Who art thou that judgest another man's servant
This is another reason, dissuading from censoriousness and rash
judgment, taken from civil things; one man has nothing to do with
another man's servant; he has no power over him, nor any right to
call him to an account for his actions; nor has he any business
to censure or condemn him for them, or concern himself about
them: so the believer supposed to be judged, does not belong to
him that takes upon him to judge and condemn him; he is another's
servant, he is the servant of God: he is chosen by God the Father
for his service, as well as unto salvation; he is bought with the
price of Christ's blood, and therefore not his own, nor
another's, but Christ's, he is bought with his money; and he is
also born in his house, the church; the Spirit of God in
regeneration forms him for himself, for righteousness and
holiness; under the influence of whose grace he voluntarily gives
up himself to the service of God, and is assisted by him to keep
his statutes and do them; and what has another to do with him?
what power has he over him, or right to judge him?
to his own master he standeth or falleth,
the meaning of which is, either if he "stands", that is, if he
serves his Lord and master, of which "standing" is expressive;
and continues in the service of him, whose servant he professes
to be; this is to his master's advantage and profit, and not to
another's: and if he "falls", that is, from his obedience to him,
as such who profess to be the servants of God may; they may fall
off from the doctrine of grace they have embraced; and that
either totally and finally, as such do who never felt the power
of it in their hearts; or partially, from some degree of
steadfastness in the faith: and such also may fall from a lively
exercise of the graces of faith, hope, and love, and into great
sins, which is to their master's dishonour, and cause his ways
and truths to be evil spoken of; and so it is to their own master
they fail: or else the sense is, to their own master they are
accountable, whether they stand or fall, serve or disobey him;
and it is according to his judgment and not another's, that they
"stand", or are and will be justified and acquitted, and will
hear, well done, good and faithful servant; and according to the
same they will "fall", or be condemned, and hear, take the
slothful and unprofitable servant, and cast him into outer
darkness: so the words "standing" and "failing" are used by the
Jews in a forensic sense, for carrying or losing a cause, for
justification or condemnation in a court of judicature, and
particularly in the last judgment: and so they explain ( Psalms 1:5 ) , "the
ungodly shall not stand in the judgment": the Targum paraphrases
it,
``the wicked shall not be justified in the great day;''and Jarchi upon the place says, there shall be no (lgr tmqh) , "standing of the foot" of the wicked, in the day of judgment; see ( Luke 21:36 ) ( 1 John 2:28 ) .
Yea, ye shall be holden up;
which words seem to be a sort of correction of the apostle's, as
if he should say, why do I talk of falling, one that is a true
servant of the Lord's shall not fall, at least not totally and
finally, nor in the last judgment; for he is holden by the right
hand of God, by the right hand of his righteousness, and is kept
by the power of God through faith unto salvation:
for God is able to make him stand;
and will make him stand: words of power oftentimes include
willingness as well as ability; see ( Judges 5:24 ) . God
will make such to persevere to the end, because he has loved them
with an everlasting love, chosen them in Christ, made a covenant
with them in him, and has put them into his hands, and made them
his care and charge; Christ has redeemed them by his blood, now
intercedes, and is making preparations for them in heaven; they
are united to him, and are built on him, the sure foundation; and
the Spirit of God has begun that good work, which shall be
performed. God will make such to stand in judgment with
intrepidity, and without shame, being clothed with the
righteousness of his Son; and shall therefore have the crown of
righteousness given them, and an abundant entrance administered
into his kingdom and glory: hence they ought not to be judged by
man's judgment, nor need they regard it. The Alexandrian copy
reads, "the Lord is able"