Scripture says that pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall, and that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Jesus says that whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted; in a parable, He shows that the one who was justified was not the person confident in his own righteousness, but the one who asked for mercy. Paul calls us to humbly consider others more important than ourselves, following Christ’s example.
What does the Bible say about this?
- Proverbs says that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall (Prov. 16:18–19); before a fall, a person’s heart is proud, while humility comes before honor (Prov. 18:12).
- Jesus says: “The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” (Matt. 23:11–12).
- In the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Jesus addresses those who were confident in their own righteousness and despised others: the Pharisee thanks God that he is not like other people and lists his good deeds, while the tax collector asks for mercy as a sinner; the tax collector goes home justified (Luke 18:9–14).
- Paul calls us to do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility to consider others more important than ourselves and to look not only to our own interests. He presents Christ as an example: Christ humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death (Phil. 2:3–8).
- James writes that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble; he calls us to submit to God, draw near to Him, and humble ourselves before the Lord, promising that He will exalt us (James 4:6–10). Peter repeats the same teaching and calls us to clothe ourselves with humility toward one another and humble ourselves under God’s mighty hand (1 Pet. 5:5–6).
The brief answer was prepared by the editorial team; the Scripture texts are from the “Father’s Blessing” Bible.
Key Scripture Passages
7 Scripture Passages · “Father’s Blessing” Bible
Proverbs 16:18–19
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 Better to be humble in spirit with the meek than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Matthew 23:11–12
11 The greatest among you shall be your servant: 12 for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Luke 18:9–14
9 He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despised others: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people, extortioners, evildoers, adulterers, or even like this tax collector: 12 I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I acquire.’ 13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Philippians 2:3–8
3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others more important than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 For you should have the same mind among yourselves that was also in Christ Jesus: 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped; 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men and appearing as a man; 8 He humbled Himself, becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.
James 4:6–10
6 But He gives greater grace. Therefore it says: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 7 Therefore submit to God; resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you; cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to sorrow. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
1 Peter 5:5–6
5 Likewise, you who are younger, submit to the elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. 6 Therefore humble yourselves under God’s mighty hand, so that He may exalt you in due time.
Proverbs 18:12
Before a person’s downfall, the heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
