James 4:11-12
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
James 4:11-12 AMP
11 Believers, do not speak against or slander one another. He who speaks [self-righteously] against a brother or judges his brother [hypocritically], speaks against the Law and judges the Law. If you judge the Law, you are not a doer of the Law but a judge of it.
12 There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy [the one God who has the absolute power of life and death];…
…but who are you to [hypocritically or self-righteously] pass judgment on your neighbor?
Slander
Webster’s Dictionary
An attack on the reputation of someone by publishing falsely and maliciously things that injure.
The PERVASIVENESS of Slander
Jerimiah 9:4
Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders.
Passages that warn of slander
- Leviticus 19:16 Do not slander
- Psalm 101:5 Whoever slanders I will silence
- Proverbs 10:18 The Slanderer is a fool.
- Proverbs 16:28 Slanders ruin the best friendships
People that were hurt by slander
- Joseph
- David/ David’s servants
- John the Baptist
- Jesus
- Paul
The PROBLEM with Slander
Slander Violates THE PRINCIPLE OF LOVE
James 4:11
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law…
Slander Violates THE PRECEPTS OF LAW
James 4:11
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother,
speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law:
but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Slander Violates the POSITION OF THE LORD
James 4:12a
12 There is ONE lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy:
The PERSON who Slanders
James 4:12b
There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: WHO ART THOU that judgest another?