What does James 4:11-17 mean? Commentary, explanation and study verse by verse. James 4:11 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.
Full Answer
What is the meaning of Jam 4 11?
Jam 4:11. Μὴ καταλαλεῖτε, speak not evil) He now notices other excesses of a restless soul; having in ch. 3 spoken of rest, and in the beginning of ch. 4 of confusion.—τὸν ἀδελφὸν, his brother) The article is here used, though not with ἀδελφοῦ.
What was James bothered by in the Book of James?
“James seems to be bothered more by the selfish spirit and bitterness of the quarrels than by the rights and wrongs of the various viewpoints.” (Moo) ii. Almost all who have such a critical and contentious attitude claim they are prompted and supported by the Spirit of God.
What bothered James more than the quarrels of others?
i. “James seems to be bothered more by the selfish spirit and bitterness of the quarrels than by the rights and wrongs of the various viewpoints.” (Moo)
What is James writing about in the Book of James?
Remember, James is writing to people who are experiencing a variety of trials in their lives, trials that tempt them to stop counting on God to be present, good, and active in their lives. So here he is warning against putting our trust in our future plans.
What is James' warning in the Bible?
So here he is warning against putting our trust in our future plans.
When we set ourselves up as the expert in speaking against another, what does James mean?
When we set ourselves up as "the expert" in speaking against another, James says we are actually claiming to be an expert on the very law of God and judging it. Rather than putting ourselves under God's law along with everyone else, we put ourselves above the law and use it as we see fit to judge others.
What does it mean when you are tempted to speak evil?
When we are tempted to speak evil against others or ourselves, we can hand those thoughts over to God, realizing that He alone knows "the whole truth" and can be confident that He will handle all things according to His good and gracious character. The first and last word is indeed the Word of God in Jesus Christ.
What does James mean by "perfect and complete lacking in nothing"?
James is helping his readers to turn their focus away from themselves and back on their heavenly Father, who alone can make them "perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.". (1:4) When we remember God, and live out of our trust in Him , we can release others from our judgments and condemnations.
What does James say about boasting?
16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.". In the section previous to this one, James tells his readers that the best way to deal with the lives they live in this fallen world is humbly before God.
When we remember and count on God to be our future, as well as our past and present, then we can make
When we remember and count on God to be our future, as well as our past and present, then we can make our plans , but not in any absolute sense. "Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that.'". We live in God's hands, in His great and wonderful grip.
What does it mean to speak evil against another?
To speak evil against another is to judge them. The kind of judging James has in mind here is when we speak a "final" word about another's character, behavior, or value. We may be dismissing them as a "hopeless case.". When we make statements like "he'll never...". or "she always...".
Application
Have I been guilty of putting another Christian down and making him look bad? The exhortation of Romans 14:19 is “one may edify another.” I always need to think before I speak.
James 4:11-17 (English Standard Version)
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What does James say about evil?
We are speaking evil against the law and we are judging the law. To speak evil of one another is to speak evil of God’s law. To judge one another by human, external judgments is to become a judge over God’s law.
What does James say about the tongue?
James does not merely say to watch your tongue. He wants us to understand something. We are breaking the royal law. We are breaking the law of God. We are sitting in judgment of God’s law. When we break a law on a regular basis, then we are implying that we do not believe this is a good law for us to be under.
What does James say about living in arrogance?
We our proud of our plans. We are living in complete arrogance as we boast about what we are doing. James instructs us that we should say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." Allow me to highlight the part that we often do not say. When we are being thoughtful we will rightly say, "If the Lord wills." We need to mean those words when we say them. But notice that there is more to the statement. We ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live." What does this mean for us?
Where do you stand with God?
Where do you stand with God? Are you living in arrogance thinking that there will not be a judgment? Are you living as if you are in control? Are you living as if you have years and years and those days will be just like today? You know this isn’t true. You know that life never goes according to plan. There is only one certainty in life — God. God does not change. He is the same yesterday as he is today. Put your trust in God who holds all things in his hands. Put your trust in him who made you and gave you life. Rely on him and not yourself. Love one another today. Live for God today.
What does James seem to be bothered by?
i. “James seems to be bothered more by the selfish spirit and bitterness of the quarrels than by the rights and wrongs of the various viewpoints.” (Moo) ii. Almost all who have such a critical and contentious attitude claim they are prompted and supported by the Spirit of God.
What does James ask us to consider?
It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away: James asked us to consider the fragility of human life, and the fact that we live and move only at the permission of God. James does not discourage us from planning and doing, only from planning and doing apart from reliance on God. i.
What does it mean to submit to God?
This means to order yourself under God, to surrender to Him as a conquering King, and start receiving the benefits of His reign. i.
What does the Bible say about uncertainty?
The uncertainty of life should make us ready to recognize what is good and then do it. “This uncertainty of life is not a cause either for fear or inaction. It is always a reason for realizing our complete dependence on God.” (Moffatt) b. To him it is sin: Jesus told a story with much the same point in Luke 12:41-48.
Who said God resists the proud?
i. James used a powerful word in the phrase, resists the proud: “Sets himself in battle array against him.” (Clarke) “God resisteth the proud, ‘setteth himself in battle-array against such,’ above all other sorts of sinner, as invaders of his territories, and foragers or plunderers of his chief treasures.” (Trapp) c.
Did James cite a particular passage?
James seemed to present an idea that is alluded to in several passages without quoting any specific passage. i. “More probably is the view that James was not citing a particular passage but summarizing the truth expressed in several Old Testament passages.” (Hiebert) ii.
Do not speak evil of one another?
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. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?