Evil Speaking and Judging

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-19-2022

James 4:11-12

 

Introduction:

 

A.  Before we get into these verses, let me say that not all criticism is bad or unnecessary.  There is a huge difference between constructive and destructive criticism.

 

1.  There is constructive criticism that has the power to aid or change someone in a right way.  I am glad that I had people in my life that helped me to do things in a right way by correcting me in a right way. 

 

2.  Without constructive criticism, our culture would not have advanced to where it is today.  Every generation would have to reinvent the wheel, etc. 

 

3.  I think that it was Will Rodgers who said that "Everyone is ignorant, only on different subjects.”   This is not what the Book James is written about.

 

B.  Our text is specific.  It is about "evil speaking."  This is an area where most people, including this pastor, has failed.  The bible has much to say about saying too much!  Especially in the area of evil speaking and righteously judging which are purposefully destructive.

 

First Mention - Genesis 3:1  Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?  (Subtil – crafty, whispering, dividing, destroying)

 

Last Mention - 2 Corinthians 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.  (Beguiled – seduce wholly, deceive)

 

Romans 1:28-32  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;  (29)  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,  (30)  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  (31)  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  (32)  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

 

2 Corinthians 12:20  For I fear, lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall be found unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envyings, wraths, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, swellings, tumults:  (behind the back quietly lest the backbiter be exposed)

 

Psalms 41:7  All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt.

 

Proverbs 16:28  A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.

 

Proverbs 6:16-19  These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  (17)  A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  (18)  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,  (19)  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 

C.  Let us just look at the wording of our text.

 

1.  Verse 11.  The Sin of Slander.

 

a.  "Speak not evil" – this implies intent and means to speak to cause intentional hurt.  Speaking evil means to slander someone with ill intent.  Slanderers are wicked people who intentionally take upon themselves to destroy another person.  This is not speaking about someone in an uplifting way, but in such a way to cause harm and hurt. 

 

b.  What is said may even be true but not helpful.  There is an old saying, "If you have something to say about me, say it on you knees to Someone who can help me." 

 

c.  "speaketh evil of one another, brethren" - Not speaking to the one slandered but speaking of them to others with the intent to damage their reputation.  Not speaking of the unsaved, though I believe that we need to be careful in this area also but speaking of our spiritual brothers and sisters to cause harm. 

 

d.  We are family!  When a brother is down, we pick him up, not put our foot on him and keep him there!

 

Galatians 6:1-2  Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.  (2)  Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

 

c.  "He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law."  Sitting in the Judgment Seat by becoming the judge, jury, and hangman.  There are two aspects of judging that our Lord spoke of:

 

1.  There is unrighteous judgment - Matthew 7:1-2  Judge not, that ye be not judged.  (2)  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.  (What goes around comes around!)

 

2.  There is righteous judgment - John 7:24  Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.

 

Romans 2:1-2  Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.  (2)  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

 

D.  "But if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge."  Let me illustrate what James is saying in this last part of verse 11.  In our legal system, judges are appointed to set on the bench and judge the law.  These judges are human like as the one that is to be judged and, therefore, imperfect also.  Yet, they are appointed to carry out "the letter of the law" to the individual who stands before them.  When a brother appoints himself as the judge of the law over another brother, then he is no longer a "doer of the law."  He is not to be judged but sits in judgment of another brother.

 

Matthew 7:3-5  And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  (4)  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?  (5)  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

 

E.  Verse 12.  There is one lawgiver, the Lord Jesus Christ—therefore—there is one judge!  He can either be lenient or He can hold us to the "letter of the law" which killeth.

about him or her.

 

Romans 14:4  Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

 

2 Corinthians 3:6  Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.