James 4:12

‘But who are you who judge your neighbour?’

Now James finally faces them (and us) up with the truth about themselves. They are not important enough or sophisticated enough to behave like God and judge their neighbour. Indeed they are so frail that with all their big ideas they do not even know whether they will last another day (James 4:13). What they should therefore do is recognise that all are in the same situation together, and should do what the Law says, and that is that they should love their neighbours as they love themselves (compare James 2:8, where it is also linked with judgment), and therefore seek to do them good (James 4:17). That is far more in accord with what they are than the idea that they have a right to pass judgment.