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By Roger A. Scully, Jr.
violence would come. They were described by the prophets as being deceived saying, “peace, peace, when there is
no peace” (Jer 6.14). They were also guilty of rabbit’s foot religion by thinking the temple of the Lord would save
them (Jer 7.4). Filled with pride they would look to the nations around them as being wicked, unworthy and less than
deserving of God’s love. Isaiah records them saying, “come not near to me; for I am holier than thou” (Isa 65.5). The
problem, however, was that they were doing the same things as those of whom they thought themselves to be
better. They were filled with “iniquities” and had “blasphemed” the Lord (v.7). They were “rebellious” “walking in the
way that was not good” following “their own thoughts (V.2). They “provoked” the Lord “to anger” by “sacrificing in
gardens” (v.3). Despite this reality they held the loathsome attitude saying, “I am holier than thou.” For this cause
Jehovah said, “These are a smoke in my nose,” the meaning of which being that they were an unpleasant and
unpleasing thing.
There are multitudes today that have the same “holier than thou” attitude. They view others as sinners, and
themselves as righteous, despite the fact that they are guilty of the same behavior. These people place all the
blame on others and take no responsibility for their own actions. Without doubt, “these are a smoke in my [Jehovah’
s] nose.”
Now, while it is true that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom 3.23), it is also true that some
have been reconciled by the blood of the Lamb (cf. 1 Pet 1.19). These people strive to walk uprightly (1 Cor 15.58;
1 Jn 1.7; Col 1.23), acknowledging their wrong (1 Jn 1.8-10), because of constant self-examination (2 Cor 13.5).
Once the wrong has been realized corrections are made. It is they who attempt to recognize the reality of man’s
weak flesh (Matt 26.41); hence it is they who strive to show compassion and mercy, as did our Lord (1 Pet 2.21).
Yet, others remain “obsessed about…strifes of words, where cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,
perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth” (1 Tim 6.4, 5). It is they who continually
blame and accuse the faithful of hypocrisy, while they walk in darkness. No doubt, the faithful make mistakes (1 Jn
1.8, 9), but the faithful attempt to make corrections so as to be right with the Father (Jms 5.16). Despite their efforts
they are called hypocrites by those who say, “stand by thyself, come not near to me” (Isa 65.5).
Do not become discouraged at this, brethren, “for there must be also heresies among you, that they which are
approved may be made manifest among you” (1 Cor 11.19). Correct your own mistakes, recognizing the beam in
your eye (Matt 7.1-5); walk uprightly, and help others do the same, even if they “prat against you with malicious
words (3 Jn 10).
