“If of others you’re tempted to speak, five things observe with care: of whom you speak, to whom you speak, and how, and when, and where.” Everybody has trouble with their tongue, but our Heavenly Father warns us to be careful with our words: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits” (Pro. 18:21). Christ reminds us that we will give account for every idle word we speak (Matt. 12:36). Ananias and Sapphira were struck dead for lying to the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:1-11). Father, Son and Spirit demonstrate that our words really do matter to God.
Few sins in Scripture are as thoroughly condemned as gossip, slander, and evil speech. Romans 1:30 places “slanderers” next to those who are, “haters of God.” Ephesians 4:31 demands that Christians put “evil speaking” away because it does not harmonize with our new life in Christ. Simply put, evil speaking of a brother is a violation of God’s will (Lev. 19:16).
In an epistle that has much to say about our words, James 4:11-12 warns Christians not to speak evil of one another. The Greek word here translated as, “speak evil,” means, “to put down, to slander, to criticize.”
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?
Consider the logic of James’s argument. He gives two main reasons why Christians must not speak evil of one another.
Speaking evil of our brethren violates God’s law (v.11). Earlier in the book, James mentioned the “Royal Law” which states, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Jas. 2:8; cf. Lev. 19:18; Matt. 22:37-40). Now in James 4:11, the author says that those who speak evil of their brethren also, “speak evil of the law and judge the law.” By speaking evil of our brethren, we are acting as if God’s requirement that we love our neighbors as ourselves doesn’t matter. To illustrate: a person who chooses to speed through a school zone is essentially saying, “The posted law is unwarranted / ridiculous / illogical / irrelevant / inconvenient, and thus I do not have to obey it.” So, the speeder is not only violating the law, but he is passing judgment on the merits of the law as well. In like manner, James argues that when Christians speak evil of one another, we are sitting in judgment on God’s law, which clearly forbids such behavior. Every unkind remark, harsh criticism, and unfair judgment of others is implicitly proclaiming, “I can say what I want because I have judged that God’s word on how to treat my neighbor does not matter.”
Speaking evil of our brethren usurps God’s authority (v.12). In theory, we understand that God is great, supreme, and unrivaled as the Lawgiver and Judge of all the earth (Ps. 119:97; Gen. 18:25; Acts 17:30-31). However, James argues that when we speak evil of our brethren (thus passing judgment on the merits or validity of God’s law), we put ourselves in the place of God Himself. Notice the rapid contrasts implied in James 4:12. God is the “one Lawgiver,” we are not. God is able, we are not. God is able to save, we are not. God is able to destroy, we are not. When we appreciate the realities of these comparisons, we are left with the humbling question: “Who are you to judge another?” When we develop a harsh, critical, faultfinding spirit, we end up placing ourselves on a throne that only God should occupy. How we all need to humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord (Jas. 4:10).
So, this passage warns us not to become verbal assassins. Let us be righteous in our judgments, careful in our statements, and gracious in our intentions. Often, the most godly thing we can do is to simply remain silent. Let us pray in this manner, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (Ps. 19:14).