Isaiah 65:5
Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day. Which say, Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou. These are a smoke in my nose, a fire that burneth all the day.
The verse exposes a proud claim of superior holiness that separates the speaker from others and tells them to stand apart and not come near.
It portrays worship offered not as a sinner needing pardon but as one already righteous, full of self-praise, self-satisfaction and contempt for others while seeking merit and reputation for piety.
That same spirit holds itself apart from the sick and needy as pure and specially favored, condemns sufferers instead of relieving them, and refuses fellowship and service with brethren whose ways do not agree, judging character and limiting God's grace.
Sharp, overbearing words and harsh treatment of souls in peril express this same claim to exalted holiness, offering dishonoring strange fire instead of the sacred fire of divine love.
The attitude ceases when the Holy Spirit humbles the heart, so that instead of standing aloof in bigotry and intolerance, believers share truth in love, draw near to the erring and repentant with meekness and mercy, and seek the lost.
Even correct reasoning and true words will never touch hearts when spoken in this stiff spirit; only Christ's love manifested in word and act wins its way to the soul and draws sinners to repentance.
Words and Setting
The command to stand by oneself and not come near expresses a proud claim to be holier than others that separates the speaker from them. It is a spirit of proud separation that tells others to keep away, keeps them at a distance, and refuses to come near to those who have erred instead of reaching out to help them. It is the self-righteous spirit that draws apart on the claim of superior holiness, coming not as a sinner needing pardon but as one who thinks himself righteous. Such worship is regarded as an act of merit prompted by self-interest to win divine commendation and a high reputation for piety, and it is full of self-praise and complete self-satisfaction shown in appearance, bearing, and prayer, as if regarded with complacency.
In Isaiah 65 God gives decided reproof for complaining and evil working and ways He does not accept, calling His people to heed His words and stop complaining and doing evil. That reproof falls especially on those in high positions carrying great responsibility who have disregarded His reproofs and neglected to warn His people to understand truth. He calls them to take His words, put away the evil of their works, draw near, repent and be converted. When that reformation goes through the congregation, the Lord will manifest His power and appear for the conviction and conversion of souls.
The chapter applies to church members made guilty by failing to seek the lost sheep. That neglected duty must be acknowledged before George Lay can be reached and brought into the fold.
Self-Righteous Spirit Exposed
The verse portrays the worship of the Pharisee who goes up to the temple not because he feels himself a sinner in need of pardon but because he thinks himself righteous. His worship is an act of merit prompted by self-interest to win commendation from God and a high opinion of piety from people, and it is full of self-praise and self-satisfaction shown in how he looks and walks and prays. He draws apart from others on the claim of superior holiness, standing apart in complete self-satisfaction as if God and men regard him with complacency, praising himself while despising others.
The same spirit thinks more highly of itself than it ought to think and claims to know Scripture better than fellow believers. It clings to singular and fanciful views of Scripture as zealously as the Jews clung to their traditions, lacks a teachable spirit, and is difficult to approach. Left uncorrected this condition is alarming, keeps a person in constant danger, and makes trouble in the church. Toward the sick and needy it holds itself apart as pure and enjoying special favor while looking coldly on sufferers and condemning them. It treats sickness and distress as always proof of divine anger toward a transgressor, pronounces the afflicted incurable and suffering righteous retribution, and adds to the woe of tortured mind and body instead of giving sympathy and relief, while in heart and life those who speak this way are often more corrupt than the poor sufferers they condemn.
Toward brethren it stands apart from those for whom God works and refuses to connect with them in religious service because ways do not agree. It acts in an oppressive manner, cherishes hatred in the heart, excludes brethren from fellowship and councils on the supposition that they are wanting in some respects, sets itself up as judge of character, presumes to limit God in the working of His grace, and shows the absence of the love of Christ which forbids all oppression. The verse condemns measuring fellow workers by human standards and judging their influence, since people cannot read one another's hearts or reliably judge one another, while God alone judges each person's work.
Sharp, overbearing words toward a brother mean claiming superior holiness and demanding recognition of exalted position, displaying self-importance and disregard for people in peril and in danger. This belongs especially to men in positions of trust connected with the work of God who are exalted in their own estimation because of place, who neglect other souls fully as precious as their own, handling them roughly, bruising and wounding them and leaving them to die. It is a fearful, fatal deception proving lack of converting power, and it offers strange fire dishonoring to God instead of the sacred fire of divine love which would make men tender and kind and sympathetic toward those in peril, conduct opposed to Christlike tenderness and sympathy. The verse condemns the proud claim to be holier than others and the contemptuous rejection of people judged unworthy, justifying indifference or contempt toward a brother while failing to examine one's own words and actions by God's standard and Christ's life. Such critical, Pharisaical harshness fosters judgment, condemnation, hatred and dissension, and excludes Jesus from the church. Refusing association or help from others in this Pharisaical spirit that tells others to keep away provokes hostility and brings reproach on God's cause.
One who condemns in this spirit may have different sins that are greater in God's sight, and must consider himself lest he also be tempted. Treating repentant sinners with coldness or superiority imitates this proud, self-righteous attitude that keeps others at a distance and claims greater holiness for itself. The verse forbids exclusiveness that seeks out only congenial and seemingly perfect or agreeable associates and stands aloof from those seen as weak or foolish, leaving the rest to take care of themselves and to struggle alone against the passions of their hearts, when those despised souls are the ones needing love, sympathy, help and prayers.
Christlike Love Instead
The holier-than-thou attitude that separates by claiming superior holiness ceases when the Holy Spirit works, making people humble instead of exalting self and showing Christ's spirit and example through greater patience, kindness and love. The verse warns against bigotry and intolerance that shuts Christians away from fellow people. Instead of standing aloof they are to lovingly share the truth that has blessed them. That sharing does not mean joining in sinful pleasures or activities that disregard God, since that would misrepresent faith and mislead others.
Believers must not distance themselves from those who have erred or from repentant sinners with coldness or superiority. Judging and condemning fellow believers who do not see things as they do, and saying in spirit that one is holier, is contrary to Christ's spirit. They must remain loyal to principle while refusing sin in a Christlike spirit, showing tender compassion to those who have wandered rather than exalting self. They are to meet the weak with meekness and Christlike love, with tender compassion, concern, love, mercy and help, seeking the lost and struggling. They are to encourage the penitent to seek pardon and serve Him, joining together in sympathy and love and striving together for eternal life. Kindness that seeks to win neighbors to Christ is more fruitful than spiritual superiority, fault-finding and denunciation.
Believers must not be exclusive, choosing only congenial and seemingly perfect associates and leaving the rest to care for themselves. Souls despised as weak and foolish are the ones needing love, sympathy, help and prayers, and must not be left to struggle alone against the passions of their hearts. Those who feel whole must fall upon the Rock and be broken and submit so Christ can change them into His likeness. What is needed is less of self and more of Christ's spirit, daily converting power on the heart, and a mellowed, subdued and softened soul. The pattern is Christ who reaches with divine arm and power around the poor, sin-sick and discouraged to lift them to a higher life.
A stiff spirit of feeling holier than others, even when reasoning is correct and words are true, will never touch hearts. Only the One who reads the heart knows how to bring people to repentance, and only His wisdom gives success in reaching the lost. The love of Christ manifested in word and act will win its way to the soul and draw sinners toward repentance. Reiteration of precept, correct argument, stern words or harsh conduct accomplish nothing where that love would prevail.