The Pulpit Commentary — James — Section 69

How freq,uently do we " te.ke up a reproach agninst our neigh hour" (Ps. xv. 3) ! We find it lying in our way, and we pick it up and pass it on, whereas we ought to allow it to remain where it is. Alas I even in Christian circles a small and slight rumour will sometimes expe.nd speedily into a huge inflated calumny, which will scatter mischief and misery along its path. And even mere idle speaking degenerates into evil-speaking. Gossip soon becomes back biting; scandal grows out of tittle-tattle. It is so much easier to talk of persons than of principles, that our dinner and tea parties, instead of being occupied with profitable subjects of conversation, are sometimes largely given over to the retail of scandal. We should ever bear in mind such principles as the following for our guidance in the expression of our judgments concerning others : (1) 'l'he end of speech is to bless and serve God, while evil-speaking is work done for 8atan. (2) We should direct e.ttention to the excellences rather than to the defects of our neighbour's character. (3) When we require in private life to use the language of condemnation, we ought to condemn principles rather than persons. (4) We should tell his fault to the erring brother himself rather than to others. II. 'l'HE GROUNDS OF THE PROHIBITION. One strong arii;ument is introduced inci- dentally, in the use of the words "brethren" and "brother." Depreciatory and calumnious language towards one another is subversive of the whole idea of In-other- hood. It is inconsistent with the recognition of the common brotherhood of the race, and tenfold more so in relation to the special spiritual brotherhood of believers. The apostle, however, submits expressly two grounds for his condemnation. 'l'o judge and speak evil is: 1. To condemn the Divine Law. (Ver. 11.) "The law" refers to the moral code which was given by Moses, and fulfilled and made honourable by Jesus Christ. It is the same which James has spoken of in eh. i. as" the law of liberty." or this law the second great commandment is," Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" -a precept which embraces within it the "judge not" of the Lord Jesus (Matt. vii. 1). Dnt the man who ~peaks evil of his brother virtually condemns the New Testament ethics as unsound, and pronounces the moral law to be unworthy of obedience. 2. Tu usurp the functions of the Divine Judge. (Vers. 11, 12.) Our proper place and work as Christians is that of humble submission to the authority of the law. If, however, we speak evil regarding our fellows, we in so doing withdraw altogether from the attitude of subjection. In "judging our brother" we climb up to the judicial bench ; we usurp the seat of him who administers the law, and who is not himself under it. But how frightful the impiety that is involved in such usurpation! "One only is the Lawgiver and Judge;" he alone pronounces infallible judgruents, and possesses power to execute them. His sentenc,,,s are spoken for doom; yet he loves to "save," and it gives him "no pleasure" tc, "destroy." LESSONS. 1. The presumptuousness of evil-judging. " Who art thou that judgest thy neighbour?" Man lacks tbe requisite knowledge and wisdom and purity. 2. The duty of cultivating love of the brethren. 3. The importance of copying in our lives the perfect character of the godly man, as mirrored in Ps. xv. 4. The reasonableness of fearing God, as the one true and final Judge.-C. J. Vers. 13-17.-" Man proposes, but God disposes." The subject here is another prevalent manifestation of pride and worldliness; namely, the propensity to indulge in presumptuous self-reliance in relation to the future. I. THE SPIRIT OF VAIN CONFIDENCE WHICH THE Al'0STLE REBUKES. (Ver. 13.) He appeals directly to worldly-minded merchants and money-makers. The Jews, like our- selveij, have been e. nation of shopkeepers. In these early times many of them carried the products of one country to the commercial centres of another. 'l'he same trader might be found one year at Antioch, the next at Alexandria, the following year at Darnascus,and the fourth perhaps at Corinth. Now, the apostle solemnly rebukes those who formed their business plans without taking into account the providence of God, or even the uncertainty of human life. He is very far from stigmatizing commercial enterprise as a form of worldliness. He does not censure the formation of business schemes even for long years to come, provided such be contemplated in subordination to the Divine will, and be not allowed to interfere with spiritual consecration to his service. What hlj condemns is the spirit of self-sufficiency in regard to the continuance of life and activity 11,nd success (Ps. xlix. 11; Isa. lvi. 12; Luke xii. 19). lie rebukes the 64 'l'HE GENERAL EPISTLE OF JAMES. [on. IV, 1-17,