The Bible tells us that it is a good virtue to be humble. However, it is especially hard to be humble because as soon as you believe it to be true, you are no longer humble!

Everybody loves to brag at some time in their life about whether they have the biggest house, the fanciest house, etc. It is human nature to want to be the top dog in some area. This desire to be first is also closely linked to something called pride! God has something to say to those who have accumulated too much of it!

1. The Pharisee’s were full of pride

The Pharisees wanted to be seen and treated by others as special because they believed themselves to be closer to God than anyone else. They linked to sing their own praises. They had broad phylacteries and long fringes on their robes. It was evident in their outward appearance that they dressed to impress and draw attention to themselves

2. Jesus saw them as hypocrites

They were not only proud and not humble but there was worse. They did not practice what they preached. They had forgot the people in their own pride to be first in the Kingdom of Heaven. A hypocrite is from acting and is “someone who wears a mask”. The mask the Pharisees wore was a “mask of holiness” as they acted as someone spiritual. Later in the same chapter he calls them “white washed tombstones”.

3. God sees the humble in heart

Humility starts on the inside and it from there it may manifest itself on the outside. See 1 Samuel 16:7. Eliab was impressive on the outside but God had rejected him to replace Saul as king. God had seen that David was humble to God in his heart. A shepherd boy with humble beginnings had the real stuff to be the future king of Israel.

Greatness comes from service and service comes from humility. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled. It is God who exalts the humble. See 1 Peter 5:5-6. The Pharisees found it hard to be humble when you are already full up with pride!

Categories: Matthew