What Jesus Said About Humility, Ego & Pride (18 Teachings)

Jesus describes himself as gentle and humble in heart.

Read the Scripture Matthew 11:29

King James Version

Matthew 11:29

²⁹Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

Childlike humility is greatness in the kingdom.

Read the Scripture Matthew 18:3–4

King James Version

Matthew 18:3–4

³And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
⁴Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

The meek are blessed because they will inherit the earth.

Read the Scripture Matthew 5:5

King James Version

Matthew 5:5

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

The greatest should become the servant.

Read the Scripture Matthew 20:26–27; 23:11; Mark 10:43–44; Luke 22:26

King James Version

Matthew 20:26–27

²⁶But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
²⁷And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

Matthew 23:11

¹¹But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Mark 10:43–44

⁴³But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
⁴⁴And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Luke 22:26

²⁶But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Read the Scripture Matthew 23:12; Luke 14:11; 18:14

King James Version

Matthew 23:12

¹²And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Luke 14:11

¹¹For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 18:14

¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Do not seek religious titles as a means of superiority.

Read the Scripture Matthew 23:8–10

King James Version

Matthew 23:8–10

⁸But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
⁹And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
¹⁰Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

Pray humbly rather than advertising superiority.

Read the Scripture Luke 18:9–14

King James Version

Luke 18:9–14

⁹And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
¹⁰Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
¹²I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
¹³And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Greatness is measured by service rather than rank.

Read the Scripture Matthew 20:25–28; Mark 10:42–45; Luke 22:25–27

King James Version

Matthew 20:25–28

²⁵But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
²⁶But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
²⁷And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
²⁸Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Mark 10:42–45

⁴²But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
⁴³But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
⁴⁴And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
⁴⁵For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Luke 22:25–27

²⁵And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.
²⁶But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.
²⁷For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

Whoever wants to be first should become servant of all.

Read the Scripture Matthew 20:26–27; Mark 9:35; 10:43–44

King James Version

Matthew 20:26–27

²⁶But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
²⁷And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:

Mark 9:35

³⁵And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.

Mark 10:43–44

⁴³But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
⁴⁴And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Do not compete over status; the least among disciples can be great.

Read the Scripture Luke 9:46–48

King James Version

Luke 9:46–48

⁴⁶Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
⁴⁷And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him,
⁴⁸And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great.

Do not seek the best seats and public honor.

Read the Scripture Matthew 23:6–12; Luke 14:7–11; 20:46

King James Version

Matthew 23:6–12

⁶And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
⁷And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
⁸But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
⁹And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
¹⁰Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
¹¹But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
¹²And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Luke 14:7–11

⁷And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,
⁸When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
⁹And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
¹⁰But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
¹¹For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Luke 20:46

⁴⁶Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;

Wash one another's feet in the pattern of Jesus' humble service.

Read the Scripture John 13:12–17

King James Version

John 13:12–17

¹²So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
¹³Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
¹⁵For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
¹⁶Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
¹⁷If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

Religious leaders are condemned for loving honor, best seats, greetings, and titles.

Read the Scripture Matthew 23:6–12; Mark 12:38–40; Luke 11:43; 20:45–47

King James Version

Matthew 23:6–12

⁶And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
⁷And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
⁸But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
⁹And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
¹⁰Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
¹¹But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
¹²And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

Mark 12:38–40

³⁸And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
³⁹And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
⁴⁰Which devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.

Luke 11:43

⁴³Woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and greetings in the markets.

Luke 20:45–47

⁴⁵Then in the audience of all the people he said unto his disciples,
⁴⁶Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes, and love greetings in the markets, and the highest seats in the synagogues, and the chief rooms at feasts;
⁴⁷Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.

Jesus answers the charge of demon possession by saying he honors the Father and does not seek his own glory.

Read the Scripture John 8:48–50

King James Version

John 8:48–50

⁴⁸Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
⁴⁹Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
⁵⁰And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.

The lowest seat at a feast teaches humility rather than self-promotion.

Read the Scripture Luke 14:7–11

King James Version

Luke 14:7–11

⁷And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying unto them,
⁸When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
⁹And he that bade thee and him come and say to thee, Give this man place; and thou begin with shame to take the lowest room.
¹⁰But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
¹¹For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

The unworthy servants teach that obedience does not make God indebted to the servant.

Read the Scripture Luke 17:7–10

King James Version

Luke 17:7–10

⁷But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?
⁸And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?
⁹Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
¹⁰So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.

The Pharisee and tax collector teach humble repentance over self-righteous contempt.

Read the Scripture Luke 18:9–14

King James Version

Luke 18:9–14

⁹And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
¹⁰Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
¹¹The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
¹²I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
¹³And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
¹⁴I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Jesus serves disciples in the posture of a household servant.

Read the Scripture John 13:3–17

King James Version

John 13:3–17

³Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
⁴He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
⁵After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
⁶Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
⁷Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
⁸Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
⁹Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
¹⁰Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
¹¹For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
¹²So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
¹³Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet.
¹⁵For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
¹⁶Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
¹⁷If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.

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What Jesus said about Humility, Ego & Pride

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What Jesus said about Humility, Ego & Pride

A Guide for Real Life