James 4:11-12 - Homilies By T.f. Lockyer

Judgment, human and Divine.

The besetting sin of the Jews; the besetting sin of man: evil-speaking. But to speak evil, is to judge; and who are we, that we should judge? One is the Judge, even God.

I. THE JUDGMENT OF MAN . In some cases, where great public ends are to be served, man seems to be justified in exercising a power of delegated judgment; so the magistrate, the minister, the historian. But even here the power is qualified; the judgment of motives is not absolute. The besetting sin, however, is to judge of motives where only the act is known; and, which generally accompanies the former, to conjecture the act where little is definitely known. So in the world; so, alas, in the Church! But why is this judgment, why is this evil-speaking, wrong? There is a law against which it sins—the law of love. Indicated in "the Law" ( Galatians 6:2 ); also in the word "brother." Yes, a law which has said, "Judge not" (see Matthew 7:1 ). But such judgment has a more uniquely evil relation to law than this.

1. False relation to law : " Speaketh against the law, judgeth the law." What a subtle hypocrisy is this! When we think we are championing the law by our censorious speaking, we are in reality blaming it, condemning it; for we are virtually denying its right to teach us charity! So do we sit in judgment, forsooth, on the law itself.

2. True relation to law. "A doer." By charity, we recognize the validity and rectitude of the great law of charity, and ourselves obey its precepts. This law, let us remember, is impersonated in Christ. If, then, we do not bow to its sway, we do not receive Christ; and, not receiving Christ, we have no salvation.

II. THE JUDGMENT OF GOD . The great principle is here stated that, ultimately and absolutely, there is one Lawgiver, one Judge.

1. The legislative authority of God : rooted in his very nature, as God. And the special law of love rooted in this, that "God is love."

2. The judicial authority of God. He discerns infallibly the sin of the creature.

3. The executive authority of God. "Able to save, and to destroy."