The next admonition is on evil speaking and the judicial spirit which is so often its root.
“Speak not against one another, brethren. He that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against law and judgeth law; but if thou judgest law, thou art not a doer of law but a judge. One is the law-giver and judge that is able to save and destroy; but who art thou that judgest thy neighbor” (vers. 11, 12)?
Here was the suited place to apply particularly what the Epistle had in chap. 2 guarded against in a general way, when on all it impressed slowness in speaking as well as in wrath. This was pursued again in chap. 3 to the strict government of the tongue from over readiness to teach; seeing that fair words and foul from the same lips ought not so to be, and may easily prove occasion of stumbling. Here it follows the exposure of the inward spring of self will in violence and corruption, without duly heeding scripture and the Spirit Who leads to prayer with subjection to God, and confidence in Him and His grace.
The exhortation is as to our ordinary but God-fearing intercourse. The necessities of godly discipline are not in question. Holy love is bound to rebuke what is wrong in those guilty of it, and to warn those who may be endangered by the evil example. Wrong in these cases must be laid bare though it ought to be in sorrow; but it is due to the Lord, and for the profit of those concerned. If there be a public snare and peril, this makes a corresponding admonition to be a duty, and is love in truth.
But to spread disparagement or discreditable imputations without a call from God according to His word, and with no effort to seek the good of the alleged evil-doers, is not only far from Christ, but beneath even a Jew. There is neither truth nor love in detraction, but constant liability to false witness: a multitude must not be followed to do such uncomely turns, any more than to favor a poor man in his cause. The nearness of our relationship is apt to lend occasion to freedom of speech, but it clearly ought rather to enforce on us the greater caution. “Speak not against one another, brethren.” Entreaty or remonstrance may be called for; but angry and especially habitual depreciation is unworthy of those that bear the Lord's name. Is it to injure? How does He regard it? “He that speaketh against a brother, or judgeth his brother, speaketh against law and judgeth law; but if thou judgest law, thou art not a doer of law but a judge.” Not only the uncharitable act, but the judicial assumption which it must involve, are here exposed with transparent soundness. The brother spoken against may be innocent; the evil-speaker is certainly in a false position and an injurious state. The authority which all acknowledge condemns him, at least of being censorious, usurping the seat of judgment, and disputing the authority he invokes. Nor is God mocked: for we reap as we sow, if of flesh, corruption; if of Spirit, life everlasting.
“But if thou judgest law, thou art not a doer of law but a judge.” How true it is that the readiest to blame others are the least careful over themselves, and need most correction for their heedless ways and their hasty judgments!
How solemn too the appeal to conscience! “One is the law-giver and judge, that is able to save and destroy.” How grave is the rebuke to any who so offend! “But who art thou that judgest thy neighbor?” Grace and self-judgment can alone enable us to abhor the evil and cleave to the good: may we cultivate both.