James 4:11

Rebuke of Evil-speaking

11. Speak not evil one of another, brethren The last word indicates the commencement of a new section. It scarcely, however, introduces a new topic. The writer dwells with an iteration, needful for others, and not grievous to himself, (Philippians 3:1) on the ever-besetting sin of his time and people, against which he had warned his readers in Ch. James 1:19-20; James 1:26, and throughout Ch. 3.

speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law The logical train of thought seems to run thus. To speak against a brother is to condemn him; to condemn, when no duty calls us to it, is to usurp the function of a judge. One who so usurps becomes ipso factoa transgressor of the law, the royal law, of Christ, which forbids judging (Matthew 7:1-5). The "brother" who is judged is not necessarily such as a member of the Christian society. The superscription of the Epistle includes under that title every one of the family of Abraham, perhaps, every child of Adam.