Santiago 4:11-12

A Warning Against Being Judges Of Others And Thus Pre-empting God (James 4:11-12 a).

The passage commences with a warning. Aware that his strong words and his appeal to repentance could now result in some members of the church judging others James issues a strong warning against their doing so. We can compare here Matthew 7:1-6. As Jesus says there it is one thing to seek to help one another, as they should, but it will be quite another to issue harsh and hypocritical judgments. For the one who so judges sets himself up in God’s place as lawgiver and judge, which ill accords with his cry for humility (James 4:6; James 4:10).

Note how these particular verses (James 4:11-12 a) continue the thought of the previous verses, both in terms of the need to control the tongue, and the need to be humble, and within the whole pattern of the letter parallel James 1:12, with its emphasis on those who, on being judged, will receive the crown of life.

Analysis.

a Do not speak one against another, brothers (James 4:11 a).

b He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brother, speaks against the law, and judges the law (James 4:11 b).

b But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge (James 4:11 c).’

a One only is the lawgiver and judge, even he who is able to save and to destroy (James 4:12 a).

Note that in ‘a’ he argues against brothers speaking against one another, and in the parallel only One is qualified to judge. In ‘b’ to speak against or judge a brother is to speak against and judge the Law, and in the parallel those who judge the Law are not doers of the Law. They rather set themselves up on the other side of the dock and become judges.