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. (James 3:1-18.) Evil speaking flows from the same spirit of exalting self at the expense of one's neighbour as caused the "fighting" reprobated, James 4:1. х Mee (G3361) katalaleite (G2635): Speak not against one another.]
Brethren. Such depreciatory speaking of one another is peculiarly unbecoming in brethren.
Speaketh evil of the law - for the law. "Love thy neighbour as thyself" (James 2:8), condemns evil speaking. He who superciliously condemns others' acts and words which do not please him, aiming at the reputation of sanctity, puts his own moroseness in the place of the law (Calvin); as though the law could not perform its own office of judging, but he must pounce upon it (Bengel). This is the last mention of the law. Here the moral law applied in its spiritual fullness by Christ: "the law of liberty."
If thou judge the law, thou art not a doer ... but a judge. Our Christian calling is to be doers of the law. But in judging our brother, we judge the law, which commands us to love our brother.