we be called to it, and there be some necessary occasion for the; much less must we report evil things when they are false, or, for aught we know, may be so. Our lips must be guided by the law of kindness, as well as truth and justice. This, which Solomon makes a necessary part of the character of his virtuous woman, that she openeth her mouth with wisdom, and in her tongue is the law of kindness (Proverbs 31:26), must needs be a part of the character of every true Christian. Speak not evil one of another, 1. Because you are brethren. The compellation, as used by the apostle here, carries an argument along with it. Since Christians are brethren, they should not defile nor defame one another. It is required of us that we be tender of the good name of our brethren; where we cannot speak well, we had better say nothing than speak evil; we must not take pleasure in making known the faults of others, divulging things that are secret, merely to expose them, nor in making more of their known faults than really they deserve, and, least of all, in making false stories, and spreading things concerning them of which they are altogether innocent. What is this but to raise the hatred and encourage the persecutions of the world, against those who are engaged in the same interests with ourselves, and therefore with whom we ourselves must stand or fall? 'Consider, you are brethren.' 2. Because this is to judge the law: He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law. The law of Moses says, Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people, Leviticus 19:16. The law of Christ is, Judge not, that you be not judged, Matthew 7:1. The sum and substance of both is that men should love one another. A detracting tongue therefore condemns the law of God, and the commandment of Christ, when it is defaming its neighbour. To break God's commandments is in effect to speak evil of them, and to judge them, as if they were too strict, and laid too great a restraint upon us. The Christians to whom James wrote were apt to speak very hard things of one another, because of their differences about indifferent things (such as the observance of meats and days, as appears from Romans 14): 'Now,' says the Apostle, 'he who censures and condemns his brother for not agreeing with him in those things which the law of God has left indifferent thereby censures and condemns the law, as if it had done ill in leaving them indifferent. He who quarrels with his brother, and condemns him for the sake of any thing not determined in the word of God, does thereby reflect on that word of God, as if it were not a perfect rule. Let us take heed of judging the law, for the law of the Lord is perfect; if men break the law, leave that to judge them; if they do not break it, let us not judge them.' This is a heinous evil, because it is to forget our place, that we ought to be doers of the law, and it is to set up ourselves above it, as if we were to be judges of it. He who is guilty of the sin here cautioned against is not a doer of the law, but a judge; he assumes an office and a place that do not belong to him, and he will be sure to suffer for his presumption in the end. Those who are most ready to set up for judges of the law generally fail most in their obedience to it. 3. Because God, the Lawgiver, has reserved the power of passing the final sentence on men wholly to himself: There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save, and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? James 4:12. Princes and states are not excluded, by what is here said, from making laws; nor are subjects at all encouraged to disobey human laws; but God is still to be acknowledged as the supreme Lawgiver, who only can give law to the conscience, and who alone is to be absolutely obeyed. His right to enact laws is incontestable, because he has such a power to enforce them. He is able to save, and to destroy, so as no other can. He has power fully to reward the observance of his laws, and to punish all disobedience; he can save the soul, and make it happy for ever, or he can, after he has killed, cast into hell; and therefore should be feared and obeyed as the great Lawgiver, and all judgment should be committed to him. Since there is one Lawgiver, we may infer that it is not for any man or company of men in the world to pretend to give laws immediately to bind conscience; for that is God's prerogative, which must not be invaded. As the apostle had before warned against being many masters, so here he cautions against being many judges. Let us not prescribe to our brethren, let us not censure and condemn them; it is sufficient that we have the law of God, which is a rule to us all; and therefore we should not set up other rules. Let us not presume to set up our own particular notions and opinions as a rule to all about us; for there is one Lawgiver."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.


Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…