James 5:9

"Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door"."Do not complain" -"Present active imperative, "stop groaning against one another" (Robertson p. 62). "Troubles tend to make the impatient complain against even those closest to them" (Roberts p. 194). "Hostility from others is not easily endured. James was well aware of the human propensity to lash out in retaliation, or at least to complain against real or imagined instigators" (Kent p. 178). Complaining is. very real temptation and various professed believers haven't faired very well when facing hardship (1 Corinthians 10:1). "against one another" -"Sometimes, when we are bombarded by problems of those outside of…our family, our church….our tempers often get short with each other. Sometimes we take our frustrations out on those closest to us….'Do not let the pressure that is brought to bear on you from outside cause you to be unchristian with each other'…..The picture is very clear. Imagine. member of. first-century church being arrested because of his commitment to Christ. Another member is not arrested. It was probably hard for the one who was thrown in jail to have. kind attitude toward the one who was free. James says, 'Don't look at someone else and complain because they are not suffering as you are. Don't try to involve others in your misery.' " (Draper p. 152). "that you yourselves may not be judged" -(Matthew 7:1). Again, hypocritical, hypercritical, and judging from wrong motives is under consideration. Those who complain and murmur and take their anger and frustration out on others are in danger of facing divine condemnation. God isn't impressed with people who complain. We may be suffering, but once we start complaining and murmuring against others, we are not longer playing the role of an innocent victim."behold, the Judge is standing right at the door" -"literally, 'is standing before the doors' (perfect active indicative), and thus ready to execute sentence" (Woods p. 280).

Point To Note:

The above expression doesn't mean that James believed that Jesus was going to come that day. Rather, Jesus stands ready to judge and could come at any moment. "the day of retribution for the evil is certain and sure and the one who shall administer punishment should be regarded as at the door, ready to enter at any time…..It was therefore vitally important that those to whom James wrote should open the door without advance notice and discover that instead of waiting patiently and faithfully for him they were fretful, dissatisfied and morose, and engaged in quarrels among themselves" (Woods p. 280). "The reminder that 'the Judge is standing right at the door' should be. caution that judgment may not be some hazy, theoretical, far-distant event" (Kent p. 178). Compare with Revelation 3:20; 1 Peter 4:5 "who is ready to judge the living and the dead". Note that Christians are here warned, indicating that we can end up condemned if we become unfaithful.