Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
Ver. 11. Speak not evil, &c.] As Ezekiel's hearers did of him "by the walls, and in the doors of the houses," Ezekiel 33:30, and as too many of ours do; for the which they will be full dearly accountable. The tale bearer hath the devil in his tongue, the tale hearer in his ear.
Speaketh evil of the law] Which flatly forbiddeth detraction. And as the strokes given upon the left side are felt upon the right, so it is here. The law is evil spoken of when a brother is evil spoken of.
And judgeth the law] As not severe enough, or as overly strait. Plato commendeth that law of the Lydians, that punisheth detractors like as they did murderers. There is a murder of the tongue also, Ezekiel 22:9 .