For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.
4 sermons cite this verse
… And you all are brothers and sisters and the greatest among you will be your servant and whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Matthew chapter 23 verses 8 through 11. For Christians, what makes us teachable is not fear of being publicly humiliated. It doesn't grow out of shame. It doesn't come from being made to feel lesser. Being teachable comes from the assurance of being loved. Of course, getting schooled includes the humiliation and death of your pride, but without the assurance of being loved by God, your broke, cooked pride will just make you either resentful or defeated. But when you trust that your teacher, the teacher, cares for you, you become willing to go through the crucible of being taught. Jesus loves you enough to make you teachable. And he sends you many teaching assistants to guide you along the way. For me, as a young military officer, this included Master Sergeant Hotchkiss and many other enlisted personnel, whom I technically outranked, but became my teachers nonetheless. …
… of what the scripture is teaching again and again. And it's what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 23, verse 12. Would you read these words with me? Jesus said, those who exalt themselves will be humbled and those who humble themselves will be exalted. All right, Jesus also said those who are truly great will be your servants or will act as a servant. So that leads me to A Holy Night. So we've learned that Placide Capot wrote this hymn, wrote this carol for Candlelight Christmas Eve 1847 in France and really all of Europe was on the verge of revolutions. There were 50 revolutions or revolts that would happen across Europe in the coming year. In less than two months, the king of France would be overthrown and would have to abdicate from the throne. He would have to flee and go into exile. His name was King Louis Philippe. And the reason for this was that the king, who actually started off pretty well, so he'd started off well when he began in 1830. …
… All who exalt themselves will be humbled and all who humbled themselves will be exalted. Matthew chapter 23 verses 11 through 12. So in today's passage in Matthew, what I just read, Jesus gives us this startling truth. The king himself identifies with the least. I want you to hear that. Jesus identifies with the least Not with the puffed up Not with the princes and the kings Not with those with the most money Not with those who we elevate in positions But he identifies with the least of them Because he says what you do to them It's like you do it to me He does not say he is found in the palaces of emperors But in the hungry child He does not say he is enthroned in marble halls, but in the prisoner's cell. He does not say his presence is revealed only in the eloquence of preachers, but in the cry of the forgotten. This is a most shocking reality, especially in the times that we live in, that God's kingdom is a kingdom of the least. …
… the gospels jesus modeled and mandated servant leadership he defined leadership by service we don't have time to turn to all these places but matthew chapter 23 verses 10 through 12 nor are you to be called teacher, for there is only one teacher, the Lord, the Christ. And the greatest among you must be your what? Greatest among you must be your servant. Mark 9, verse 35. If anyone wants to be the first, he must be the what? Must be the last. He's redefining this picture. Mark 10, verses 43 through 45. You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant. He says, this is what I came to do. I came not to be served, but to serve and to give my life as a ransom for many. Leadership in the kingdom of God, authority in the kingdom of God is a servant authority. …