11 Do not speak evil [1] against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?
Footnotes
[1] 4:11 NAS: speak against one another; NIV: slander one another; NKJ: speak evil of one another
[1] 4:11 NAS: speak against one another; NIV: slander one another; NKJ: speak evil of one another
- In light of the previous warnings about the tongue, what sort of fires are started by speaking against a brother?
- What does a judge do?
- How do you pass judgment against others?
- Why would slandering or judging a brother be considered speaking or judging God's word?
- What is said about the one who judges God's law/word?
- When are you most tempted to speak evil of others? (Consider circumstances, feelings, physical condition, etc.)
- Who do are you most tempted to speak against and why?
I've blogged about this passage before. I want to look at it today in its bigger context. So far in this letter, we've seen that partiality is wrong. Isn't common for us to overlook a fault in a friend but speak against another for doing it? Sounds like partiality. He talked about only looking at God's Word and not doing what God wants. James has addressed the good old tongue, which is the match that we use to burn others with our words when we speak against them. Quarreling commonly is just me judging you and eventually speaking against you. It comes down to this: we believe that we are the correct judge of people in oh so many ways. Even if we do not say a word, but in our hearts we judge them we are telling God that His word is inadequate, that your new rule should be added to his, and that He should deal with the situation now. Boy, are we ugly when we do that?!? May God have more mercy on us than we do on others.
4 comments:
this concept of "telling God that His word is inadequate" seems foreign to me, though i want to learn and change..
Michelle,
I understand that this is a foreign concept. If we believe that God's Word is fully adequate for determining right from wrong, then why would we think that we should add new rules. If I think that a person has to dress a certain way to be acceptable to me but God finds them acceptable as they are, then who is right: me or God? If me, then I have stated internally that God's Word is wrong or inadequate. Help any?
I'm upstairs at my computer after being away for a long time. I have enjoyed going back and reading previous blogs and posts. I am amazed that you can keep digging and finding passages that really get deep inside of me. Today's blog deals with the problem of judging. This reminds me of an old saying my father used to say, "Some people think prayer has failed because God has not accepted their judgment in the case." Judgment is another way of putting someone else down in order to make yourself look good. By doing this, we violate the greatest commandment. I often thank the Lord for grace that saves a sinner like me. The grace offered to me is truly amazing. Harold, thank you for your effort in this blog to stimulate my feeble brain.
thank you Harold. Your explanation helped me understand better. :)
Michelle
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