Warning against Judging others

Eric Reese

The traditional author is James (Hebrew, "Jacob"), the half-brother of Jesus (one of four sons from Mary and Joseph (cf. Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3). He was the leader of the Jerusalem Church (A.D. 48-62)

James and Jude are half brother of Jesus in the New Testament

James

James was killed AD 62 by Jews (Sadducees Stoned to Death)

In some ways the style is very similar to both Jewish wisdom teachers, Greek and Roman moral itinerant teachers (like the Stoics). Some examples are:

A. loose structure (jumping from one subject to another)

B. many imperatives (54 of them)

James

Galatians 1:18-1918.  Then three years later I went to Jerusalem to get to know Peter,[g] and I stayed with him for fifteen days. 

19 The only other apostle I met at that time was James, the Lord’s brother. 

James

This was Martin Luther's least favorite book in the New Testament because it seems to contradict Paul's “Justification by faith" emphasis in Romans and Galatians (i.e., James 2:14-26)

Martin thought James was preaching you can get save through works.

James

He was called "James the Just" and later nicknamed "camel knees" because he constantly prayed on his knees

 John 7:5For even his brothers didn’t believe in him.

James was not a believer until after the resurrection (cf. Mark 3:21,31; John 7:5). Jesus appeared to him personally after the resurrection (cf. 1 Cor. 15:7)

James

This is a very different genre from other NT books

1. It is very much like the book of Proverbs (i.e., wisdom literature) spoken by a fiery prophet

2. written early after Jesus' death and still very Jewish and practical. Its emphasis is practical living—faith in action

James

11 Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters.[d

] If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. 

James 4:11

James is coming to a conclusion he started in Chapter 1.

-Don’t talk to quickly-Be quick to listen-Don’t be quick to get angryThen Chapter 3 -Address the Leaders-He specially talks about the tongue and how we should control what we say

1. Control horse by small bit2. Control Big Boat by small rudderBut we have not learned to control the

tongue

Control

-Some believe James is again addressing the Church Leaders

-Church Leader competition

-Could be talking about life in general

Rabbis called this text the 3rd Tongue meaning it kills1.One who Speaks2.One who listens3.One who he speaks about

1. Stop talking about one another brother2. Backbiting3. Some thing Christians should Stop

criticizing  /Slander other constantly2 Corinthians 12:2020 For I am afraid that when I come I won’t

like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. 

Stop An Act in Progress

-Christians talking about one another is a negative way.

-Even more sad is many times we do it to make ourselves feel better.

- It’s really about falling man to boast his ego.

-Putting someone on Trail without giving them a chance to defend themselves.

Serious

Matthew 7: 1-3“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.

Criticizing People

11 Don’t speak evil against each other, dear brothers and sisters.[d] If you criticize and judge each other, then you are criticizing and judging God’s law. But your job is to obey the law, not to judge whether it applies to you. 

James 4:11

1. Romans stated when you criticized others you are criticizing the God who created.

2. You put yourself in God seat because you know better than God him and your are criticizing HIS ROYAL LAW.

Two Things You are Doing

12 God alone, who gave the law, is the Judge. He alone has the power to save or to destroy. So what right do you have to judge your neighbor?

Who are you to judge your neighbor your brother?

James 4:12

Have you ever heard the expression we live in Glass House?

How can we throw rocks at anyone?

Who is among us PERFECT?

Warning about Self-Confidence

13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.

 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.

 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 

James 4:13-15

16 Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops.

17 He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’ 

18 Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.

Luke 12:16-18

19 And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’

20 “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’

21 “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”

Luke 12:19-21

1. Self you got everything you need!

2. Who need God with all this wealth I have?

3. Who will use your wealth when you die? Can not take it to Heaven.

Lessons from this story

16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil.

17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

James 4:16-17