¹²There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?

Numerous epithets are given to our Lord in the NT epistles, including Apostle and High Priest of our confession (Heb. 3:1), Author and Perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2), and Advocate (1 John 2:1). Here we see that He is the Lawgiver and Judge. We might debate the nuances of whether these last two relate to the Father, the Son, or simply the Godhead. Of course, Yahweh, as the God of Moses, gave the Law on Mount Sinai. But certainly, if we are to trust in Christ (James 2:1) and we are, like James, His bondservants (James 1:1), then obedience to Christ would follow. Jesus Himself was the giver of the new law of love (John 13:34), and as believers we are to live under the law of liberty (James 1:25, 2:12). Trinitarian theology sees both Father and Son working in unity as our authority, so there is no need to make too fine a distinction.

One cannot help hearing an echo of the teaching of our Lord Jesus (half-brother of James) who said:

“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matt. 10:28)

James is not talking about simple criticism of others or disagreement. He is censuring the kind of behavior where we pass serious moral judgment on others’ intentions, where we have assigned to ourselves the role of prosecuting attorney, jury, and judge, as though others are accountable to our moral adjudication. We make ourselves out to be the final arbiters of the law of God, its meaning, application, and judgment. Judging others puts us in the delusional position of thinking we have the final say about a person’s standing before God! Do we really imagine ourselves standing before the Judge of all the earth, accusing others as though God will be convinced by and defer to our accusations? If we think that way, we align ourselves with the devil, who is called “the accuser of the brethren” (Rev. 12:10); we join forces with the one who “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

The rebuke is strong. The NIV captures the thrust with an imagined long finger pointed at those guilty of judging others, “But, you—who are you to judge your neighbor?” You! Who are you?! How dare you raise your judgment seat above God’s? How dare we, how dare I, think or act like the Judge of all the earth? God forbid!

Lord, I confess my pride in judging others. Search my heart, O God.