Moral or Sanctimonious

…“And why worry about a speck in your friend's eye (Greek your brother's eye)when you have a log in your own?… This rhetorical question by the Lord Jesus incisively points out a sin common among most Christians–the sin of sanctimoniousness, committed in the good name of morality. It is easy to criticize fellow Christians for their moral or ethical deficiencies while simultaneously justifying one’s self for the same or worse defects.

Romans 2:1

You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.

True morality is generated internally from a heart of gratitude and love for the Lord and His Word, then manifested externally in a godly life of non-self-cantered service. Sanctimoniousness (self rightiousness) is generated from a heart of pride and is manifested in a critical spirit. Morality judges one’s self; sanctimoniousness judges others.

This inconsistency afflicts all of us to some degree, so we need to be especially alert to its outcropping in our own lives. We must condemn sin, of course, but we must at least be as concerned to correct it in ourselves as we are in others.

Romans 14:10

So why do you condemn another believer? Why do you look down on another believer? Remember, we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.

And if, indeed, we do see a speck–or even a log–in a brother’s eye, one that really needs to be removed for the Lord’s sake and that of His testimony, the best procedure is not one of sanctimonious rebuke, but of gentle and empathetic edification.

Galatians 6:1

Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly (Greek spiritual) should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. And be careful not to fall into the same temptation yourself