Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Matthew 23:12
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Verse 12. Whosoever shall exalt himself, c.] The way to arrive at the highest degree of dignity, in the sight of God, is by being willing to become the servant of all. Nothing is more hateful in his sight than pride to bring it into everlasting contempt, God was manifest in the flesh. He who was in the likeness of God took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man, and humbled himself unto death. After this, can God look upon any proud man without abasing him? Spiritual lordship and domination, ecclesiastical luxury, pomp, and pride, must be an abhorrence in the sight of that God who gave the above advices to his followers.
Another lesson, which our blessed Lord teaches here, is, that no man is implicitly to receive the sayings, doctrines, and decisions of any man, or number of men, in the things which concern the interests of his immortal soul. Christ, his Spirit, and his word, are the only infallible teachers. Every man who wishes to save his soul must search the Scriptures, by prayer and faith. Reader, take counsel with the pious; hear the discourses of the wise and holy: but let the book of God ultimately fix thy creed.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
12. And whosoever shall exalthimself shall be abasedSee on Lu18:14. What follows was addressed more immediately to the scribesand Pharisees.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And whosoever shall exalt himself,…. Above his fellow Christians, or fellow ministers, by entertaining too high an opinion of himself, by boasting of his gifts, as preferable to others, and as if he had not received them; by assuming, or eagerly coveting titles of honour among men, or by affecting honour that do not belong to him, or, abusing what he has: “shall be abased”; or humbled by God, or men, or both; such shall lose the honour they have, and come greatly short of what they are ambitious of; they shall fall into disgrace with men, and are abominable in the sight of God: “and he that shall humble himself”; by entertaining low thoughts, and a mean opinion of himself, behaving modestly among men; not being elated with his gifts, but acknowledging that they are owing to the grace and goodness of God; and using them in an humble manner, for, the advantage of others; not coveting honour from men, nor lifted up with what is conferred on him: “shall be exalted”; by God, or men, or both; if not in this world, yet in the world to come: and indeed, generally speaking, such modest, humble, persons, are most esteemed among men; and God gives more grace unto them, and will at last give them glory. This is a saying, often used by our Lord on different accounts, both with respect to his disciples, for their instruction, and with regard to the scribes and Pharisees, for their mortification; see Lu 14:11. It seems to be a proverbial expression, and much in use among the Jews: it is said in so many words in the Talmud u, as here;
“whosoever shall humble himself, the holy blessed God shall exalt him; and whosoever shall exalt himself, the holy blessed God shall humble him.”
u T. Bab. Erubin, fol. 13. 2. & 54. 1. & Nedarim, fol. 55. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Exalt himself ( ). Somewhat like Matt 18:4; Matt 20:26. Given by Luke in other contexts (Matt 14:11; Matt 18:14). Characteristic of Christ.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
(12) Whosoever shall exalt himself.The precept seems to have been one which our Lord desired specially to imprint on the hearts of the disciples. It had been spoken at least twice before, as in Luk. 14:11; Luk. 18:14. The echoes of it in Jas. 4:10, 1Pe. 5:6, show that the impression had been made.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
12. Whosoever shall exalt himself By these various modes of assumption. Shall be abased By the divine condemnation. Exalted By the divine approbation, and the honour that cometh from God. This maxim Jesus is represented as repeating more times than any other.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
“And whoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled,
And whoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.”
Jesus finishes these important words off with a saying which sums up the eternal consequences of our attitudes. Colloquially it declares that ‘the way to up is down’ (compare here Mat 18:3; Mat 20:26-27; Luk 14:11; Luk 18:14). This is the principle of the Kingly Rule of Heaven both in this world and the next. A very good example of the first part is found in Isa 14:9-20. There the King of Babylon sought glory for himself, and was brought crashing down, in that case without hope. Compare Dan 4:30-36 where a similar thing happened, although that time ending in hope. Jesus Himself exemplifies the second. Under the Kingly Rule of Heaven those who set themselves to seek glory and position and recognition will find that if they are truly His they will have to be humbled (as the Apostles had to be when they were made to reveal their cowardice – Mat 26:56; and see Luk 22:31; Luk 22:34. See Heb 12:5-13), whether it be in this world or the next, while those who maintain a humble attitude and behaviour before God and men, and seek only to genuinely serve, will find that God lifts them up and does great things through them, and their righteousness will be its own reward. They will desire nothing for themselves. But woe betide Christian men and women once they begin to covet titles and position, or to exert their own authority. Their usefulness to God will then be well nigh finished, for their light will no longer be shining before men so as to bring glory to God (Mat 5:16). It will rather be shining in order to bring glory to themselves. And thus they will have had their reward on earth, and will lose out in Heaven. For God will not surrender His glory to another. Indeed those who find what is now said about the Scribes and Pharisees difficult should consider this well, for it may well indicate that they are following in the same path as them, for the humble will not be surprised. They will rather say, ‘Yes, this is what I deserve too’, and will mean it (compare 1Ti 1:15).
In the end, however, the idea behind these words in Mat 23:12 includes the judgment that is finally coming. Then those who have walked in true humility as servants, will find themselves ‘exalted’ into the Lord’s presence and what they have become will be their great reward. They will shine forth as the sun in the Kingly Rule of their Father (Mat 13:43). But those who have exalted themselves, (and enter Heaven with high hopes), will find their hopes dashed. What they have been will have diminished them, and even should they enter Heaven, (and not be wailing and gnashing their teeth), their shining forth will be very much dimmed, for they will have already received their glory on earth (Mat 6:1-2; Mat 6:5; Mat 6:16; Mat 6:19; Mat 6:22-23).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mat 23:12. Whosoever shall exalt himself Dr. Doddridge observes, that our Saviour, by the frequent repetition of this maxim, seems to intimate, that he intended it not only for those who were to be the teachers of others, but for all his disciples without exception; and it is well worthy of our observation, that no one sentence of our Lord’s is so frequently repeated as this, which occurs at least ten times in the Evangelists.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Ver. 12. And whosoever shall exalt himself, &c. ] Lo here a great miracle, saith Augustine, a God is on high, and yet the higher thou liftest up thyself, the farther thou art from him; the lower thou humblest thyself, the nearer he draweth to thee. Low things he looketh close upon, that he may raise them: proud things he knows afar off, that he may depress them. The proud Pharisee pressed as near God as he could: the poor publican, not daring to do so, stood aloof off; yet was God far from the Pharisee, near to the publican.
a Videte magnum miraculum: altus est Deus, &c.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
12. ] This often-repeated saying points here not only to the universal character of God’s dealings, but to the speedy humiliation of the lofty Pharisees; and as such finds a most striking parallel in Eze 21:26-27 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
abased = humbled, as in next clause.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
12.] This often-repeated saying points here not only to the universal character of Gods dealings, but to the speedy humiliation of the lofty Pharisees; and as such finds a most striking parallel in Eze 21:26-27.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mat 23:12. , …, but whosoever shall exalt himself, etc.) In the S. V. of Eze 21:26, we read , , Thou hast humbled that which is exalted, and exalted that which is humble.- , shall exalt himself) As the Scribes and Pharisees did.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Mat 5:3, Mat 18:4, Job 22:29, Psa 138:6, Pro 15:33, Pro 16:18, Pro 16:19, Pro 29:23, Isa 57:15, Dan 4:37, Luk 1:51, Luk 1:52, Luk 14:11, Luk 18:14, Jam 4:6, 1Pe 5:5
Reciprocal: Lev 26:41 – humbled Isa 2:12 – upon Eze 31:10 – Because Luk 9:48 – he that Jam 4:10 – he 1Pe 5:6 – that
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHRISTIAN
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Mat 23:12
Thus does our Lord sum up the lesson of the preceding verses of this remarkable chapter.
I. The teacher and his office.The scribes and Pharisees sat in Moses seat: rightly or wrongly, they occupied the position of the chief public teachers of religion among the Jews; however unworthily they filled the place of authority, their office entitled them to respect. But while their office was respected, their bad lives were not to be copied: and although their teaching was to be adhered to, so long as it was scriptural, it was not to be observed when it contradicted the Word of God. However much we may disapprove of a ministers practice, or dissent from his teaching, we must never forget to respect his office: we must show that we can honour the commission, whatever we may think of the officer that holds it.
II. Avoid inconsistency, ostentation, and love of pre-eminence.As to inconsistency, it is remarkable that the very first thing our Lord says of the Pharisees is, that they say, and do not. They required from others what they did not practise themselves. As to ostentation, our Lord declares, that they did all their works to be seen of men. As to love of pre-eminence, our Lord tells us that the Pharisees loved to have the chief seats given them in public places, and to have flattering titles addressed to them. All these things our Lord holds up to reprobation.
III. Honour to Christ alone.Christians must never give to any man the titles and honours which are due to God alone and to His Christ. We are to call no man Father on earth. The rule here laid down must be interpreted with proper scriptural qualification. We are not forbidden to esteem ministers very highly in love for their works sake (1Th 5:13). But still we must be very careful that we do not insensibly give to ministers a place and an honour which do not belong to them.
IV. Humility the chief grace.There is no grace which should distinguish the Christian so much as humility. He that would be great in the eyes of Christ, must aim at a totally different mark from that of the Pharisees: his aim must be, not so much to rule as to serve the Church. Church greatness consisteth in being greatly serviceable. The desire of the Pharisee was to receive honour, and to be called master; the desire of the Christian must be to do good, and to give himself, and all that he has, to the service of others.
Bishop J. C. Ryle.
Fuente: Church Pulpit Commentary
3:12.
We have learned that true greatness consists of sincere humility and a desire to be of service to others. But if a man strives for worldly greatness he will be brought down by the Lord under a state of enforced humiliation.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 23:12. And whosoever shall exalt himself, etc. A universal rule of Gods dealings, including both worlds in its scope. Here it points to the speedy humiliation of the Pharisees. The possession of humility is the first requisite in entering the kingdom of heaven (chap. Mat 18:3-4) and the absence of it made the Pharisees the murderers of the King.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
23:12 And whosoever {l} shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
(l) He seems to allude to the position of the rabbis, for rabbi signifies one that is in a high position.