PRIDE
1. What does God think about pride?
A. He hates it:
Proverbs 6:16,17 These…doth the Lord hate: a proud look
Proverbs 16:5 Every one that is proud…is an abomination to Lord
B. We should hate it too:
Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate…pride & arrogancy
C. Pride is a sin, not a virtue:
Proverbs 21:4a An high look, & a proud heart…is sin
Habakkuk 2:4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright
1 John 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:
Psalms 66:5-7 Come & see the works of God…He ruleth…let not the rebellious exalt themselves
Psalms 97:9 Thou, Lord, art high… exalted far above all
Ezekiel 28:2 Thine heart is lifted up…yet thou art a man, & not God, though thou set thine heart as…God
Philippians 2:9,10 God hath highly exalted Him (Jesus), & given Him a name above every name…every knee should bow
(See also Psalms 21:13; 57:5,11; 108:5; Isaiah 2:11,17)
B. God alone should get the glory:
Acts 12:20-23 Angel…smote him, because he gave not God the glory
1 Corinthians 10:31 Whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God
(See also Jeremiah 9:23,24; 1 Corinthians 1:28,29)
C. Pride makes us ignore & forget God:
Deuteronomy 8:14 (When) thine heart be lifted up…thou forget the Lord
Psalms 10:4 The wicked, through…pride…will not seek after God
Hosea 13:6b Heart was exalted; therefore have they forgotten Me
D. God will distance Himself from & resist the proud:
Psalms 138:6 The proud He (the Lord) knoweth afar off
James 4:6 God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto humble
E. Pride makes us rebel against the Word:
Jonah 9:16,17,29 They dealt proudly…& hearkened not to Thy (Word)
F. It gives us an exaggerated sense of greatness:
Obadiah 3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, that saith, Who shall bring me down?
Romans 12:3 (Thinking) of himself more highly than he ought to
Galatians 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:
Proverbs 25:27 For men to search their own glory is not glory
Matthew 23:5-7 (Proud Pharisees) love…greetings (in public), & to be called of men, (Master, Master)
Mark 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:
1 Samuel 15:30 I have sinned: [but] honour me…before the [people]
John 5:44 Ye…receive honour one of another, & seek not the honour that cometh from God only
John 12:43 They loved praise of men more than the praise of God
Galatians 1:10 If I pleased men…not be the servant of Christ
I. Pride makes us think we are “wise”:
Proverbs 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord
1 Corinthians 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any…seemeth wise
1 Corinthians 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:
Psalms 131:1 [The haughty exercise themselves in great matters, in things too high for them]
Proverbs 26:12 Seest thou a man “wise” in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him
(See also 1 Timothy 1:7)
K. Pride causes arguments:
Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention
Proverbs 28:25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife
(See also Proverbs 14:3; 21:24)
L. Pride corrupts us:
Mark 7:22,23 Pride…(comes) from within, & defiles the man
M. Pride will bring about our downfall:
Proverbs 11:2a When pride cometh, then cometh shame
Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, & an haughty spirit before a fall
Proverbs 18:12a Before destruction the heart of man is haughty
Proverbs 29:23a A man’s pride shall bring him low
Ezekiel 28:12-17 [The fall of Satan happened because he exalted himself in pride] (See also Isaiah 14:12-15)
Daniel 5:18,20, 21 God gave Nebuchadnezzar…majesty…& honour: But when his heart was lifted up…he was deposed
1 Corinthians 10:12 Him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall
3. Some causes of pride:
A. Beauty:
Ezekiel 28:17 Thine heart is lifted up because of thy beauty
B. Material abundance:
Deuteronomy 8:12-14, 17 Lest when thou…art full…& all that thou hast is multiplied; then thine heart be lifted up
Ezekiel 28:5 Thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches
Hosea 13:6 They were filled, & their heart was exalted
C. Being overly secure:
Psalms 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:
2 Chronicles 26:15,16 He was marvellously helped, till he was strong. But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up
Daniel 11:11,12 [Victory over enemies causes heart to be lifted up]
1 Timothy 3:6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall
E. Carnal mindedness (intellectual pride):
Genesis 2:16-17; [Eve, desiring to be wise, disobeyed God & ate of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good & evil]
1 Timothy 6:3,4 If any man teach otherwise (than sound doctrine)…he is proud, knowing nothing
(See also Jeremiah 9:23,24a; Romans 8:6,7; James 3:14-16)
4. Warnings against pride:
A. We should avoid proud boasting:
1 Samuel 2:3a Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth
Proverbs 27:2 Let another man praise thee, & not thine own mouth
2 Corinthians 10:18 Not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth
B. We shouldn’t exalt ourselves:
Proverbs 25:6,7 Put not forth thyself in the presence of the king, & stand not in the place of great men
Luke 14:10 When thou art bidden…sit down in the lowest room
C. If we’re proud, we’re in a dangerous position:
Psalms 18:27 Thou (God) wilt bring down high looks
Proverbs 15:25a The Lord will destroy the house of the proud
Ecclesiastes 7:16 Be not righteous over much (overly righteous)…why shouldst thou destroy thyself?
Jeremiah 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
Psalms 130:3 If Thou shouldest mark iniquities, who shall stand?
Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure?
Ecclesiastes 7:20 There is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good & sinneth not
Isaiah 64:6a We are all as an unclean thing, & all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags
Romans 3:10,23 There is none righteous, no, not one…all have sinned
Romans 7:18a In me, that is, in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing
B. Only God is good:
Matthew 19:17a There is none good but one, that is, God
Job 9:2b But how should man be just with God?
Psalms 71:16b I will make mention of Thy righteousness, Thine only
C. Doing so causes us to be lifted up in pride:
Proverbs 30:12,13 (They) are pure in their own eyes…O how lofty are their eyes! And their eyelids are lifted up
Luke 18:11 God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men…unjust
D. It separates us from God:
Romans 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 Proverbs 16:2; 21:2)
Proverbs 30:12 A generation that are pure in their own eyes, & yet is not washed from their filthiness
Luke 6:41,42 Why perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
John 9:41 Ye say, “We see”; therefore your sin remaineth
F. True righteousness means trusting God:
Galatians 3:6 Abraham believed God, it was accounted righteous ness
Philippians 3:9 Not having mine own righteousness…but…of God
Titus 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:
John 8:7 He that is without sin…let him first cast a stone
Romans 3:23 All have sinned, & come short of the glory of God
B. We shouldn’t think we are better than others:
Romans 14:2,3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not
1 Corinthians 13:4 Charity (love) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up
Philippians 2:3b [Not] vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves
C. A proud attitude displeases & angers God:
Isaiah 65:5 (They) say, “I am holier than thou.” These are a smoke in My (God’s) nose
Luke 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:
Matthew 23:29 Ye have omitted the weightier matters…mercy
Luke 18:9 (They) trusted in themselves that they were righteous, & despised others
Luke 18:11 God, I thank Thee, that I am not as other men are… unjust…or even as this publican (tax collector)
(See also Matthew 9:13)
E. We only are what we are by God’s grace:
1 Corinthians 4:7 Who maketh thee to differ from another? & what hast thou that thou didst not receive?
1 Corinthians 15:10 By the grace of God I am what I am
2 Corinthians 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:
Daniel 4:37b Those that walk in pride He is able to abase
Genesis 11:1-8 [Men were building the tower of Babel in pride, so God confused & scattered them]
1 Samuel 13:8-14 [Saul presumed to offer the sacrifice without waiting for Samuel, & lost the kingdom as a result]
2 Chronicles 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]
Psalms 101:5b Him that hath an high look & a proud heart will not I suffer (allow to continue)
Isaiah 2:11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, & the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down
Isaiah 2:12 Every one that is proud & lofty…shall be brought low
Isaiah 13:11b I will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease
Daniel 4:30-35 [King Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up in pride, was deposed by God, abased as a beast, & learned humility]
Daniel 5:20,21 When his…mind (was) hardened in pride…was deposed
2 Corinthians 12:7 Lest I (Paul) should be exalted above measure…there was given to me a thorn in the flesh
(See also Jeremiah 50:31,32; Oba.4)
B. It is a law of God: If we’re proud, we will be humbled:
Matthew 23:12a Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased
Luke 14:11a Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased
Luke 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
Daniel 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:
Psalms 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken & a contrite heart, O God, Thou wilt not despise
Psalms 138:6a The Lord be high, yet hath He respect unto the lowly
1 Peter 3:4 A meek & quiet spirit…is in the sight of God of great price
1 Peter 5:5b God…giveth grace to the humble
B. He is close to the humble:
Psalms 34:18a The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart
Isaiah 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:
Micah 6:8 What doth the Lord require…walk humbly with thy God
Colossians 3:12 Put on, as the elect of God…humbleness of mind
D. Humility brings honour & blessing:
Proverbs 22:4 By humility…are riches, & honour, & life
Proverbs 29:23b Honour shall uphold the humble in spirit
E. If we are humble, God will exalt us:
Matthew 23:12b He that shall humble himself shall be exalted
Luke 1:52 He put down the mighty…& exalted them of low degree
F. God helps the humble:
Psalms 9:12 He forgetteth not the cry of the humble
Psalms 25:9 The meek will He guide…& meek will He teach His way
Psalms 34:18 The Lord…saveth such as be of a contrite spirit
Psalms 147:6 The Lord lifteth up the meek: He casteth wicked down
Isaiah 57:15b (I) revive spirit of the humble, & heart of contrite ones
Luke 1:48a He hath regarded the low estate of His handmaiden
1 Peter 5:5b God resisteth the proud, & giveth grace to the humble
G. Humility can spare us from trouble:
1 Kings 21:17,25-29 [Wicked king Ahab humbled himself before God, so God didn’t bring judgment during his lifetime]
2 Chronicles 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:
Proverbs 11:2 [Pride causes shame] but with the lowly is wisdom
1 Corinthians 3:18 Let him become a fool, that he may be wise
(See also Luke 10:21)
I. Humility is true greatness in God’s eyes:
Ecclesiastes 7:8b The patient in spirit is better than proud in spirit
Matthew 18:4 Whosoever shall humble himself is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew 19:30b The last shall be first
Mark 10:43 Whosoever will be great…shall be your minister
Luke 22:26 He that is greatest ..let him be as the younger
J. God uses & exalts the humble:
1 Samuel 15:17 When thou wast little in thine own sight…the Lord anointed thee king over Israel
Proverbs 15:33b Before honour is humility
James 4:10 Humble yourselves…& He shall lift you up
1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves… that He may exalt you in due time.
Other blessings upon the meek:
Psalms 37:11 The meek shall inherit the earth; & shall delight
Psalms 149:4 The Lord…will beautify the meek with salvation
Matthew 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:
Genesis 41:15,16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer
Daniel 2:26-30a God…revealeth secrets. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have
1 Corinthians 4:7 What hast thou that thou didst not receive [from God]? Why dost thou glory?
1 Corinthians 15:9,10 I am not meet (worthy) to be called an apostle…but by the grace of God I am what I am
2 Corinthians 10:17 He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord (See also Jeremiah 9:23,24)
Galatians 6:14 God forbid I should glory, save in the cross of Jesus
(See also Romans 2:11; Galatians 6:3)
B. Read & obey the Word:
Deuteronomy 17:19,20 [Read & obey the Word] that heart be not lifted up
C. Realistically admit your limitations:
Romans 12:3 (Don’t) think of (yourself) more highly than (you) ought to think; but think soberly
Romans 12:16b Be not wise in your own conceits
10. Humility with one another:
A. Follow Jesus’ example of humility:
Matthew 21:5 Thy King (Jesus) cometh unto thee, meek…upon an ass
John 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
Luke 22:27 He that sitteth at meat (is greater)…but I am among you as he that serveth
Philippians 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:
1 Samuel 25:40, 41 [Abigail, when asked to marry David, said:] Let (me) be a servant to wash the feet of (his) servants
Mark 7:25-30 [Syrophoenician woman said:] Yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs
Luke 7:2-7 [Pharisees said] he was worthy for whom He should do this. The centurion (said), I am not worthy
John 1:27 (Jesus), Whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose
C. Submit humbly to one another:
Luke 22:25,26 Kings…exercise lordship. But ye shall not be so. He that is greatest ..let him be as the younger
Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in fear of God
1 Peter 5:5 All of you be subject one to another, & be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud
D. Love & honour others:
Romans 12:10 With brotherly love; in honour preferring one another
Romans 12:16 Mind not high things, condescend to men of low estate Philippians 2:3a Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory
E. Be humble when pointing out other’s errors:
Luke 6:42b Cast out first the beam out of thine own eye
Galatians 6:1 Restore such an one in the spirit of meekness
2 Timothy 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves
11. The solution:
A. Confess your faults & inabilities & humble yourself before God:
James 4:10a Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord
1 Peter 5:6a Humble yourselves…under the mighty hand of God
B. Ask others to pray for you to overcome pride:
James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, & pray one for another
Matthew 18:19,20 If two of you shall agree [in prayer] it shall be done
C. Examples of humbling oneself before the Lord:
2 Samuel 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]
Psalms 51:1-4 I acknowledge my…sin…that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest
Daniel 4:33-35,37 [King Nebuchadnezzar humbled himself & confessed that only God was great]
(See also 1 Samuel 9:21 about Saul; 2 Samuel 7:18 about David; 1 Kings 3:7 about Solomon; Matthew 3:14 aboutJohn the Baptist.)
Special passages:
1 Kings 12:1-16 [Rehoboam “answered the people roughly”]
2 Chronicles 26:14-23 [King Uzziah, “lifted up”, presumed to offer incense]
Daniel 4:all [Nebuchadnezzar’s pride, humiliation & restoration]
Luke 18:9-14 [The parable of the proud Pharisee & humble sinner]
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