23.152 | Beware of Judgemental Attitude | James 4:11-12 ESV | God’s Word For Today with Pastor Nazario Sinon

2023-06-26

Text: James 4:11-12 ESV “(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?" BEWARE OF A JUDGMENTAL ATTITUDE We do exercise judgment every day, don’t we? It’s the sin of sland...

Text: James 4:11-12 ESV

“(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?"

BEWARE OF A JUDGMENTAL ATTITUDE

We do exercise judgment every day, don’t we? It’s the sin of slandering or judgmental that we should avoid. It’s unbecoming for believers to turn on each other by slandering or disparaging each other. To slander means to discredit someone, to spread hurtful lies about him, saying unkind and harmful things about him. In short, to be judgmental is to assume a position of authority over him.

It’s important to note that James’ readers were of Jewish descent. Thus, they probably have high respect to the Old Testament Law. In [Lev 19:16], Moses wrote, “You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.” Instead, they are to love their neighbor as they love themselves. [Lev 19:18] We should seek the best for others as we seek the best for ourselves.

To disobey the Law by judging another person is a way of putting oneself above the Law. We are going to focus as doers of the Law, and nothing more. Let us avoid looking over others’ shoulders and judging them for what they are doing. Again, James is urging us to walk humbly in our relationship with God and with each other.

God is the only person who deserves to judge. He is the only one able to save and destroy. He is the lawgiver. There is no other. On the other hand, We are all flawed yet by His grace are forgiven. And as undeserving recipients of His grace, should we not be gracious to others? Should we mean to be forgiven by the Judge on the basis of His grace alone through faith in Christ, we are saved. And, as people dependent on His grace, we should not presume to pronounce any verdict against others based on our own judgment. Thus, to make ourselves judges of other people's sins is being hypocritical, even arrogant.

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