March 18 Daily Devotional

Scripture for Day 77—James 4:11–12

¹¹ Do not speak evil 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?

Devotional:

God speaking through James now returns to sins of the tongue. He rebukes "speaking against" other Christians. This might mean either to speak against someone falsely or to speak against someone truly. To slander is to spread false stories. To gossip is to spread true stores to those who have no business hearing them. Both gossip and slander are very common. But both are very wicked! And both come under the heading of speaking evil against others. William Tyndale translated this "backbiting." What a vivid word!

According to this Scripture, backbiting and judging are like two sides of the same coin—every time you backbite, you are passing judgment. This is a chief sin against gospel-humility. What does God tell you to do about it?

First, consciously consider about whom you are speaking. In Christ, we are brothers and sisters. "Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother…" (v. 11a). And not only are we brethren, we are neighbors. The second greatest commandment is, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." "But who are you to judge your neighbor?" (v. 12b).

Second, consciously consider what is God’s standard for speech. "The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law…" (v. 11b). The standard to which you are held to account is God’s law. The law this specifically refers to is the royal law of James 2:8—"If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well." But if you put your neighbor down with words instead of loving him, then you betray an attitude toward God’s law which is wrong. You actually speak evil against God’s law. "The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law…" (v. 11b). Moreover, you presume to judge God’s law. "The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law" (v. 11b). Finally, having put yourself above God’s law, you rebel against it as having authority over you. "But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge" (v. 11b). God, be merciful to us sinners!

Click here for background on the author of Are You For Real?: Meditations in the Epistle of James for Secret or Family Worship.