James 4:12

(12) There is one lawgiver . . . .—Better thus: One is the Law-giver and Judge, Who is able to save and to destroy: but thou—who art thou that judgest a neighbour? As a king is the fountain of honour, so the ultimate source of law is God; and all judgment really is delegated by Him, just as ordinary courts represent the royal majesty: to usurp such functions is to provoke the offended sovereign—whether of earth or heaven. “It is not our part,” said Bengel, “to judge, since we cannot carry out our sentence.” (Comp. a parallel scripture, Romans 14:4.)

Able to save and to destroy.—Life and death, salvation and utter destruction, seem to be placed in intentional contrast here. (Comp. Matthew 10:28.) The thought of annihilation meets us with awful suggestiveness, yet let us leave the mystery for awhile in happier thought—

“That nothing walks with aimless feet;

That not one life shall be destroyed,Or cast as rubbish to the void,

When God hath made the pile complete.”