Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. – Matthew 23:12
Biographer Rackman Holt tells the story of George Washington Carver, the American agricultural scientist and inventor who pioneered the use of alternative crops in order to avoid soil depletion. Growing peanuts was one such measure, and Carver helped develop hundreds of useful products from that unpresuming legume. “When I was young,” Carver said, “I asked God to tell me the mystery of the universe, but God answered, ‘That knowledge is reserved for me alone.’ So I said, ‘God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.’ Then God said, ‘Well, George, that’s more nearly your size.’” Carter was learning the necessity for lowliness of mind.
In Matthew 23, Jesus chastises the Jewish scribes and Pharisees, pronouncing seven woes upon them for not practicing what they preach. Among their character faults was the lack of humility. Pastor and teacher Dwight Edwards wrote, “True humility is not putting ourselves down but rather lifting up others. If we concentrate on lifting up others, putting down ourselves will take care of itself. As we go through life exalting Christ and others, then genuine humility will be inevitable. If we exalt ourselves, then God will take care of our humiliation, for He promises to humble the proud. It is much less painful to do it the first way.”
Humility and gentleness, lowliness and meekness, are related with one another (Ephesians 4, Philippians 2), and are part of maintaining unity in the church. In Romans 12:3, the Apostle Paul warns you not to think more highly or yourself than you ought to. Humility is an attitude, a mindset, and the opposite of arrogance and pride. Humility, according to theologian W. E. Vine, begins as “the subjection of self under the authority of and in response to the love of the Lord Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit to conform the believer to the character of Christ.” Learn humility from the example of Jesus, who was filled with gentleness, meekness, and holiness, although he was God incarnate. The Holy Spirit will gently remind you, if you ask Him to!
Today’s Verse: Matthew 23:12
Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: Matthew 23:1-12
Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat, 3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice. 4 They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to move them with their finger. 5 They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, 6 and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues 7 and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. 8 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. 10 Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. 11 The greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
