He now proceeds to speak of the deportment of Christians towards each other, and commends the mutual exercise of long-suffering and forbearance. They should not indulge in mutual accusations, appealing to God against one another, but leave all to the judgment of God. They should not desire, by thus mutually condemning one another, to anticipate the Judge who will soon appear. His words remind us of our Saviour's admonition in the Sermon on the Mount: Judge not, that ye be not judged. "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold the judge standeth before the door." He then sets before them the examples of the prophets as models of patience; especially the example of Job, in whom, after he had endured every trial of his patience, the mercy of God was so gloriously displayed. "Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction and of patience." The thought is doubtless this: They have spoken in the name of the Lord, and yet have suffered so much, -- and that for the Lord's sake. If the prophets, so highly honored and speaking in the name of the Lord, have endured such suffering, how could we expect a different lot? "Behold we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord" (i. e. the end brought about by him, the final issue which the Lord granted to all his trials); "that the Lord is very pitiful and of tender mercy." |