PRIDE, SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS & HUMILITY

1. What does God think about pride?

A. He hates it:

*Pro.6:16,17*These...doth the Lord hate: a proud look

*Pro.16:5*Every one that is proud...is an abomination to Lord

B. We should hate it too:

*Pro.8:13*The fear of the Lord is to hate...pride & arrogancy

C. Pride is a sin, not a virtue:

*Pro.21:4a*An high look, & a proud heart...is sin

*Hab.2:4*Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright

*1Jn.2:16*Pride...is not of the Father, but is of the world

2. Why is it wrong for us to be proud?

A. Because only the Lord is great; we are not:

*Psa.66:5-7*Come & see the works of God...He ruleth...let not the rebellious exalt themselves

*Psa.97:9*Thou, Lord, art high... exalted far above all

*Ezk.28:2*Thine heart is lifted up...yet thou art a man, & not God, though thou set thine heart as...God

*Phi.2:9,10*God hath highly exalted Him (Jesus), & given Him a name above every name...every knee should bow

*(See also   Psa.21:13 ;  57:5,11 ;  108:5 ;  Isa.2:11,17 .)

B. God alone should get the glory:

*Acts 12:20-23*Angel...smote him, because he gave not God the glory

*1Cor.10:31*Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God

*(See also  Jer.9:23,24 ;  1Cor.1:28,29 .)

C. Pride makes us ignore & forget God:

*Deut.8:14*(When) thine heart be lifted up...thou forget the Lord

*Psa.10:4*The wicked, through...pride...will not seek after God

*Hos.13:6b*Heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten Me

D. God will distance Himself from & resist the proud:

*Psa.138:6*The proud He (the Lord) knoweth afar off

*Jam.4:6*God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto humble

E. Pride makes us rebel against the Word:

*Neh.9:16,17,29*They dealt proudly...& hearkened not to Thy (Word)

F. It gives us an exaggerated sense of greatness:

*Oba.3*The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, that saith, Who shall bring me down?

*Rom.12:3*(Thinking) of himself more highly than he ought to

*Gal.6:3*If a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself

G. It creates self-exaltation & a desire to be honoured:

*Pro.25:27*For men to search their own glory is not glory

*Mat.23:5-7*(Proud Pharisees) love...greetings (in public), & to be called of men, (Master, Master)

*Mk.12:38,39*Scribes...love...chief seats...& uppermost rooms

*Jude 16*Their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration

H. When we seek to please men, we often displease the Lord:

*1Sam.15:30*I have sinned: [but] honour me...before the [people]

*Jn.5:44*Ye...receive honour one of another, & seek not the honour that cometh from God only

*Jn.12:43*They loved praise of men more than the praise of God

*Gal.1:10*If I pleased men...not be the servant of Christ

I. Pride makes us think we are "wise":

*Pro.3:7*Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord

*1Cor.3:18*Let no man deceive himself. If any...seemeth wise

*1Cor.8:2*If any think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know

J. Pride gives us a "know-it-all" attitude:

*Psa.131:1*[The haughty exercise themselves in great matters, in things too high for them]

*Pro.26:12*Seest thou a man "wise" in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him

*(See also  1Tim.1:7 )

K. Pride causes arguments:

*Pro.13:10*Only by pride cometh contention

*Pro.28:25*He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife

*(See also   Pro.14:3 ;  21:24 .)

L. Pride corrupts us:

*Mk.7:22,23*Pride...(comes) from within, & defiles the man

M. Pride will bring about our downfall:

*Pro.11:2a*When pride cometh, then cometh shame

*Pro.16:18*Pride goeth before destruction, & an haughty spirit before a fall

*Pro.18:12a*Before destruction the heart of man is haughty

*Pro.29:23a*A man's pride shall bring him low

*Ezk.28:12-17*[The fall of Satan happened because he exalted himself in pride] (See also  Isa.14:12-15 )

*Dan.5:18,20, 21*God gave Nebuchadnezzar...majesty...& honour: But when his heart was lifted up...he was deposed

*1Cor.10:12*Him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall

3. Some causes of pride:

A. Beauty:

*Ezk.28:17*Thine heart is lifted up because of thy beauty

B. Material abundance:

*Deut.8:12-14, 17*Lest when thou...art full...& all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up

*Ezk.28:5*Thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches

*Hos.13:6*They were filled, & their heart was exalted

C. Being overly secure:

*Psa.73:5,6a*They are not in trouble as other men...therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain

D. Being overly affected by exaltation:

*2Chr.26:15,16*He was marvellously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up

*Dan.11:11,12*[Victory over enemies causes heart to be lifted up]

*1Tim.3:6*Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall

E. Carnal mindedness (intellectual pride):

*Gen.2:16-17 ;[Eve, desiring to be wise, disobeyed God & ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good & evil]

 3:16

*1Tim.6:3,4*If any man teach otherwise (than sound doctrine)...he is proud, knowing nothing

*(See also  Jer.9:23,24a ;  Rom.8:6,7 ;  Jam.3:14-16 .)

4. Warnings against pride:

A. We should avoid proud boasting:

*1Sam.2:3a*Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth

*Pro.27:2*Let another man praise thee, & not thine own mouth

*2Cor.10:18*Not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth

B. We shouldn't exalt ourselves:

*Pro.25:6,7*Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, & stand not in the place of great men

*Lk.14:10*When thou art bidden...sit down in the lowest room

C. If we're proud, we're in a dangerous position:

*Psa.18:27*Thou (God) wilt bring down high looks

*Pro.15:25a*The Lord will destroy the house of the proud

*Eccl.7:16*Be not righteous over much (overly righteous)...why shouldst thou destroy thyself?

*Jer.48:25,26, 29*[Exceeding proud, lofty, arrogant, haughty Moabites magnified selves against the Lord & were cut off]

5. Self-righteousness: Why is it wrong to think that we--in ourselves--are good & righteous?

A. Because we are not:

*Job 15:14*What is man, that he should be clean?...righteous?

*Job 15:15,16*The heavens are not clean in His sight. How much more abominable & filthy is man

*Psa.130:3*If Thou shouldest mark iniquities, who shall stand?

*Pro.20:9*Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure?

*Eccl.7:20*There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good & sinneth not

*Isa.64:6a*We are all as an unclean thing, & all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags

*Rom.3:10,23*There is none righteous, no, not one...all have sinned

*Rom.7:18a*In me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing

B. Only God is good:

*Mat.19:17a*There is none good but one, that is, God

*Job 9:2b*But how should man be just with God?

*Psa.71:16b*I will make mention of Thy righteousness, Thine only

C. Doing so causes us to be lifted up in pride:

*Pro.30:12,13*(They) are pure in their own eyes...O how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up

*Lk.18:11*God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men...unjust

D. It separates us from God:

*Rom.10:3*They...going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted unto the righteousness of God

*Job 13:16b*An hypocrite shall not come before Him

E. It makes us unable to see our sins:

*Job 32:1*Job...was righteous in his own eyes (See also  Pro.16:2 ;  21:2  .)

*Pro.30:12*A generation that are pure in their own eyes, & yet is not washed from their filthiness

*Lk.6:41,42*Why perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

*Jn.9:41*Ye say, "We see"; therefore your sin remaineth

F. True righteousness means trusting God:

*Gal.3:6*Abraham believed God, it was accounted righteous ness

*Phi.3:9*Not having mine own righteousness...but...of God

*Tit.3:5*Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to (because of) His mercy He saved us

6. Self-righteousness: Why is it wrong to think we--in ourselves--are better than others?

A. Because we're not:

*Jn.8:7*He that is without sin...let him first cast a stone

*Rom.3:23*All have sinned, & come short of the glory of God

B. We shouldn't think we are better than others:

*Rom.14:2,3*Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not

*1Cor.13:4*Charity (love) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up

*Phi.2:3b*[Not] vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves

C. A proud attitude displeases & angers God:

*Isa.65:5*(They) say, "I am holier than thou." These are a smoke in My (God's) nose

*Lk.16:15*Ye are they which justify yourselves...but...that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination (to) God

D. It makes us despise & be unmerciful to others:

*Mat.23:29*Ye have omitted the weightier matters...mercy

*Lk.18:9*(They) trusted in themselves that they were righteous, & despised others

*Lk.18:11*God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are... unjust...or even as this publican (tax collector)

*(See also  Mat.9:13 )

E. We only are what we are by God's grace:

*1Cor.4:7*Who maketh thee to differ from another? & what hast thou that thou didst not receive?

*1Cor.15:10*By the grace of God I am what I am

*2Cor.3:5*Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves

7. The humbling of the proud:

A. God can--& does--humble the proud:

*Dan.4:37b*Those that walk in pride He is able to abase

*Gen.11:1-8*[Men were building the tower of Babel in pride, so God confused & scattered them]

*1Sam.13:8-14*[Saul presumed to offer the sacrifice without waiting for Samuel, & lost the kingdom as a result]

*2Chr.32:24,25*Heart was lifted up: therefore...wrath (was) upon him

*Job 33:15-17*[God works on our hearts at night to remove pride]

*Psa.101:5b*Him that hath an high look & a proud heart will not I suffer (allow to continue)

*Isa.2:11*The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, & the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down

*Isa.2:12*Every one that is proud & lofty...shall be brought low

*Isa.13:11b*I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease

*Dan.4:30-35*[King Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up in pride, was deposed by God, abased as a beast, & learned humility]

*Dan.5:20,21*When his...mind (was) hardened in pride...was deposed

*2Cor.12:7*Lest I (Paul) should be exalted above measure...there was given to me a thorn in the flesh

*(See also  Jer.50:31,32 ;  Oba.4 .)

B. It is a law of God: If we're proud, we will be humbled:

*Mat.23:12a*Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased

*Lk.14:11a*Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased

*Lk.18:14b*Every one that exalteth himself shall be abased

C. Being humbled teaches us that God is in charge:

*Job 42:1-6*[After being humbled, Job said:] I know that Thou canst do every thing...I...repent

*Dan.4:32-35*Eat grass...until thou know that the most High ruleth

8. Why we should want to be humble:

A. Because God loves & delights in the humble:

*Psa.51:17*The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken & a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise

*Psa.138:6a*The Lord be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly

*1Pet.3:4*A meek & quiet spirit...is in the sight of God of great price

*1Pet.5:5b*God...giveth grace to the humble

B. He is close to the humble:

*Psa.34:18a*The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart

*Isa.57:15a*The high & lofty One that inhabiteth eternity (dwells) with him that is of a contrite & humble spirit

C. He requires us to be humble:

*Mic.6:8*What doth the Lord require...walk humbly with thy God

*Col.3:12*Put on, as the elect of God...humbleness of mind

D. Humility brings honour & blessing:

*Pro.22:4*By humility...are riches, & honour, & life

*Pro.29:23b*Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit

E. If we are humble, God will exalt us:

*Mat.23:12b*He that shall humble himself shall be exalted

*Lk.1:52*He put down the mighty...& exalted them of low degree

F. God helps the humble:

*Psa.9:12*He forgetteth not the cry of the humble

*Psa.25:9*The meek will He guide...& meek will He teach His way

*Psa.34:18*The Lord...saveth such as be of a contrite spirit

*Psa.147:6*The Lord lifteth up the meek: He casteth wicked down

*Isa.57:15b*(I) revive spirit of the humble, & heart of contrite ones

*Lk.1:48a*He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden

*1Pet.5:5b*God resisteth the proud, & giveth grace to the humble

G. Humility can spare us from trouble:

*1Ki.21:17,25-29*[Wicked king Ahab humbled himself before God, so God didn't bring judgment during his lifetime]

*2Chr.32:26*Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart...so that the wrath of the Lord came not

H. God gives the humble true wisdom:

*Pro.11:2*[Pride causes shame] but with the lowly is wisdom

*1Cor.3:18*Let him become a fool, that he may be wise

*(See also  Lk.10:21 )

I. Humility is true greatness in God's eyes:

*Eccl.7:8b*The patient in spirit is better than proud in spirit

*Mat.18:4*Whosoever shall humble himself is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven

*Mat.19:30b*The last shall be first

*Mk.10:43*Whosoever will be great...shall be your minister

*Lk.22:26*He that is greatest...let him be as the younger

J. God uses & exalts the humble:

*1Sam.15:17*When thou wast little in thine own sight...the Lord anointed thee king over Israel

*Pro.15:33b*Before honour is humility

*Jam.4:10*Humble yourselves...& He shall lift you up

*1Pet.5:6*Humble yourselves... that He may exalt you in due time

K. Other blessings upon the meek:

*Psa.37:11*The meek shall inherit the earth; & shall delight

*Psa.149:4*The Lord...will beautify the meek with salvation

*Mat.5:5*Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth

9. Keeping a humble attitude:

A. Remind yourself that anything good is only Jesus, not you:

*Gen.41:15,16*Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer

*Dan.2:26-30a*God...revealeth secrets. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have

*1Cor.4:7*What hast thou that thou didst not receive [from God]? Why dost thou glory?

*1Cor.15:9,10*I am not meet (worthy) to be called an apostle...but by the grace of God I am what I am

*2Cor.10:17*He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord (See also  Jer.9:23,24 )

*Gal.6:14*God forbid I should glory, save in the cross of Jesus

*(See also  Rom.2:11 ;  Gal.6:3 .)

B. Read & obey the Word:

*Deut.17:19,20*[Read & obey the Word] that heart be not lifted up

C. Realistically admit your limitations:

*Rom.12:3*(Don't) think of (yourself) more highly than (you) ought to think; but think soberly

*Rom.12:16b*Be not wise in your own conceits

10. Humility with one another:

A. Follow Jesus' example of humility:

*Mat.21:5*Thy King (Jesus) cometh unto thee, meek...upon an ass

*Jn.13:5,12-15*He began to wash the disciples' feet, & wipe them...I have given you an example, that ye should do as I

*Lk.22:27*He that sitteth at meat (is greater)...but I am among you as he that serveth

*Phi.2:5-8*Let this mind be in you...Jesus made Himself of no reputation...(became) a servant...humbled Himself

B. Other examples of true humility:

*1Sam.25:40, 41*[Abigail, when asked to marry David, said:] Let (me) be a servant to wash the feet of (his) servants

*Mk.7:25-30*[Syrophoenician woman said:] Yet the dogs under the table eat of the children's crumbs

*Lk.7:2-7*[Pharisees said] he was worthy for whom He should do this. The centurion (said), I am not worthy

*Jn.1:27*(Jesus), Whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose

C. Submit humbly to one another:

*Lk.22:25,26*Kings...exercise lordship. But ye shall not be so. He that is greatest...let him be as the younger

*Eph.5:21*Submitting yourselves one to another in fear of God

*1Pet.5:5*All of you be subject one to another, & be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud

D. Love & honour others:

*Rom.12:10*With brotherly love; in honour preferring one another

*Rom.12:16*Mind not high things, condescend to men of low estate Phi.2:3a Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory

E. Be humble when pointing out other's errors:

*Lk.6:42b*Cast out first the beam out of thine own eye

*Gal.6:1*Restore such an one in the spirit of meekness

*2Tim.2:25*In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves

11. The solution:

A. Confess your faults & inabilities & humble yourself before God:

*Jam.4:10a*Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord

*1Pet.5:6a*Humble yourselves...under the mighty hand of God

B. Ask others to pray for you to overcome pride:

*Jam.5:16*Confess your faults one to another, & pray one for another

*Mat.18:19,20*If two of you shall agree [in prayer] it shall be done

C. Examples of humbling oneself before the Lord:

*2Sam.24:2-4, 8-10*[In pride, David took a census of his kingdom to see how great he was, then repented & sought mercy]

*Job 40:1-5 ;  42:1-6*[Self-righteous Job--see  32:1 ;  35:2 --humbled himself, confessed he was vile & repented]

*Psa.51:1-4*I acknowledge my...sin...that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest

*Dan.4:33-35,37*[King Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself & confessed that only God was great]

*(See also  1Sam.9:21  about Saul;  2Sam.7:18  about David;  1Ki.3:7  about Solomon;  Mat.3:14  about John the Baptist.)

Special passages:

*1Ki.12:1-16*[Rehoboam "answered the people roughly"]

*2Chr.26:14-23*[King Uzziah, "lifted up", presumed to offer incense]

*Dan.4:all*[Nebuchadnezzar's pride, humiliation & restoration]

*Lk.18:9-14*[The parable of the proud Pharisee & humble sinner]

Copyright (c) 1997 by The Family