John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 4. Are ye not then partial in yourselves , etc.] That is, guilty of such partiality as must appear to yourselves, and your own consciences must accuse you of; or do not ye distinguish, or make a difference among yourselves, by such a conduct, towards the rich and the poor: and are become judges of evil thoughts ; or are distinguishers by evil thoughts; that is, make a distinction between the rich and the poor, by an evil way of thinking, that one is better than the other, and to be preferred before him.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-13 - Those who profess faith in Christ as the Lord of glory, must no respect persons on account of mere outward circumstances an appearances, in a manner not agreeing with their profession of being disciples of the lowly Jesus. St. James does not here encourag rudeness or disorder: civil respect must be paid; but never such as to influence the proceedings of Christians in disposing of the offices of the church of Christ, or in passing the censures of the church, or in any matter of religion. Questioning ourselves is of great use in ever part of the holy life. Let us be more frequent in this, and in ever thing take occasion to discourse with our souls. As places of worshi cannot be built or maintained without expense, it may be proper tha those who contribute thereto should be accommodated accordingly; but were all persons more spiritually-minded, the poor would be treate with more attention that usually is the case in worshippin congregations. A lowly state is most favourable for inward peace and for growth in holiness. God would give to all believers riches an honours of this world, if these would do them good, seeing that he ha chosen them to be rich in faith, and made them heirs of his kingdom which he promised to bestow on all who love him. Consider how ofte riches lead to vice and mischief, and what great reproaches are throw upon God and religion, by men of wealth, power, and worldly greatness and it will make this sin appear very sinful and foolish. The Scriptur gives as a law, to love our neighbour as ourselves. This law is a roya law, it comes from the King of kings; and if Christians act unjustly they are convicted by the law as transgressors. To think that our goo deeds will atone for our bad deeds, plainly puts us upon looking for another atonement. According to the covenant of works, one breach of any one command brings a man under condemnation, from which n obedience, past, present, or future, can deliver him. This shows us the happiness of those that are in Christ. We may serve him without slavis fear. God's restraints are not a bondage, but our own corruptions ar so. The doom passed upon impenitent sinners at last, will be judgmen without mercy. But God deems it his glory and joy, to pardon and bles those who might justly be condemned at his tribunal; and his grac teaches those who partake of his mercy, to copy it in their conduct.
Greek Textus Receptus
και 2532 CONJ ου 3756 PRT-N διεκριθητε 1252 5681 V-API-2P εν 1722 PREP εαυτοις 1438 F-3DPM και 2532 CONJ εγενεσθε 1096 5633 V-2ADI-2P κριται 2923 N-NPM διαλογισμων 1261 N-GPM πονηρων 4190 A-GPM
Vincent's NT Word Studies
4. Are ye not partial in yourselves? (ou diekriqhte en eautoiv). Wrong. The constant sense of the verb in the New Testament is doubt, except Acts xi. 2; Jude 9, where it means dispute. Compare ch. i. 6. The meaning here is, therefore, that, in making a distinction between the rich and the poor, they expressed a doubt concerning the faith which they professed, and which abolished such distinctions. Hence, Rev., rightly, Are ye not divided in your own mind?Judges of evil thoughts (kritiai dialogismwn ponhrwn). Better, as Rev., "judges with evil thoughts." The form of expression is the same as in Luke xviii. 6, krithv thv ajdikiav, the judge of injustice, i.e., the unjust judge. So Jas. i. 25, a hearer of forgetfulness. The word thoughts is, rather, reasonings. See on deceiving yourselves (ch. i. 22). Compare Luke v. 21. Their evil processes of thought lead to these unjust discriminations.
