“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)
MARK THE DESIGN
One of the things we have attempted to do in these studies is to show the beauty of design in this epistle. These are not just random thoughts and injunctions being set forth. The necessity of each teaching and each subject dealt with grows out of the previous one and leads to the next.
We emphasize this because many have not seen this and consequently missed much of the value and impact of these teachings. The verses now before us could not have the force or depth of meaning that they have if they would have been placed at any other point in this epistle. We must follow carefully the leading of the Holy Spirit as he guides us into all truth, whether it is instructive, corrective, doctrine, or reproof.
WHAT WE HAVE LEARNED
In our last chapter we took a long look at self-sufficiency and pride and how it leads to estrangement from God. We saw how God’s grace is more than sufficient to meet our particular and personal need, but that God resists the proud and gives grace only to the humble. Then we were taught how to humble ourselves in the sight of God that He would lift us up.
A NEW DANGER
As we begin to practice what we have learned we become sensitive to our own sins and confess them and find forgiveness. In taking definite action to forsaking the self-way, and humble ourselves in the sight of God, we become recipients of the lifting grace and power of God. But here we stand face to face with a new danger. For here, from our new vantage point, with all the elation of a small child who has been lifted in the arms of his father, we must be very careful lest we sin a great sin. For pride can return in many forms.
Unless we are aware of this, we will find ourselves looking down upon our brother and a feeling of spiritual superiority will pervade our being. From this vantage we will find it quite easy to speak against our brother and set ourselves as a judge over him. Our Father did not lift us for this purpose. He did not lift us to a judgment seat, but rather to a royal priesthood. From here we serve and minister and help and intercede for others, but never condemn or hurt or destroy.
IT’S OUR TONGUE AGAIN
We are warned here about speaking evil against a brother. We have been cautioned several times before in this epistle to be careful with our speaking. We were warned about speaking against God. (James 1:13) We were cautioned to be slow to speak as we hear God’s Word, (James 1:19) and that the willingness to control our tongue is evidence of a willingness to please God. (James 1:26) Then we were instructed to speak as those who are aware that we shall be judged by the law of liberty. (James 2:12) And in James 3, we saw how the tongue, even though a small member, has the tendency to boast of great things.
With all of these warnings and instructions concerning our speaking, surely we can see that this is one of the greatest danger areas in our lives. “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” (James 3:2)
SPEAK NOT EVIL AGAINST A BROTHER
It is important that we see this teaching for exactly what it is meant for — no more and no less. Our concern in this teaching, apart from that of ourselves and our own spiritual welfare, is that of our brother and his spiritual welfare. To speak evil against our brother is to speak evil of the Law.
One of the beautiful aspects of God’s law is that it considers everyone important and precious. The royal law (as it is called in James 2:8) requires that we love our neighbor as ourselves. Although we have already discussed its meaning previously, we will now take it a step higher. If we are concerned about our neighbor, who may even be against us, how much more our brother who is with us. “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.” (Gal. 6:10) “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” (1John 4:11) “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar.” (1John 4:20)
So to speak against our brother is to speak against the Law. But even worse, it is to become a judge of the Law, which means we are calling into question the holy law of God. When we speak against our brother we are, as judges, saying the Law is unfair, and the Lawgiver was wrong to expecting us to love and care for such a one as this brother.
JUDGE RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT
Now it is important to understand the intended meaning of this teaching, and that we should not make more or less out of it than is intended. Some have done this. Some have added to what is taught here both directly and by implication. This is a dangerous practice with any part of scripture but especially in sensitive areas such as we have here. Some teachings have brought people to the place where they are afraid to speak out against evil and wrong doing. This teaching had been to the hurt of both parties — the one who sins and the one who keeps silent.
True love will not smile upon a brother when he does right and then turn its head when the brother does wrong. There is a time for correction and a time for reproof. All scripture, we are told, is profitable for this. What kind of a brother would we be if we did not warn, or caution, or correct an erring brother?
If we do this we may be accused of judging, but only by those who do not understand the meaning of the word or the teaching of scripture. It is not judging: it is loving and caring. Or more precisely, it is not judging the brother: it is judging the wrong or unrighteous deed. It is judging what will be to our brother’s hurt. We can see the deed and its effects and so we must judge.
But to judge the brother is to judge motive and intent of both heart and mind, which we cannot see or know. Only God can judge these things, for man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart.
RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR BROTHER
Scripture clearly teaches both individual and church responsibility in judging, what is good and what is evil. We are admonished that our “love be without dissimulation (hypocrisy).” We must “abhor that which is evil and cleave to that which is good.” (Rom. 12:9) This of necessity calls for the judging of what is good and what is evil. (Heb. 5:14)
Also we are taught to walk as children of light, proving what is acceptable to the Lord. We are to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. All things that are reproved are made manifest (or clearly seen) by the light. Much confusion and misunderstandings could be eliminated if things were simply called by their right names. Here again there is absolutely no room for pride, for all judgment concerning good and evil is based on the written Word of God. In the end it is God’s judgment after all.
GOD’S WAY IS LOVE
Also we find that God’s Word provides instruction as to the proper way to administer judgment. It is always in meekness and love. It is always to conserve or rescue or serve. It is never to hurt or destroy. Satan is the destroyer, the slanderer, the accuser. We must never aid his cause. Whether it be the responsibility of church discipline or of brother to brother in private, the purpose is always to save; the method is always in meekness; and the motive is always that of love.
In conclusion, we must never judge the person, but only the deed. For “there is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another.” This sinful tendency to speak against one another must also be dealt with as we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord.