(9) Grudge not.--Say in preference, Murmur not. "Grudge" has curiously changed its meaning from an outward murmur to an inward feeling. It has unfortunately been retained both here and in 1 Peter 4:9. See also Psalm 59:15, specially the Prayer Book version, "They will . . . grudge if they be not satisfied"--i.e., complain and murmur.
Lest ye . . .--It is not "lest ye be condemned," but lest ye be judged, repeating the exact words of the original in Matthew 7:1.
Behold, the judge standeth before the door.--Compare this scene with that depicted in Revelation 3:20. In the one Christ lingers mercifully outside the door that "loves its hinge"; fain would He enter and abide. In the other He sounds a note of alarm; men are "waked in the night, not girding their loins for a journey, but in vague wonder at uncertain noise, who may turn again to their slumber," or in wistful listening wait in vain for the voice of mercy which shall plead with them no more for ever (Ruskin).
One of the mocking questions put to St. James by his enemies, as they hurried him to death, was, "Which is the door of Jesus?" And failing to receive an answer to their mind, they said, "Let us stone this James the Just!" which they did, after they had cast him over the Temple wall.
Verse 9. - Grudge not, brethren; better, with R.V., murmur not - a meaning which "grudge" had in the seventeenth century; cf. Psalm 59:15 (Prayer-book version), "They will run here and there for meat, and grudge if they be not satisfied." What is the connection of this verse with the preceding? "Murmuring" implies sitting in judgment upon others, which has been expressly forbidden by the Lord himself. It is also the opposite to that μακροθυμία to which St. James has been exhorting his readers. Lest ye be condemned; rather, that ye be not judged. Ἵνα μὴ κριθῆτε, as in Matthew 7:1. Κατακριθῆτε of the Received Text has absolutely no authority, nor has the omission of the article before κριτής in the following clause. Behold, the Judge, etc. The nearness of the judgment is expressed by saying that the Judge is actually standing "before the doors (πρὸ τῶν θυρῶν)." So also our Lord, in his great discourse on the judgment, says (Matthew 24:33), "When ye see all these things, know that he is nigh, even at the doors (ἐγγύς ἐστιν ἐπὶ θύραις);" and comp. Revelation 3:20, where he says, "Behold, I stand at the door (ἕστηκα ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν), and knock."
5:7-11 Consider him that waits for a crop of corn; and will not you wait for a crown of glory? If you should be called to wait longer than the husbandman, is not there something more worth waiting for? In every sense the coming of the Lord drew nigh, and all his people's losses, hardships, and sufferings, would be repaid. Men count time long, because they measure it by their own lives; but all time is as nothing to God; it is as a moment. To short-lived creatures a few years seem an age; but Scripture, measuring all things by the existence of God, reckons thousands of years but so many days. God brought about things in Job's case, so as plainly to prove that he is very pitiful and of tender mercy. This did not appear during his troubles, but was seen in the event, and believers now will find a happy end to their trials. Let us serve our God, and bear our trials, as those who believe that the end will crown all. Our eternal happiness is safe if we trust to him: all else is mere vanity, which soon will be done with for ever.
Grudge not one against another, brethren,.... On account of any happiness, temporal or spiritual, which another enjoys; do not inwardly repine at it; or secretly sigh and groan in an envious manner at it, though nothing may be said, as the word used signifies; much less complain of, accuse, and condemn one another, or meditate and seek revenge:
lest ye be condemned; hereafter, at the bar of Christ, by the Judge of the whole earth, who is privy to the secret murmurings and grumblings, and the envious sighs and groans of men; see Matthew 7:1
behold the judge standeth before the door; there is another that judgeth, who is the Lord, and he is at hand; he is just at the door; a little while and he will come, and not tarry; which may refer not to Christ's coming to destroy Jerusalem, but to his second coming to judgment, which will be quickly; for the Gospel times are the last times; there will be no other age; at the end of this, Christ will come.
Lest ye . . .--It is not "lest ye be condemned," but lest ye be judged, repeating the exact words of the original in Matthew 7:1.
Behold, the judge standeth before the door.--Compare this scene with that depicted in Revelation 3:20. In the one Christ lingers mercifully outside the door that "loves its hinge"; fain would He enter and abide. In the other He sounds a note of alarm; men are "waked in the night, not girding their loins for a journey, but in vague wonder at uncertain noise, who may turn again to their slumber," or in wistful listening wait in vain for the voice of mercy which shall plead with them no more for ever (Ruskin).
One of the mocking questions put to St. James by his enemies, as they hurried him to death, was, "Which is the door of Jesus?" And failing to receive an answer to their mind, they said, "Let us stone this James the Just!" which they did, after they had cast him over the Temple wall.
lest ye be condemned; hereafter, at the bar of Christ, by the Judge of the whole earth, who is privy to the secret murmurings and grumblings, and the envious sighs and groans of men; see Matthew 7:1
behold the judge standeth before the door; there is another that judgeth, who is the Lord, and he is at hand; he is just at the door; a little while and he will come, and not tarry; which may refer not to Christ's coming to destroy Jerusalem, but to his second coming to judgment, which will be quickly; for the Gospel times are the last times; there will be no other age; at the end of this, Christ will come.