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Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. (James 4:11)
There are three Greek words that dominate this verse.
First, there is katalaleo. This word appears five times in the whole New Testament, with three of those used in this verse alone!
This verse in the NIV uses the words “slander” and “speaks against.” Other translations render these same words:
- criticize (NLT)
- accuse (AMPC)
- malign (AMPC)
- speak evil (NKJV)
- bad mouth (MSG)
Literally translated katalaleo means “to talk down.” The word is only used in this verse and in 1 Peter 2:12 and 3:16, where worldlings are speaking against Christians. Paul uses the root word once in Romans 1:30, also to describe evil people as “backbiters.”
This word is never used in a complementary way, whether talking about those calling themselves Christians or not.
The second word is adelphos. This word is translated “brothers and sisters” three times in just this one verse. How sad that James has to put “slander” alongside “saints” when writing to the church!
The third word is krinos or krino. This word for judge or judgment is used four times in this single verse. It means to sit in an elevated or authoritative position to make rulings or determinations about others.
James says if we judge people, we are really judging the law; thereby, we judge the “only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy” (v. 12).
His most convicting words are probably this: “When you judge the law, you are not keeping it.”
The Bible has much to say to those who talk about others, and none of it is good.
Talking about others…
(1) …Breaks the Mosaic law. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor (Exodus 20:16).
(2) …Violates the Golden Rule. So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12).
(3) …Doesn’t honor the Great Commandment. One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked Him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:28-31).
(4) …Subjects me to judgment. Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Matthew 7:1-2).
(5) …Makes me a lawbreaker. If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For He who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker (James 2:8-11).
The bottom line:
🛑 STOP TALKING ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE!! 🛑
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Craig T. Owens 