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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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ARROGANT
SLANDER AND PRESUMPTION (James 4:11-17) 1-09-13 Grace Bible Church,
Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. ARROGANT SPEAKING AGAINST
OTHERS (11-12) A. Speaking Against Others is
Judging the Law (12) 1. The
previous context of pride and humility is continued
in these verses (Jm 4:6-10). Speaking against others as well as presuming
success falls under the category of pride and arrogance. 2. The arrogance of James’ readers is evidenced in their speech and attitudes. Therefore, he
begins with the prohibition, “Do not speak against one another.” It
contains a Greek construction of a negative with a present tense imperative which can suggest that they were actively
engaged in speaking against one another but were to stop. Literally it could
be translated, “You must stop speaking against one another” (mê, and present imperative of katalale,ō). 3. Katalaleō means to speak (lale,ō)
down or against (kata,) someone. Here James is probably not directly
referring to their partiality (Jm 2:1-13) or taming of the tongue (Jm 3:1-12)
but another sinful characteristic. a) Some have
translated katalaleō as
“slander.” While this is acceptable, it probably does not encompass all of
its meaning. b) To slander means to
maliciously utter false charges (cp. 1Pe 2:12; 3:16). c) Katalaleō would include even speaking the truth about someone
but doing so in a harmful, malicious, and evil manner (LXX - Nu 21:5; Ps
50:20; 101:5). It could be defined as, mindless,
thoughtless, careless, critical, derogatory, untrue speech directed against
others (MAC in loc.). d) Speaking against another means to bring
harm to a person’s reputation with a motive of personal revenge or
exaltation. It would be akin to the phrase, “run each other down.” e) This is not to say that we cannot expose unrighteousness (2Ti 4:10; Ep 5:11) or false
teachers (2Ti 3:8; 2Pe 2:1), but even that must be done in a righteous manner
for righteous purposes. 4. James
reasons that such expressions are in reality “speaking against” (same
Greek word) the Law (no,mos
without the article). First, it speaks against the Law in that the Law
commands man to love one another as ourselves (Le 19:18; Ro 13:8; Jm 2:8).
Secondly, it speaks against the Law because it violates the intent of loving
our neighbor by harming and degrading our neighbor (cp. Ps 15:1-3; Pr 10:18). 5. Man’s responsibility it to obey (be
“doers”) God’s holy Law, not “judge it,” reject it, or speak evil against
it with our words and actions. B. There is only One Lawgiver
and Judge (12) 1. If we
decide that we can violate God’s principles on certain conditions, then we
become overruling judges of God’s Law. 2. James distinctly teaches that there is
only “one” (hei,s
- numeral one) Lawgiver and Judge,” namely God (Is 33:22). There is no
room for self-appointed judges. For God alone is the “One
who is able to save and to destroy.” 3. James knows who is the Divine Judge, but
rightfully asks, “who are you?” to these arrogant and self-appointed judges. II. ARROGANT PRESUMPTIONS
(13-17) A. They Arrogantly Declared
Their Success (13) 1. Not only
did James’ readers arrogantly disregard God’s Law, but
they also arrogantly disregarded God’s provisions and sovereignty. 2. James begins with the idiom “Come now” (a,ge nu,n
- call for attention) as if to say, “let’s reason” or “let’s think this
through.” 3. Some were arrogantly presuming that they
were in control of their own destiny and success, “Today or tomorrow we
will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in
business and make a profit.” 4. Whether an actual quote or a blanket
statement they arrogantly presumed several aspects: 1) Time “Today or
tomorrow,” 2) Location “we will go to such and such a city,” 3)
Length “spend a year there,” 4) Vocation “engage in business (Eng.
“emporium”),” and 5) Success “make a profit.” B. They Arrogantly Defied the
Frailty of Life (14) 1. With a
counteracting statement, James reproved them that they cannot “know” (epi,stamai -
intellectual apprehension, Eng. Epistemology) what tomorrow holds with
absolute certainty. a) They may
have had projections and statistics on their business (doubtful) but they
have no guarantees. b) James may have been thinking of the wisdom
of Solomon in Pr 27:1, which says, “Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring
forth.” 2. In
addition, they cannot know for sure about their health or
whether they will even be alive. a) In fact,
James states that man’s life is a mere “vapor” (atmi,s
- steam, mist, cloud, Eng. atmosphere). b) As vapors go, they “appear” (phai,nō - literally
become visible) for a short degree of time and then they “disappear” (aphani,zō - a (alpha - negative) & phainō - disappear, vanish). c) So goes the span and works of man showing the frailty of life (Ps 39:5;
144:4). C. They Arrogantly Denied the
Sovereignty of God (15) 1. They did
not include God in their plans nor did they acknowledge that He is a
sovereign God, who controls, sustains, or destroys all things (Mt 10:29-30
cp. Eze 5:17; 14:15; Ho 2:12). 2. “Instead” (anti, - Eng. “anti-") of their arrogance and willful ignorance they
should acknowledge that all things depend upon the Lord and His will. 3. They should rather say, “if the Lord
wills.” This is not a mere verbal formula but an attitude of the heart. 4. “Wills” is the Greek word thelō, which can simply means wish or
desire, or it can carry the idea of an independent and authoritative exercise
of the will (God’s) according to desire (Ep 1:11 cp. Isa
46:10; Psa 103:19; 115:3; 135:6). 5. James applies this not
only to man’s endeavors (“this or that”) but also his very existence
and life (“we will live”). D. They Arrogantly Denied
Their Evil (16) 1. James’
verdict was that they were guilty of boasting and arrogance. “Boasting” (kaucha,omai) means to be
guilty of self-glorifying. “Arrogance” (alazonei,a)
is characterized by presumption in word and action. 2. Therefore, they were sinning, “all such
boasting is evil (ponêro,s
- morally characterized as bad, wicked, or malicious).” E. They were Accountable for
their Knowledge of God’s Word (17) 1. If they
knew these things prior, which they did as believers, they were sinning. They
obviously had comprehension (oida -
perception or comprehension) of these things as Christians. 2. Therefore, they were accountable to God’s
righteous principles. To disobey what they knew to be right was in fact sin. III. OBSERVATIONS AND
APPLICATIONS A. Speaking against others in
a derogatory way is arrogance against God and His Divine status. B. Believers must consider their frailty and
God’s sovereignty in all aspects of their lives. C. Whenever and whatever knowledge of God’s
Word a believer has come to hear and know, to that knowledge he is
accountable to God. To disobey our knowledge of God’s Word is sin. Praise God
for His mercy! |
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