The Pride of Humility. Part 2
The Pride of Humility, Part 2
Matthew 18:1-5
Andrew R. Rappaport
Introduction
· On one occasion, someone approached Augustine and asked, "What is the most important quality in the Christian life?" Augustine responded, "Humility". The person then asked, "What is the second most important quality in the Christian life?" Again Augustine responded, "Humility". This same person asked a third time, "What is the third most important quality in the Christian life?" Augustine repeated, "Humility".
· As Christians we all know we are supposed to be humble. However, like the disciples many people have a pride of humility. Too many Christians have a false humility that they put on display for others while really seeking to be seen as better than one another. We see here in this text that the disciples had the very same problem. While they pretend to be humble they argue over who would be the greatest in the kingdom.
· Jesus' ministry is coming to a close and He is trying to provide final instructions before He departs this earth. Jesus is informing the disciples on how to administrate the church that He will establish after His death. Jesus is starting to transition their thinking about the kingdom of God and the plan of God for His people on Earth. He needs to transition them from their selfish thinking of who would be greatest in the kingdom of God to be leaders of the body of Christ.
· Jesus makes the transition with his disciples from discussing their pride to discussing their need for humility by using the illustration of calling to Himself a little child.
· Vs. 1-5: Jesus speaking to those who think they are leaders, which is evident in the fact that they are arguing over who is the greatest. Therefore, when he states one must humble himself like a child to enter the kingdom of heaven it does not mean that there is an entrance fee and then one can grow up and be prideful. Jesus expects us to enter as a humble child and stay that way. That is why he states the greatest in the kingdom is the one who does not only enter humbly but remains humble.
· v. 1 - the word disciples is broader than just the 12. It is all those who were following after Christ.
· The disciples still do not understand what it means to follow Jesus. They are still developing their understanding of the kingdom of Christ and what it means to be a follower of Christ.
· Jesus is going to explain how we should deal with conflicts within the body of Christ. He is going to use their argument over who was greatest to explain the attitude we should have with one another when conflict arises. This is a text that deals with interpersonal communication primarily within the body of Jesus Christ.
· Do any of you ever have conflicts with people in the church? If you answer no it would only be because you do not interact with anyone in the church. We all have conflicts at some point with one another.
· The first thing we must remember when dealing with conflict with one another, is that we are saved by the same grace that we only receive through humility.
Transition: The disciples feigned a humility which was really to mask their pride. However, Jesus Christ is going to explain that their false humility will not gain them entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
I. The Kingdom of Heaven
· The kingdom of heaven is a phrase Matthew uses about 32 times and is synonymous with the kingdom of God. It had become common for the Jews at the end of the Old Testament era, and especially during the intertestamental period, to substitute, out of reverence, the word heaven for the Hebrew tetragammatin (YHWH). They did this to prevent from violating the second commandment of using the Lord's name in vain. It is very common that they would replace YHWH with Adonai.
· When used in this way, heaven is simply another way of saying God. Both phrases refer to the rule of God, kingdom of heaven emphasizing the sphere and character of His rule and kingdom of God empathetically pointing to the ruler Himself.
· The first component presented for entering the kingdom is repentance.
· The second component of faith that grants entrance into the kingdom is the recognition of spiritual bankruptcy.
· The third component of the faith that allows entering the kingdom is meekness or humility.
· Upon entering the kingdom of God, the one who enters God's kingdom will have a desire and capacity to be obedient.
· The one who enters the kingdom of God also is willing to make public confession of his desire to follow the Lord.
· The one who enters kingdom of God is aware of his need to be self-denying.
· The phrase “are converted” translates an aorist passive word, strepho, which is always translated with the idea of turning or turning around. It means to mark an about face and go in the opposite direction.
· Conversion is the other half of repentance. Repentance is being sorry for sin and turning away from it; conversion is an expression of will that fully turns from sin to the Lord. You can think of it as conversion is the emotion and repentance is the action.
· Jesus’ use here of the passive voice indicates that the disciples could not be converted from sin to righteousness by their own efforts but needed someone else to turn them around. Although the response of a person's will is required, only God has the power to convert.
Transition: The greatest in the kingdom of heaven is the one who is humble, genuinely sincere, undemanding, non-self-centered, receptive to whatever God offers an eagerly obedient to whatever he commands. But what is humility?
II. Definition of Humility
· Possibly the greatest mark of spirituality; the greatest evidence of spiritual growth is humility. The greatest question to ask to judge your spiritual growth is to ask yourself how humble are you? The more humble you are the more like Christ your. Are you filled with pride? Then you probably are not as spiritual mature as you think you are or should be.
· Pride consists in attributing to ourselves and demanding for ourselves the honor, privileges, prerogatives, rights and power that are due to God alone. Humility, then, consists in an attitude wherein we recognize our own insignificance and unworthiness before God in attribute to Him the supreme honor, praise, prerogatives, rights, privileges, worship, devotion, authority, submission and obedience that He alone deserves. It also involves a natural, habitual tendency to think and behave in a manner that appropriately expresses this attitude.
· First, a truly humble person has an abiding sense of natural insignificance, as compared to God.
· Second, a truly humble person has an abiding sense of his moral insignificance and sinfulness, as compared to God.
· Third, a person who is truly humble has a theocentric mindset. He would much rather deny himself than exalts himself or be exalted by others.
· Fourth, a person who is truly humble attributes to God supreme honor, praise, rights and privileges. He acknowledges God as his supreme authority in all matters of life.
· Pride is a sin and more so, the source of sin, that is always with us as long as we live. The only solution to pride is humility.
· Humility reverses competition. To operate primarily with the goal in life to be the greatest promotes a competition that destroys relationships. When promotion of self at the expense of others is the motivation, competition is destructive.
· To fail to humble oneself is to disobey God, in such disobedience is sin.
· Greatness is not achieved through one's personal accomplishments but through humility in receiving God's grace.
· The verb , “humbles”, tapeinoo, has the literal meaning of making low.
· Matthew 23:11-12, states "and whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbled himself shall be exalted". The person who is not willing to humble himself as Jesus "humbled Himself" (Philippians 2:8) will have no place in Jesus' kingdom.
Transition: Jesus says in order for us to be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven we must humble ourselves as a little child. How is a child humble?
III. How is A Child Humble?
· The Greek word for child, paidion, identifies a very young child, sometimes even an infant.
· Our culture is not supportive of children. They are sometimes seen as an inconvenience.
· In the ancient world, children were valued primarily for the benefit they brought to the family by enhancing the workforce, adding to the defensive power and guaranteeing the future of the house. They had no rights or significance apart from their future value in the family and were powerless in society. The humility of a child consists of the inability to advance his or her own cause apart from the help and resources of a parent.
· As God children we enjoy God's love, care, protection, power and other resources in abundance for all eternity.
· Humility is described as being like a child because of the qualities of a child. A little child is:
o innocence – ignorance of evil
o honest
o simple
o selfless
o helpless
o vulnerable
o dependent
o week
o defenseless
o incomplete
o unpretentious
o unambiguous
o underdeveloped
o unskilled
o immature
· Children are not sinless or naturally unselfish and they display their fallen nature from the earliest age. However, they are nevertheless naïve and unassuming, trusting of others and without ambition for grandeur were greatness.
· A little child makes no claims of worthiness were greatness. He simply submits to the care of his parents and others who love him, relying on them for all that he needs. He knows he cannot meet his own needs and has no resources to stay alive. That is the kind of a humble submissiveness that results in greatness in God's eyes and in his kingdom.
· Maybe the best way of explaining the meaning of this is with a few humorous illustrations of the things that children do and say.
· Illustration: The time that Timothy ask Pappy what happened to all his hair.
· Illustration: Timothy asked Ken Givings when the baby was due.
· Illustration: Several years ago, a man returned home from a trip just when a storm hit, with crashing thunder and severe lightning. As the came into my bedroom about 2 a.m., he found his two children in bed with his wife, apparently scared by the loud storm. He resigned himself to sleeping in the guest bedroom that night.
The next day, he talked to the children, and explained that it was O.K. to sleep with Mom when the storm was bad, but when he was expected home, please do not sleep with Mom that night. They said O.K.
After his next trip several weeks later, the mother and the children picked the man up in the terminal at the appointed time. Since the plane was late, everyone had come into the terminal to wait for the plane's arrival, along with hundreds of other folks waiting for their arriving passengers. As he entered the waiting area, his son saw him, and came running shouting,
"Hi, Dad! I have got some good news!" As the man waved back, he said loudly, "What is the good news?"
"The good news is that nobody slept with Mommy while you were away this time!" the boy shouted. The airport became very quiet, as everyone in the waiting area looked at the boy, then turned to the man, and then searched the rest of the area to see if they could figure out exactly who his Mom was.
· Illustration: One day, a little girl is sitting and watching her mother do the dishes at the kitchen sink. She suddenly notices that her mother has several strands of white hair sticking out in contrast on her brunette head. She looks at her mother and inquisitively asks, "Why are some of your hairs white, mom?"
Her mother replied, "Well, every time that you do something wrong and make me cry or unhappy, one of my hairs turns white". The little girl thought about this revelation for a while, and then said, "Momma, how come *all* of grandma's hairs are white?"
· Illustration: A certain little girl, when asked her name, would reply, "I'm Mr. Sugarbrown's daughter." Her mother told her this was wrong, she must say, "I'm Jane Sugarbrown." When the minister spoke to her in Sunday School, and said, "Aren't you Mr. Sugarbrown's daughter?" She replied, "I thought I was, but mother says I'm not."
· Illustration: After the church service, a little boy told the pastor: "When I grow up, I'm going to give you some money." "Well, thank you," the pastor replied, "but why?" "Because my daddy says you're one of the poorest preachers we've ever had."
· Illustration: A boy was watching his father, a pastor, write a sermon." How do you know what to say?" he asked. "Why, God tells me", the father replied. "Oh, then why do you keep crossing things out?"
· Illustration: After the christening of his baby brother in church, little Johnny sobbed all the way home in the back seat of the car. His father asked him three times what was wrong. Finally, the boy replied, "That Pastor said he wanted us brought up in a Christian home, but I want to stay with you guys!"
· Illustration (Determined): A little girl asked her mother, "Can I go outside and play with the boys?" Her mother replied, "No, you can't play with the boys, they're too rough." The little girl thought about it for a few moments and asked, "If I can find a smooth one, can I play with him?"
· Illustration (Honest): A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five- and six-year-olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor thy father and thy mother," she asked "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?" Without missing a beat one little boy answered, "Thou shall not kill."
· Illustration (Simple): For weeks, a six-year old lad kept telling his first-grade teacher about the baby brother or sister that was expected at his house. One day the mother allowed the boy to feel the movements of the unborn child. The six-year old was obviously impressed, but made no comment. Furthermore, he stopped telling his teacher about the impending event. The teacher finally sat the boy on her lap and said, "Tommy, whatever has become of that baby brother or sister you were expecting at home?" Tommy burst into tears and confessed, "I think Mommy ate it!"
· Illustration (Simple): A kindergarten teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew. She would occasionally walk around to see each child's artwork. As she got to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked what the drawing was. The girl replied, "I'm drawing God." The teacher paused and said, "but no one knows what God looks like." Without missing a beat, or looking up from her drawing the girl replied, "They will in a minute."
· Illustration (Simple): On the first day of school, the Kindergarten teacher said, "If anyone has to go to the bathroom, hold up two fingers." A little voice from the back of the room asked, "How will that help?"
· Illustration (Simple): "If I sold my house and my car, had a big garage sale and gave all my money to the church, would I get into Heaven?" I asked the children in my Sunday School class.
"No!" the children all answered.
"If I cleaned the church every day, mowed the yard, and kept everything neat and tidy, would I get into Heaven?"
Again, the answer was,"No!"
"Well, I continued, "then how can I get into Heaven?"
A five-year-old boy shouted out, "You gotta be dead!"
· Hebrews 12:3-11 – God disciplines His children because He loves them.
Transition: Entrance into Christ kingdom demands child-likeness. There is no other way to receive the grace of salvation than as a child. The question for us now is what does humility look like in our lives?
IV. What Does Humility Look Like?
· Jesus is trying to answer the question of how we as Christians should be getting along with one another. It is not with an attitude is looking to be greater than one another, have superiority over one another to put ourselves above one another, but it is within attitude of the humility seen in a little child.
The manifestation of humility:
· The first way in which true humility manifests itself before God is by the free and sincere confession of one's insignificance and sinfulness.
o A humble person honestly marvels at the fact that the Creator of the universe -- the holy One, the Almighty God -- cares for him or even takes notice of him.
o A truly humble person will always confesses unworthiness to receive anything from the hand of God.
o Truly humble people freely admit that anything they do that is good is really of God.
o They take no credit for anything worthwhile that is accomplished through them.
· A second way that humility manifests itself before God despite a complete lack of trust in one's own heart and complete dependence on God for all things.
o A truly humble person will hardly agree with Jeremiah 17:9, which says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?"
o Truly humble people depend on God for all wisdom and instruction. In fact, they greatly distrust the opinions of their own hearts.
o A truly humble person never trusts himself for anything.
o A truly humble person and will depend upon God completely for all things at all times.
· A third way that humility manifests itself before God is by totally renouncing any glory coming from our own good and by giving all glory to God for all things.
· A fourth way that humility manifests itself before God is by respecting, receiving and responding to the Word of God.
· A fifth way that humility is manifested before God is by completely submitting to God's will even if His will is difficult.
o A truly humble person takes his orders from God to matter what.
o A truly humble person will never question the truth of God’s Word.
o A person who takes his orders from God will never question God's right to ordain the events of his life.
o A humble person always submits to and never questions God's authority.
· A sixth away that humility is manifests before God is by submitting oneself to the providences of God without complaint.
o Those who grumble and complain about the circumstances of their lives are manifesting a spirit of pride.
o A person who complains about his circumstances does so because he thinks he deserves better.
o A humble person, on the other hand, willingly accepts whatever God ordains.
· A seventh way that humility is manifested before God is by delighting in the worship and praise of God. Humble people long for corporate worship and fellowship with God.
· An eighth way in which humility is manifested before God is by continually seeking God in prayer. Hardly anything is more an evidence of pride than prayerlessness. A truly humble person constantly comes to God in prayer.
· A ninth way that humility is manifest before God is by considering it a privilege to serve Christ in any capacity -- a privilege that we are not worthy of or deserving.
o A truly humble person gladly serves the Lord regardless of the job.
o A truly humble person can wash the feet of others and truly enjoy his work because he is doing it all for the glory of God.
o A proud person may become discouraged and bored by menial tasks because he thinks he deserves to be doing something greater. Whenever you are called to in life is exactly what God wants us to do and it is our privilege to do it for His glory.
o Truly humble people consider it a privilege to serve Christ in any capacity -- privilege of which they are unworthy.
· A tenth way that humility is manifest before God is by being willing to acknowledge God's infinite wisdom and knowledge.
o Proud people demand answers from God.
o Proud people refuse to trust God's sovereignty unless they can make sense of it themselves.
o Proud people do not want to admit that there are many things that only God can answer.
o God does not owe us an explanation for anything in our lives.
A portrait of a truly humble person:
· First, a truly humble person is not selfishly ambitious and greedy for honor among or over other people. James 3:14-16 warns of this.
o Humble people are more concerned about serving others in order to serve Christ.
o They are more concerned about pleasing Christ and pleasing themselves.
· The second way in which true humility displays itself before people by not being ostentatious.
o A truly humble person is not a show-off.
o A truly humble person wants nothing more than to give God all the glory for everything.
· Third, a truly humble person is not arrogant and assuming in his relationship with people.
o Proud people are critical and do not give honor to anyone, even God.
o They are not thankful to others when they receive something because they assume they deserve whatever they get.
o They are never satisfied.
o They always want more and they always assume that they are entitled to more.
o Pride says, "I deserve better".
o Humble people are not arrogant or assuming in their relationships with others.
· Fourth, a truly humble person is not scornful of, contentious with or violent toward other people.
o Pride leads to mistreating other people because proud people deem themselves better than others.
o They see other people as less deserving of respect, comfort or even life.
o Someone who is always in fights with others and finding fault with everyone is a proud person.
o The scornful words of proud people cause others to become angry and stirred up against them.
o A truly humble person is one who can put aside all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and slander (Ephesians 4:31) and replace it with kindness, tender heartedness and forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32).
o A proud person insults and stirs up trouble with others, but humble person is a peacemaker and encourager.
· Fifth, a humble person is not willfully stubborn in his relationships with people.
o Truly humble people are not selfish or willful toward others because they do not seek their own (1 Corinthians 13:5).
o Humble people are willing to turn the other cheek when offended or wrong (Matthew 5:39).
o Humble people are willing to do whatever it takes to smooth over an offense.
· Sixth, he truly humble person does not try to level those who are over him down to his own level.
o A truly humble person will show respect for and submit to those whom God has given as authorities over them.
o They do not attempt to undermine or discredit those in authority, nor do they attempt to escape their responsibility to obey.
o Proud people do not submit to laws of their governments.
o Proud people fight with their bosses at work or teachers in school and do not show them the respect they deserve.
o Proud children do not honor their parents, proud wives do not submit to their husbands and proud husbands do not love their wives sacrificially.
o Proud people do not submit to and give honor to the leadership of their church (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).
o A truly humble person will not rebel against those who have been placed in authority over them.
· Seventh, a truly humble person is willing to receive and benefit from biblical instruction, biblical rebukes, biblical reproof and constructive criticism. In fact, the way in which we respond to these kinds of corrections is a very good indication of how proud are humble we are. Proverbs 9:8-9 says, "Do not reproof a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teaching adjustment, and he will increase in learning".
o In regard to a view of oneself, pride makes self focus.
§ They are blind to their own faults.
§ Humility, on the other hand, makes God the focus.
§ Humble people think about what pleases God and what His will is.
§ They are willing to be attacked, criticized and critiqued.
§ They overcome evil with good.
§ They desire above all for Jesus to be magnified and themselves to be diminished.
o In regard to a view of other people, pride refuses to admit mistakes and never asks to be forgiven.
§ Proud people are disrespectful, slanderous and rebellious.
§ They blame others and justify themselves.
§ They reject correction or instruction and they do not listen well.
§ Essentially, proud people have a distorted view of reality; they delude themselves into thinking they are superior to other people and they understand other people’s thoughts and motives.
§ Humility, however, seeks godly counsel.
§ Humble people seek out correction and instruction and are quick to admit when they are wrong.
§ They are quick to ask forgiveness and they graciously submit to authority.
§ Humble people strive to resolve conflict and listen carefully to others.
§ They are thankful when they are rebuke.
§ Humble people seek to help others be more Christ like and they love to serve others.
§ They speak softly and encourage others.
§ They view others as better than themselves.
Transition:
Conclusion
· The Lord made no provision for the elevation of self, but rather declared unequivocally that the person who, on his own terms, "has found his life shall lose it" (Matthew 10:39).
· Those who glorify self not only will not be great in the kingdom will never enter into it.
· Humility is the first and primary attitude that we must have within the church when dealing with conflict and interpersonal relationships.