Lesson 23
Pride
"This is the one
I esteem: He who
is humble and
contrite
in spirit, and
trembles at my
word."
(Isaiah 66:2)
Pride:
self-aggrandizing,
arrogant, or
disdainful
conduct
or treatment;
haughtiness
Pride is one of
God's least
favorite
characteristics
of human
beings. He
loves the
humble, but
talks strongly
against the
prideful. Pride
typically leads
to disaster, but
humility leads
to blessings. If
you are
prideful, you
need to change
your attitude
and humble
yourself before
the Lord and
before others,
just as Jesus
Christ humbled
Himself for all
humanity.
Synopsis
God "detests"
the prideful1
and promises
that there will
be a day when
all people who
are proud will
be humbled.2,3
If you have a
prideful heart,
you cannot hide
it from God; the
Lord judges our
inmost
thoughts.4
The Lord
detests all the
proud of heart.
(Proverbs 16:5)1
The Lord
Almighty has a
day in store
for all the
proud and lofty,
for all that is
exalted (and
they will be
humbled).
(Isaiah 2:12)
2
The
arrogance of man
will be brought
low
and the pride of
men humbled.
(Isaiah 2:17)
3
He has
scattered those
who are proud in
their inmost
thoughts. He has
brought down
rulers from
their
thrones, but has
lifted up the
humble.
(Luke 1:51-52)
4
And His judgment
can be harsh.
Pride often
leads to the
destruction5 and
the downfall of
the individual.6
God does not
tolerate pride,7
and a prideful
heart distances
us from God.8
Pride
goes before
destruction, a
haughty spirit
before a fall.
(Proverbs 16:18)5
Before
his downfall, a
man's heart is
proud,
but humility
comes before
honor.
(Proverbs
18:12)
6
Whoever
has haughty eyes
and a proud
heart,
him will I not
endure.
(Psalm 101:5)
7
Though
the Lord is on
high, he looks
upon the lowly,
but the proud he
knows from afar.
(Psalm 138:6)
8
People who are
prideful love to
get praise and
attention from
others; in fact,
they love the
praise of men
more than they
love praise from
God.9 In
addition,
prideful people
love themselves
so much that
their pride
interferes with
their ability to
detect their own
sin.10
Their
haughty behavior
often leads to
arguments and
quarrels with
others, and they
typically fail
to take advice
when it is
given11 (Why do
you need advice
if you are
almost
perfect?).
For
they loved
praise from
men
more than
praise from
God.
(John
12:43)9
For
in his own
eyes he
flatters
himself too
much
to detect or
hate his
sin.
(Psalm
36:2)
10
Pride only
breeds
quarrels,
but wisdom
is found
in those who
take advice.
(Proverbs
13:10)
11
God's Guidance
The antidote for
pride is
humility. God
holds in high
regard, people
who are
humble.12 This
is not
surprising,
since humility
is a cardinal
feature of the
personality of
Jesus Christ.13
Jesus humbled
Himself for all
human beings
when, although
He was equal to
God, He came to
earth and lived
as a servant and
died for our
sins.14 The
Bible encourages
us to adopt the
same attitude of
humility as
shown by the
actions of Jesus
Christ.14
This is the one
I esteem: He who
is humble and
contrite in
spirit, and
trembles at my
word.
(Isaiah 66:2)12
Take my yoke
upon you and
learn from me,
for I am gentle
and humble in
heart,
and you will
find rest for
your souls.
(Matthew
11:29)
13
Your attitude
should be the
same as that of
Christ Jesus:
Who, being in
very nature God,
did not consider
equality with
God something to
be grasped, but
made himself
nothing,
taking the very
nature of a
servant,
being made in
human likeness.
(Philippians
2:5-7)
14
As Christians,
we are commanded
to "clothe
ourselves in
humility" toward
one another,15
and never think
of ourselves as
being better
than anyone
else,16 or look
down on someone
because of their
"low position"
or station in
life.17
All of
you, clothe
yourselves with
humility toward
one
another,
because, "God
opposes the
proud,
but gives grace
to the humble."
(1 Peter 5:5)15
Do
nothing out of
selfish ambition
or vain conceit,
but in humility
consider others
better than
yourselves.
(Philippians
2:3)
16
Do not
be proud, but be
willing to
associate with
people
of low position.
Do not be
conceited.
(Romans 12:16)
17
In fact, we are
to honor others
more than than
we honor
ourselves,18
and
consider others
to be better
than
ourselves.19
Honor
one another
above
yourselves.
(Romans 12:10)18
Do nothing out
of selfish
ambition or vain
conceit,
but in humility
consider others
better than
yourselves.
(Philippians
2:3)19
In God's eyes,
we are foolish
if we think of
ourselves more
highly than we
should.20,21
Also, He advises
against a life
that focuses on
receiving honor
and praise from
others.22
Do not
think of
yourselves more
highly than you
ought,
but rather think
of yourself with
sober judgment,
in accordance
with the measure
of faith
God has given
you.
(Romans 12:3)20
If you
have played the
fool and exalted
yourself,
or if you have
planned evil,
clap your hand
over your mouth!
(Proverbs
30:32)
21
It is
not good to eat
too much honey,
nor is it
honorable to
seek one's own
honor.
(Proverbs 25:27)
22
God holds in
high esteem
those who are
humble and have
a contrite
spirit.23 In the
end, it is
humility and
fear of the Lord
that bring
wealth and honor
and life.24 It
is the meek who
will inherit the
land and enjoy
great peace.25
This is
the one I
esteem: he who
is humble and
contrite
in spirit, and
trembles at my
word.
(Isaiah 66:2)23
Humility
and fear of the
Lord bring
wealth and honor
and life.
(Proverbs
22:4
)24
But the
meek will
inherit the land
and enjoy great
peace.
(Psalm 37:11)
25
