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"Do not speak evil of one another..."

Text: James 4:11

SPEAKING EVIL

Sins associated with an untamed tongue was dealt with extensively in James 3. But the problem of having a sinful tongue cannot be contained in a single chapter. James deals with this problem again.

“Do not speak evil of one another, brethren.
He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother,
speaks evil of the law and judges the law.
But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.”
James 4:11

1. “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren”

a) James used the strong imperative mode to express prohibition.

b) Speaking evil is, at all times, wrong!

c) Thus, one should not even contemplate it.

d) But if the practice is on-going, it must cease immediately.

2. “He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother”

a) These two actions are related.

b) When one speaks evil of a brother, he is judging him.

3. “Speaks evil of the law”

a) James goes deeper.

b) The law of God forbids speaking evil.

c) The person who persists in speaking evil things is guilty of speaking against the law.

4. “But if you judge the law”

a) The person who persists in speaking evil is also guilty of judging the law.

b) He may feel that he is above the law.

c) He may feel that he has a right to speak what he wishes, even if it is evil.

d) James warns that the individual is in danger of judging the law.

5. “You are not a doer of the law but a judge”

a) James had advocated being a doer of the law (James 1:22).

b) The person who speaks evil is obviously not a doer.

c) He who persists in speaking evil of others in a judgmental manner has made himself a judge.

d) This is a solemn warning that must be given due heed.

e) To make oneself a judge of the law is just compounding the sin problem.