BibleInTonguesHumility
In the New Testament humility is not low self-opinion but a downward direction: counting others better, taking the servant's place, and trusting God to do the lifting. These passages show what that looks like.
A word with a story behind it
When Paul tells the Philippians to do nothing through rivalry or conceit but "in humility, each counting others better than himself" (Philippians 2:3), he is not asking for a vague niceness. He immediately points to Jesus, who, though existing in the form of God, "emptied himself, taking the form of a servant." Humility here has a shape, and the shape is a person.
That same Jesus describes his own heart in Matthew 11:29: "I am gentle and humble in heart." It is striking that the one inviting the weary to come and rest defines himself by lowliness, not grandeur. In the Gospels humility is never presented as a weakness to overcome but as the temperament of the one we are told to learn from.
How the passages develop it
Jesus states the principle plainly and more than once: "Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:11). He says it at a dinner where guests jostle for the best seats, and again in the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The reversal is not random; it is how God consistently runs his household.
James and Peter both quote the same line: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). Peter adds a vivid image, telling the younger to "clothe yourselves with humility," as if it were a garment you put on deliberately each day rather than a mood that happens to you.
The deepest measure comes in Philippians 2:8, where Jesus "humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, yes, the death of the cross." The same self-lowering Paul asks of believers, Christ carried all the way down. That is why the chapter can ask ordinary people to consider others first: the pattern was set by God in the flesh.
Reading and praying it this week
Try reading Philippians 2:3-8 slowly, marking each verb that describes Jesus moving downward: emptied, took, humbled, became obedient. Then ask where one concrete relationship is asking you to take a lower seat this week, the way Luke 14 describes.
When you pray, use Peter's instruction directly: "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Peter 5:6). The promise is not that you stay down forever, but that the lifting is God's job and on his timing, which frees you from defending your own place.
Verses
- 19Acts 20:19Read in context
serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears, and with trials which happened to me by the plots of the Jews;
- 51 Peter 5:5Read in context
Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you clothe yourselves with humility and subject yourselves to one another; for “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- 12 Corinthians 10:1Read in context
Now I Paul, myself, entreat you by the humility and gentleness of Christ, I who in your presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you.
- 2Ephesians 4:2Read in context
with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
- 3Philippians 2:3Read in context
doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;
- 23Colossians 2:23Read in context
These things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, humility, and severity to the body, but aren’t of any value against the indulgence of the flesh.
- 12Colossians 3:12Read in context
Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
- 2Titus 3:2Read in context
to speak evil of no one, not to be contentious, to be gentle, showing all humility toward all men.
- 21James 1:21Read in context
Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
- 151 Peter 3:15Read in context
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts. Always be ready to give an answer to everyone who asks you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, with humility and fear,
- 48Luke 1:48Read in context
for he has looked at the humble state of his servant. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
- 10Matthew 4:10Read in context
Then Jesus said to him, “Get behind me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and you shall serve him only.’”
- 11Matthew 4:11Read in context
Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and served him.
- 24Matthew 6:24Read in context
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You can’t serve both God and Mammon.
- 10Matthew 7:10Read in context
Or if he asks for a fish, who will give him a serpent?
- 6Matthew 8:6Read in context
saying, “Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented.”
- 15Matthew 8:15Read in context
He touched her hand, and the fever left her. So she got up and served him.
- 31Mark 1:31Read in context
He came and took her by the hand and raised her up. The fever left her immediately, and she served them.
- 6Mark 8:6Read in context
He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground, and he took the seven loaves. Having given thanks, he broke them and gave them to his disciples to serve, and they served the multitude.
- 7Mark 8:7Read in context
They also had a few small fish. Having blessed them, he said to serve these also.
- 8Mark 8:8Read in context
They ate and were filled. They took up seven baskets of broken pieces that were left over.
- 20Mark 8:20Read in context
“When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They told him, “Seven.”
- 45Mark 10:45Read in context
For the Son of Man also came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
- 2Luke 1:2Read in context
even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
- 23Luke 1:23Read in context
When the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
- 38Luke 1:38Read in context
Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
- 54Luke 1:54Read in context
He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
- 69Luke 1:69Read in context
and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
- 5John 2:5Read in context
His mother said to the servants, “Whatever he says to you, do it.”
- 10John 2:10Read in context
and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and when the guests have drunk freely, then that which is worse. You have kept the good wine until now!”
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