SERMON ON THE MOUNT BIBLE STUDY | CHAPTER 7

Judging and being Judged

• Matthew 7:1-2 ¹ Judge not, that ye be not judged. ² For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 

Personal Translation: Do not judge others, so that you won’t be judged. For the way you judge others is the way you will be judged, and the measure you use will be measured back to you.

 

All along Jesus has been rebuking the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, who were quick to see the sins of others but were blind and unwilling to hold themselves accountable to the same standards they were imposing on everyone else. Jesus is warning them and us that God will judge us with the same standard we use on others. Pretty sobering reminder to be gracious! Be mindful that God will judge us in precisely the same manner we deal out judgment on others.

• Matthew 7:3-5 ³ And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ⁴ Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold a beam is in thine own eye? ⁵ Thou hypocrite first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote of thy brother’s eye 

Personal Translation: Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but ignore the beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a beam in your own? You hypocrite, first remove the beam from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

 

Jesus is addressing hypocrisy, which is living in a way that contradicts what one claims to believe—putting on an appearance of virtue or spirituality while ignoring one’s own faults. 

 

In His illustration, the mote represents a small fault, while the beam represents a serious moral failure. When a person focuses on correcting the minor faults of others while neglecting their own greater sins, it exposes a heart marked by self-righteousness and pride. 

 

Through this exaggerated word picture, Jesus makes His point unmistakably clear: it is hypocritical to scrutinize others while remaining blind to ourselves. We are not to pretend to be something we are not. True spiritual help requires humility—acknowledging and correcting our own faults first—so that we can see clearly and lovingly help a brother or sister with theirs.

Jesus’ teaching gives very practical guidance for handling this wisely and faithfully. First, check your motive and deal honestly with your own heart. The goal is restoration, not correction for the sake of being right. If the desire is to help, heal, or protect—not to shame or elevate yourself—then your approach will reflect God’s heart.

*Note to self: When I see a brother or sister in a fault, I need to look inward and deal with my own faults. I wouldn’t be so judgmental if I addressed my own faults first.

• Matthew 7:6 ⁶ Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before the swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

Personal Translation: Do not give that which is holy to dogs, neither throw your pearls to the pigs. They will only trample them under their feet, and then turn and attack you.

 

Jesus has just finished instructing the crowd on judgment and reproof (vs 1-5). In verse 6 Jesus uses an analogy to show us the difference between “judgment” and “discernment.” We are not to be hypocritical judges, yet we must be able to discern the swine, lest we cast our pearls before them, or give that which is holy to the dogs.

 

An analogy mentioning dogs is used in Proverbs 26:11: “as a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly.” A dual reference to swine and dogs is also found in 2 Peter 2:22, “But it is happened unto them according to the proverb, “the dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire”. (Peter was talking about those that turned from the truth).

 

In his sermon Jesus uses dogs and swine as a comparison of those who would ridicule, reject, and blaspheme the gospel once it is presented to them. We are not to expose the gospel to those who have no other purpose than to argue and twist the word, and then trample it beneath their feet and return to their evil ways. 

 

“Lest they turn and rend you” in other words they will turn and tear you to pieces. Our job is not to force the gospel on one that does not want to hear it. There is no sense in preaching the value of pearls to swine, nor giving that which is holy to dogs. Jesus’ instructions here is how to handle rejection, it hurts when loved ones or friends reject the gospel. If you keep trying they will turn and tear you to pieces. Simply go elsewhere, “those that do not receive or hear your words, when you depart from them, shake the dust from your feet” (Matthew 10:14). 

There are others who need to hear the gospel, and they are ready to hear it!

Asking and Receiving

• Matthew 7:11 ⁷ Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: ⁸ For everyone that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. ⁹ Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he ask a fish will he give him a serpent? ¹¹ If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall you Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him? 

Personal Translation: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who seeks will find, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if your son asks for bread, would give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, would give him a snake? If you, being imperfect, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

 

The encouragement Jesus gives to seek and knock indicate a heart that is willing to hear. A mind that is open to correction. A life that is seeking His righteousness. When we seek God’s righteousness all the things we need will be added unto us (Matthew 6:33). When we seek God with all our heart, we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). When we knock, He will open the door to us (Matthew7:7; Luke 11:9). 

 

This does not mean we get everything we ask for or desire. God is God. And because He is God, He is the One who gets to define what is good - not us! God always has our best interest at heart. He will only give us things that are good for us. 

 

Jesus is making a point when He speaks of earthly fathers. Even earthly fathers that are evil know how to make good decisions for their children because they love them. They would not give their children something that would harm them. How much more would our heavenly Father give to us! How much more does our heavenly Father know what is good for us! Our heavenly Father has much more wisdom and love for us than any earthly father could ever have! God has plans for us to prosper, plans to give us hope, plans for a future! (Jeremiah 29:11)

 

A heart that is looking - diligently seeking, knocking and asking - will be content with God’s answer to their prayers. When they accept God’s will in their life they will prosper, have hope, and plans for a future! That future is heaven.

The Golden Rule

• Matthew 7:12 ¹² Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and prophets.

Personal Translation: So therefore, in everything, treat others the way you want them to treat you. This sums up the Law and the Prophets.

 

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is commonly known as “The Golden Rule,” and is indeed a biblical principle. Jesus has been teaching all along how to be please God: love your enemies, turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, do good unto others, etc. Rather than seeking retribution Jesus’ message is to seek reconciliation. Rather than doing to others what they have done to us or giving them what they may deserve, we are to treat them the way we want them to treat us.

 

One practical way to love others is to imagine ourselves in their shoes. When we pause to think how we might like to be treated in the same situation, we build empathy for those actually living in that situation. Do we like to be treated with love and respect? Then we should give that gift to others. 

 

For this is what is written in the Law and what the prophets taught. The Golden Rule has always been a basic part of the Bible’s message: ‘“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with your soul and with your mind, this is the first and great commandment.’ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments”’ (Matthew 22:37-40).

  

Two pathways - one leading to life - one leading to destruction

• Matthew 7:13-14 ¹³ Enter ye in at the straight gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ¹⁴ because straight is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Personal Translation: Enter through the straight gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many people go that way. But because the straight gate is narrow that leads to life, only a few find it.

 

THE WIDE GATE AND BROAD WAY - This is the easy path, it is easily found and followed without much thought. There is plenty of space to walk in, plenty of space for the attractive things of the world to grow and allure, plenty of space for a person to wander about. The broad way is the way of the unthoughtful, the undisciplined, the lazy, the worldly, the ungodly, the materialistic, and the carnal. This pathway is popular, so many follow this path, but it leads to destruction. It just doesn’t happen at the end of the pathway, it happens throughout. The world’s view on marriage, parenting, education, success, religion, etc..., all lead to constant ruin. God made this world based on spiritual principles, when these are denied, it causes hurt, pain, depression, and even death. This pathway leads to earthly and eternal ruin. 

 

GOD’S WORD IS THE SRAIGHT GATE - Enter ye in at the straight gate. A person needs to hear and respond to the gospel to be saved. Jesus said, “I am the gate, by Me if any man enters in, he shall be saved...” John 10:9. God’s Word guides, and in some sense, restricts followers of Jesus in their actions and attitudes, keeping them from the broad path and keeping them on the path that leads to life.

 

THE STRAIGHT GATE AND NARROW WAY - Unlike the broad way, the narrow way has to be found. One has to enter the straight gate, one has to enter in through Jesus Christ. Whatever a person’s situation (raised in the church or not), this path is not easy to find. Only few find it and even less accept it. In life, people typically take the path of least resistance. Therefore, people are naturally inclined to follow the broad path. To find and follow the narrow path, one must turn away from the crowd, sometimes even leaving friends and family. One must turn their back on sin. One must fight against ungodly attitudes and actions. We must put on the new man, and leave the old man behind. This path can be difficult. Though difficult, this pathway leads to life. In fact, as we enter this path we experience a new birth, a new life in Jesus Christ. 

 

How do we experience this new birth? (Read Plan of Salvation Pamphlet in Study). 

 

As we walk with Jesus, we will find this difficult path easier and easier to follow. Ultimately, those who follow this path with Christ, will spend eternity in His heavenly kingdom, and rule with Him.  

 

True and False Prophets

• Matthew 7:15-20 ¹⁵ Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. ¹⁶ Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? ¹⁷ Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth good fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ²⁰ Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Personal Translation: Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. Every tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will recognize them (false prophets) by their fruits.

 

A call to pay attention - When Jesus says, “beware” this is a call to watch out, to be on guard, to pay attention! He wants us to recognize that there will be those who will be teaching things contrary to the truth and it’s our responsibility to be aware. 

 

A specific warning - While the New Testament has a lot to say about false teachers, this particular warning is about a specific kind of false teacher - those who blend in and are difficult to recognize.

 

The difficulty of identification - Wolves as sheep - Jesus uses a metaphor to illustrate the subtlety of false teachers. While they are wolves who are ready to devour sheep, they come disguised as sheep. They are false prophets, very dangerous, while at the same time skilled at blending in with those around them.

 

The Test - You will know them by their fruits - In this metaphor Jesus tells of a tree that brings about good fruit and one that brings about evil fruit. Those trees look good on the outside but when they produce fruit you will know if that tree is good or bad. The good tree will produce good fruit, the diseased tree will produce bad fruit.

Understanding the metaphor - What Jesus is teaching us is that those who teach things contrary to the truth will always have lives that are at odds with the truth. 

What teachings are at odds with the truth? False preachers may preach scripture and read from the Bible when teaching, and do good things, and even be a good person (they don’t look like a bad tree). But they don’t teach that baptism or new birth is essential for salvation, repentance and turning from sin is not taught, holiness is not taught - these are the fruits that come from a bad tree. BEWARE of these false prophets!

The fate of the bad tree - Trees that produce bad fruit will be recognized, and in the end, they will be destroyed.

The Obedient and the Disobedient  

• Matthew 7:21-23 ²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in they name? and in thy name done many wonderful works? ²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 

Personal Translation: Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, and do many wonderful works in Your name?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Depart from Me, you who worked wickedly.”

 

Jesus’ message here is a sobering remark. Jesus will refuse many people entrance into His kingdom on the Day of Judgement because they did not know Him nor follow His Father’s will. Despite their claims of performing many wonderful works in His name, their deeds and hearts violated God’s law. They were workers of iniquity (iniquity means transgression of the law, unrighteousness, wickedness). Jesus professes He never knew them, in other words they never had a relationship with the Lord.

 

Many will claim or say He is their Lord, but will not choose to live according to that confession. In other words, they will say He is their Lord but refuse to obey Him. There is a difference between those who say He is their Lord and those who live like He is their Lord. Obedience to the Father’s will is that difference.

From the very beginning the Lord taught His children the importance of obedience. He begins teaching with the beatitudes, how to live and work in God’s kingdom, how to do the Father’s will, and then ends with those that question Him calling Him Lord. In Luke 6:45-46, Jesus said, “And why call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”  Those that call Him Lord, not only hear his words, but do them.

 

If you call Jesus ‘Lord’ that means he has power and authority over your life, and you will do the will of the Father.

 

The Wise and Foolish Builders

• Matthew 7:24-27 ²⁴ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: ²⁵and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. ²⁶ And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: ²⁷ and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Personal Translation: Therefore, everyone who hears My words and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house; but it did not fall, because it was built on a solid foundation.

But everyone who hears My words and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it collapsed: and its destruction was great.

 

At the conclusion of Jesus’ sermon on the mount He teaches what a person is like that hears and does His words. He compares them to a person who has built their house on a rock. How do we build our house on the rock? Jesus says, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them.” It is that simple. Hear God’s word and obey God’s word. This is the way to live.

 

A house built on a rock - He is a wise man. He has heard God’s word and obeyed it. When the storms of life came against him and beat upon his house, he fell not. He was able to stand firm on the word of God.

 

A house built on sand - He is a foolish man. He heard God’s words but he did not do them. When the storms of life came against him and beat upon his house, it fell, and great was the fall of it. Without God he was not able to stand.  

 

Make it your practice every single day, to hear the word of God, to read it, to study it, to mediate upon it. Let it soak into your life. Don’t forget what you have read. Remember. Do it. Don’t just hear these words of Jesus. Put them into practice. 

 

Build your house on a solid rock. Build your house on that Rock which is Jesus!

Conclusion: Throughout the Sermon on the Mount Jesus has been teaching us what it looks like to live as citizens of the kingdom of God, but as he brings his sermon to a close, he ends His sermon with a four-part conclusion about the entrance into the kingdom of God. 

 

THOSE WHO WILL BE WELCOMED AND THOSE WHO WILL BE EXCLUDED.  

THE BOOK OF JAMES BIBLE STUDY | THE FOURTH BOOK OF JAMES

Study the Bible with Me | Kim Howard

James’ Fourth Letter to the Church

Submit Yourself to God

• James 4:1, “¹From whence come wars and fighting among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in you members?” 

Personal Translation: What causes fights and quarrels among you? Do they not come from your desires that battle within you?

 

James is addressing conflict within the church—arguments, divisions, quarrels, and hostility. These are not just political or physical wars, but relational strife, tension, and discord among people.

 

James is asking a heart-searching question: What is the real source of these conflicts?

 

James answers his own question. Conflict does not begin on the outside—it begins within the human heart. The word translated as “lusts” or “desires” refers to selfish cravings—wanting control, recognition, pleasure, comfort, or things our own way. These desires “war” within us, creating inner turmoil that spills over into outward conflict. 

• James 4:2-3, “²Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. ³Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.” 

Personal Translation: You desire but do not have, so you murder. You covet but cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you can live in your own pleasures.

 

A craving for pleasure and an insatiable desire to gratify one’s own lust is what causes greed to become such a serious issue in our lives. James spends considerable time identifying its deadly root and addressing its much-needed cure. He points out that the sin of covetousness is so powerful that he links its outcome with murder—an act rooted in anger, envy, bitterness, malice, cruelty, inhumanity, and greed.

 

When the covetous self is determined to have its own way, it often results in hidden manipulation and sinful actions. This selfish drive can even lead a person to stop praying altogether, or to pray with wrong motives. And when they do pray, their prayers are self-centered. They are not seeking God’s will, wisdom, or glory, but are instead asking God to satisfy their own personal desires.

 

James teaches that God does not answer prayers driven by selfish ambition or sinful desires. God is not a tool to fulfill fleshly wants. Prayer is meant to align our hearts with God’s will—not to bend God to our own desires.

• James 4:4, “⁴Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity of God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

Personal Translation: You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is enmity of God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

 

James is speaking spiritually, not primarily about physical adultery. He is describing spiritual unfaithfulness. Just as adultery breaks a marriage covenant, loving the world breaks loyalty to God. God’s people are called to belong wholly to Him. When they turn their affections elsewhere, it is an act of covenant unfaithfulness.

 

Enmity means hostility or active opposition. To cling to the world is to choose enmity with God. The “world” James refers to is not creation or people, but a value system opposed to God—one driven by pride, selfish ambition, pleasure-seeking, power, and independence from Him. James teaches that you cannot maintain close friendship with a godless system and still be aligned with God. The two move in opposite directions.

 

When we live according to the world’s way, we do whatever it takes to get what we desire. The world teaches us to fight—sometimes aggressively—to satisfy our wants and to place personal happiness above all else. When we live and act as the world does, we show that we are friends with the world.

 

In contrast, when we follow God’s wisdom, we trust Him to provide what we truly need. Because we trust His love, goodness, and power, we do not exploit or mistreat others to get what we want. Instead, we obey God, serve one another, and seek to meet each other’s needs. This is what it means to be a friend of God.

 

To deliberately embrace the world’s values, priorities, and desires is to place oneself in opposition to God. Neutrality is not an option. Loyalty must be decided.

• James 4:5, “⁵Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?” 

Personal Translation: Do you think Scripture speaks without reason when it says that the spirit that dwells in us yearns jealously?

 

James may be asking the question, “Do you think Scripture speaks without purpose when it says that the human spirit dwelling within us is inclined toward envy?”

 

James is referring to the fallen human nature—the natural tendencies of the human heart. Our human spirit has strong desires, and without an active, Spirit-filled life, those desires easily turn toward selfish ambition and envy.

 

Throughout this section, James has been teaching Christians to follow wisdom from above, not wisdom from below (the world). He has already explained that the source of their conflicts, greed, and fighting comes from relying on worldly wisdom rather than trusting God. Their hearts were coveting, they were in conflict with one another, spiritually opposing God, and praying with selfish motives.

 

James reminds them that this struggle with envy is not new. Scripture has consistently revealed this pattern. In the Old Testament, God’s people repeatedly lusted after evil desires, and Scripture also records the consequences of those actions. Paul refers to this same truth in (1 Corinthians 10:1-11), where he explains that these events were written as examples for us.

 

Additionally, (Romans 15:4) teaches that what was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that we might learn from past failures and not repeat them.

 

James’s question, then, carries weight: “Do you think the Scriptures serve no purpose?” He is emphasizing that Scripture clearly reveals the human tendency toward envy and self-centered desire—and it also provides the wisdom and correction needed to overcome it.

• James 4:6, “⁶But He giveth more grace, Wherefore He saith, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

Personal Translation: But God gives even more grace. That is why Scripture says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’

 

After exposing pride, envy, and friendship with the world, James now points to grace. He reminds us that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (Psalm 138:6; Proverbs 29:23, Proverbs 3:34; Isaiah 57:15; Matthew 23:12)

 

Even though the human heart is prone to envy, selfish desire, and unfaithfulness, God supplies more grace—grace that is sufficient to overcome pride, sin, worldly thinking, and spiritual adultery.

 

God resists the proud—those who rely on themselves, justify their sin, or refuse correction—but He freely gives grace to those who humble themselves and repent. When a person recognizes their unfaithfulness and turns back to God, grace makes restoration possible.

 

That is what God’s grace does. It meets us where we are, corrects us, restores us, and brings us back into a relationship with God (John 1:16-17).

• James 4:7-10, “⁷Submit yourselves therefore to God, Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸Draw nigh unto God, and He will draw nigh unto you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. ⁹Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. ¹⁰Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He shall lift you up.” 

Personal Translation: Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God, and He will come near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned into mourning and your joy into sorrow. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.

 

James begins with a call to submission. Victory over sin and temptation does not start with resisting the devil—it starts with submitting to God. When a person places themselves under God’s authority, the devil loses his foothold. It means resisting, standing firm in obedience to God. When we do that, Scripture promises that the devil will flee.

 

When we draw near to God in repentance, prayer, and obedience, He responds by drawing near to us.

 

James calls for:

• Clean hands — outward repentance (turning from sinful actions)
• Pure hearts — inward repentance (turning from divided loyalties)

“Double-minded” refers to those who try to live with one foot in the world and one foot with God.

 

James is calling for godly sorrow over sin (Psalm 51:17; Matthew 5:4). When sin is taken lightly, repentance is shallow. True repentance involves recognizing the seriousness of sin and allowing it to humble us. This grief is not hopeless despair—it is the sorrow that leads to repentance and restoration (Psalm 119:71).

 

When a person humbles themselves before God—acknowledging sin, turning away from pride, and submitting to Him—God Himself lifts them up. Exaltation comes from God, not self-effort.

 

God responds to repentance with grace and exaltation

 

Judging One Another 

• James 4:11-12, “¹¹Speak 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. ¹²There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?”

Personal Translation: Do not speak evil of one another, brothers and sisters. Anyone who speaks evil of his brother or sister, or judges them, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. And if you judge the law, you are not obeying the law, but setting yourself up as a judge. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge—the One who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge your neighbor?”

 

James is addressing the Church and warning them against speaking evil of one another. When we speak evil—through slander, gossip, harsh criticism, or condemning speech—about a brother or sister, we are effectively judging them. As Christians, we must resist the temptation to criticize and find fault with members of our church family. They already have a Judge, and it is not us.

 

James teaches that when someone judges a brother or sister, they are also speaking against and judging the law. The law James refers to here is the royal law (James 2:8), which is rooted in love. God commands us to “love your neighbor as yourself.” When we judge others, we place ourselves above that law, refusing to live by it. In doing so, we are no longer doers of the law, but judges of it.

 

James reminds us that there is only one Lawgiver and Judge—God Himself. Since the One who gave the law is also the One who judges according to it, we have no authority to condemn one another. Therefore, there is never any justification for evil or condemning speech directed toward a sister or brother in Christ.

 

Plans for Tomorrow 

• James 4:13-16, “¹³Go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: ¹⁴Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. ¹⁵For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. ¹⁶But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.”

Personal Translation: Now listen, you that say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business, and make a profit.’ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’ But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

 

James is addressing believers who are making plans for their lives with confidence, but without dependence on God. The issue he exposes is boastful speech rooted in arrogance.

 

James describes a person who confidently plans to go to a certain city, stay for a set amount of time, conduct business, and make a profit. At first glance, nothing about this seems wrong—until we notice who is missing from the plans: God.

 

Neglecting to entrust our plans, hopes, and outcomes to God leads to arrogance and unbelief. The person James describes intends to live life on their own terms, by their own strength, and according to their own will. This attitude reflects self-sufficiency rather than faith, and James calls such boasting evil.

 

James reminds us how fragile life is. We do not know what tomorrow will bring. Our life is compared to a vapor—it appears for a moment and then vanishes. Only God knows the number of our days, and only He controls the future.

 

If Jesus truly is Lord of our lives, we will recognize that everything comes from His hand. Our speech will reflect humility and dependence on Him. Instead of boasting, we should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

 

James is not condemning planning—he is condemning self-sufficient planning that ignores God.

• James 4:17, “¹⁷Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

Personal Translation: So therefore, for the person who knows to do good but does not do it, to him that is a sin.

 

James closes this section with a sobering principle of responsibility.

 

This verse teaches that sin is not only the act of doing what is wrong, but also the failure to do what is right when we know better. Knowledge brings accountability. Once God has made His will clear—through Scripture, conscience, or conviction—we are responsible to act on it.

 

Simply put, every person is called to do what is right. In this context, the right thing is the will of God, lived out in dependence on Him. The only way to know what is truly right—what God commands—is through Scripture. Therefore, we must be continually in the Word of God, not merely to study and gain knowledge, but to apply it to daily living (2 Timothy 3:16-17). 

 

James reminds us that faith is lived out not only by avoiding evil, but also by actively doing good when God calls us to it. To know what is right and refuse to do it is itself sin.

 

James reminds us that faith is lived out not only by avoiding evil, but by actively doing good when God calls us to it.

 

Summary

 

In this chapter James confronts the root causes of conflict, pride, and spiritual unfaithfulness among Christians. He teaches that wars, quarrels, and strife come from selfish desires and cravings within the human heart. These unchecked desires lead to envy, conflict, wrong motives in prayer, and friendship with the world.

 

James warns that loving the world’s value system—marked by pride, self-promotion, and self-reliance—puts a person in opposition to God. Spiritual friendship with the world is spiritual adultery against God.

 

However, James emphasizes that God gives more grace. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, we are called to submit ourselves to God, resist the devil, draw near to Him, repent sincerely, and humble ourselves before the Lord, trusting that He will lift us up.

 

James also warns against speaking evil of our church family and judging one another, reminding readers that there is only one Lawgiver and Judge—God Himself.

 

Finally, James addresses arrogant, self-sufficient planning. He rebukes those who make confident plans without acknowledging God’s will, reminding us that life is brief and uncertain. True faith recognizes dependence on God in all plans and outcomes.

 

James closes the chapter with a sobering reminder: sin is not only doing wrong, but failing to do what is right when we know better. Faith is demonstrated through humble dependence on God and obedient action.