Matthew 23 12

Matthew 23:12 kjv

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

Matthew 23:12 nkjv

And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

Matthew 23:12 niv

For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Matthew 23:12 esv

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

Matthew 23:12 nlt

But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Matthew 23 verses

Matthew 23 12 Meaning

Matthew 23:12 states a fundamental principle of the Kingdom of God: that pride leads to abasement, while humility leads to exaltation. It reveals a divine reversal of worldly standards, where those who self-promote will ultimately be brought low by God, and those who willingly humble themselves will be raised up by Him. This principle defines the pathway to true greatness and honor in God's eyes, contrasting sharply with human ambition and status-seeking.

Matthew 23 12 Context

Matthew 23:12 is situated within Jesus' final and most severe public indictment of the scribes and Pharisees, known as the "Seven Woes" or pronouncements of judgment. Throughout chapter 23, Jesus exposes their hypocrisy, self-serving leadership, and misinterpretation of God's Law. Specifically, prior to this verse, Jesus critiques their desire for prominence, public recognition, honorific titles, and prime seating (Matt 23:5-7). They valued outward appearances and human applause over genuine internal righteousness and humble service to God and others. Verse 12 serves as the core principle that refutes their behavior, laying bare the ultimate outcome of such prideful actions and contrasting it with the divine blessing bestowed upon the truly humble. It explains why their conduct is wrong in God's eyes and foreshadows their inevitable humbling.

Matthew 23 12 Word analysis

• For (γάρ - gar): A connective particle, indicating a reason or explanation for what was just stated (e.g., Jesus' critique of their love for being called 'Rabbi' or taking prominent seats). It introduces the underlying divine principle.

• whoever (ὃς δ᾽ ἄν - hos d' an): A general indefinite pronoun, meaning "whoever," "everyone who," or "anyone who." This indicates a universal principle applicable to all people, regardless of their religious or social status. It's not limited to the Pharisees.

• exalts himself (ὑψώσει ἑαυτόν - hypsōsei heauton):

  • ὑψώσει (hypsōsei): From hypsóō, meaning "to lift up," "to elevate," "to raise high." In this context, it implies self-promotion, seeking status, honor, or importance for oneself through one's own efforts or ambition.
  • ἑαυτόν (heauton): The reflexive pronoun "himself." This emphasizes the self-initiated action of seeking self-importance or pride. This kind of elevation is self-derived, not God-given.

• will be humbled (ταπεινωθήσεται - tapeinōthēsetai):

  • ταπεινωθήσεται (tapeinōthēsetai): From tapeinóō, meaning "to humble," "to bring low," "to abase."
  • The aorist passive indicative tense (or future passive) is crucial. The passive voice indicates that the humbling is not self-inflicted but done by an external agent – implicitly God. It signifies a divine judgment or consequence that inevitably follows self-exaltation. This humbling is an active divine act of bringing down.

• and (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction connecting the two contrasting statements.

• whoever humbles himself (ὃς δ᾽ ἂν ταπεινώσῃ ἑαυτόν - hos d' an tapeinōsē heauton):

  • ταπεινώσῃ (tapeinōsē): Again from tapeinóō.
  • The active voice indicates a voluntary, conscious decision to adopt a position of lowliness, modesty, or dependence on God. It is self-initiated, choosing to lay aside pride, arrogance, and claims to importance, and instead recognizing one's place before God and others. This means a willingness to serve and sacrifice for others.
  • ἑαυτόν (heauton): Again, "himself," highlighting the volitional nature of self-humbling.

• will be exalted (ὑψωθήσεται - hypsōthēsetai):

  • ὑψωθήσεται (hypsōthēsetai): From hypsóō, same root as "exalts."
  • Again, the passive voice implies that the exaltation is not achieved by human effort but is a divine act. God is the one who will lift up, honor, or elevate the one who chooses humility. This is true honor and lasting greatness given by the divine King.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "exalts himself will be humbled" vs. "humbles himself will be exalted": This forms a striking chiastic (ABBA) structure. It beautifully highlights the inverse relationship between human action and divine reaction. The active choice to exalt oneself leads to passive humbling by God, while the active choice to humble oneself leads to passive exaltation by God. This underscores that true spiritual ascent is contrary to worldly striving for power or recognition. It emphasizes divine agency in the final outcome. The principle challenges the pursuit of status for personal gain, reorienting the concept of greatness around service and dependence on God.

Matthew 23 12 Bonus section

• This principle is a spiritual law that Jesus consistently taught, often using parables like that of the guests at the wedding feast (Lk 14:7-11) or the Pharisee and the tax collector (Lk 18:9-14).
• Jesus Himself is the ultimate model of this principle. He "humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Phil 2:8), and therefore "God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name that is above every name" (Phil 2:9). His life and redemptive work exemplify the divine pattern of humility leading to exaltation.
• The passive voice ("will be humbled," "will be exalted") strongly implies that God is the primary agent behind these actions. It's not simply a natural consequence but a divinely ordained outcome. God orchestrates the bringing low of the proud and the raising up of the humble.
• The "humbling" might occur in this life (e.g., disgrace, loss of influence) or in the life to come (e.g., exclusion from the full blessing of God's Kingdom). Similarly, "exaltation" might involve spiritual growth and recognition in the Christian community, or ultimate eternal reward and honor in God's presence.
• This verse counters the typical human instinct to achieve status and respect by asserting power or highlighting accomplishments. It flips worldly values on their head, proclaiming a spiritual economy where descent leads to ascent, and self-emptying leads to fullness from God.

Matthew 23 12 Commentary

Matthew 23:12 encapsulates a foundational paradox of God's Kingdom, standing in direct opposition to worldly values and the misguided practices of the Pharisees. It asserts that true elevation comes not through self-promotion or status-seeking, but through voluntary self-abasement and dependence on God. When one "exalts himself," they engage in prideful ambition, seeking honor from others, which invariably leads to a divine humbling, a bringing low by God's hand. Conversely, one who "humbles himself" does so by recognizing their place before God, yielding to His will, serving others, and forsaking selfish ambition. This posture of humility is not weakness, but a profound strength rooted in faith, which God then divinely elevates. This "exaltation" may not manifest as worldly power or recognition, but as spiritual blessing, true influence in the Kingdom, or eternal honor. The verse thus serves as a timeless warning against spiritual pride and a profound invitation to kingdom greatness through Christ-like humility. It applies across all areas of life, from leadership to daily interactions, urging believers to imitate Christ's humble service rather than seeking their own glory.