James 4:11-12: There Is One Lawgiver
2025-04-04
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. (James 4:11)
There is a single word for “speak evil.” This word is translated in another place as “speaking against.” This is paired with “judgeth” here, which is also translated as “sue at the law,” “condemn,” “sentence,” “call in question,” “damn,” and “avenge.” We are told not to do this to brothers, which is referring to fellow believers. This is distinct from telling fellow believers that they are sinning, though many people would lump that under this “judge not” concept.
But what does the Spirit say of those who do? They speak evil of and judge the law. We spoke previously about loving others as the royal law of Scripture. “Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:17-18). The law tells us not to condemn others but to love them. We walk contrary to the second highest law of the books of Moses by judging (meaning condemning) others. We dismiss the law as evil though the Spirit says “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12). We see that if we were to condemn our fellow believers, we have spoken evil of the Word of God and have contempt for it.
James 4:12
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? (James 4:12)
What is worse, that if one condemns other believers in disregard to clear teaching from Scripture, the same speaks evil of the one who gave the law. Only the Lord is in the place to condemn someone. He is the “one lawgiver.” There are many nations with their many laws. However, the Lord gave the law above all other laws. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them” (Exodus 24:12). His laws reflect His perfect character just as the laws of nations throughout history have reflected the cultures they legislate.
God the lawgiver can save or destroy (condemn) from the consequences of breaking that law. Imagine being guilty and condemned before a courtroom judge that has the power to spare your life or destroy you. We would not be so willing to rebuke him or disparage the law we broke. We would not want point out flaws of somebody else who broke the same law. We would rather be pleading for our lives.
Only God can legitimately condemn anybody because He is the lawgiver and is sinless. And He does condemn. He created the lake of fire to condemn fallen angels and sinful men to. We do not have any place to do God’s job. But rather see the gentleness of our Lord in Luke 9:52-56. He came to save and not destroy, so that must be our viewpoint also.
Again, we read, “Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?” (Luke 6:9). He chose to heal the man with the withered hand rather than to allow him remain the way he was. This is the Lord’s way.