The battle between pride and humility has been waged for centuries. In the heart of every Christian, this conflict between worldly pride and godly humility exists, and understanding it from a Biblical perspective can be truly enlightening. As we venture into the topic, we will explore 56 Bible verses and 7 insights from respected Christian figures. Diving deep into these verses and quotes offers a comprehensive understanding of the nature of pride and ego, their implications, and the Christian perspective on navigating them. Let's embark on this journey to gain wisdom and insight from the scriptures and revered Christian voices.
"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."
- John 8:44
"Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall."
- Proverbs 16:18
"The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate."
- Proverbs 8:13
"For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."
- 1 John 2:16
"Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD: though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished."
- Proverbs 16:5
"But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
- James 4:6
"For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
- Mark 7:21-23
"Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
- Matthew 5:3
"Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up."
- James 4:10
"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
- Matthew 18:4
"The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground."
- Psalm 147:6
"By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life."
- Proverbs 22:4
"He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"
- Micah 6:8
"But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace."
- Psalm 37:11
"God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
- 1 Peter 5:5b
"Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility."
- Proverbs 18:12
"The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day."
- Isaiah 2:11
"When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom."
- Proverbs 11:2
"A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit."
- Proverbs 29:23
"The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart."
- Psalm 119:69
"An high look, and a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin."
- Proverbs 21:4
"Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom."
- Proverbs 13:10
"Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud."
- Proverbs 16:19
"Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith."
- Habakkuk 2:4
"Behold, I am against thee, O thou most proud, saith the Lord GOD of hosts: for thy day is come, the time that I will visit thee
- Jeremiah 50:31
"A haughty look, a proud heart, and the plowing of the wicked, is sin."
- Proverbs 21:4
"Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee."
- Ezekiel 28:17
"And 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. I 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."
- Luke 18:13-14
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:"
- 1 Peter 5:6
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
- Philippians 2:3
"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
- Matthew 11:29
"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;"
- Ephesians 4:2
"Seek the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger."
- Zephaniah 2:3
"To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word."
- Isaiah 66:2
"Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;."
- Colossians 3:12
"Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil."
- Proverbs 3:7
"Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall."
- 1 Corinthians 10:12
"And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross."
- Philippians 2:8
"The world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
- 1 John 2:17
"Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!"
- Isaiah 5:21
"Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not: for, behold, I will bring evil upon all flesh, saith the LORD: but thy life will I give unto thee for a prey in all places whither thou goest."
- Jeremiah 45:5
"Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips."
- Proverbs 27:2
"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,"
- 2 Timothy 3:2
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
- Matthew 11:28
"For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."
- Mark 10:45
"He must increase, but I must decrease."
- John 3:30
"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:"
- Philippians 2:5-7
"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."
- Romans 12:3
"Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."
- 1 Peter 5:5
"Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you."
- Andrew Murray
"Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility."
- St. Augustine
"Humility is nothing but the disappearance of self in the vision that God is all."
- A.W. Tozer
"True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less."
- C.S. Lewis
"Pride slays thanksgiving, but a humble mind is the soil out of which thanks naturally grow. A proud man is seldom a grateful man, for he never thinks he gets as much as he deserves."
- Henry Ward Beecher
"Nothing sets a person so much out of the devil's reach as humility."
- Jonathan Edwards
"Every Christian has a choice between being humble or being humbled."
- C.H. Spurgeon
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:"
- Ephesians 2:8
"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
- Matthew 18:4
"Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble."
- James 4:6
Throughout history, pride has often been a stumbling block to accessing the depths of God's wisdom and favor. Recognizing our limited understanding and submitting to the wisdom of God is the path to true enlightenment. By embracing humility, we draw closer to the Almighty and discover the true essence of love, compassion, and service.