Mathew 5 Lesson

HUMILITY

In Mathew Chapter 5, we have the honor and privilege of reading the actual words that Jesus spoke when He delivered His “Sermon on the Mount.” 

What an amazing opportunity for us! 

As you read the Sermon on the Mount, try to imagine what it would have been like to witness this historic event in person.  And then, count your blessings that it has all been preserved for us to read, word for word, any time that we want to.    

We will begin today’s lesson with the following quote from the Book of James:

• “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” - James 4:6.

This is a good scripture to keep in mind as you read the transcripts from Jesus’ sermon. 

The Bible makes it clear that humility is important to God. 

It is also important to Jesus. 

And therefore, it needs to be important to us!

THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

So how did Jesus begin His sermon?

What topic did He decide to speak about first? 

The answer is found in the scriptures.  The very first words spoken by Jesus in His Sermon on the Mount were as follows:

• “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.” - Mathew 5:3.

What does it mean to be poor in spirit? 

In this verse, Jesus is not talking about the Holy Spirit, He is referring to humility. 

Somebody that is poor in spirit understands that they are nothing without Jesus.  A person who is poor in spirit is the opposite of someone that is arrogant, and prideful.

Being humble, not proud, is fundamental to being a Christian.  Therefore, we need to continue to study the Bible and sharpen our knowledge of these two topics. 

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT HUMILITY

1. “Clothe yourselves with humility towards one another, because God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” - 1 Peter 5:5,
2. “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” - James 4:10,
3. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” - Philippians 2:3,
4. “It is better to be humble in spirit with the needy than to divide the spoils with the proud.” - Proverbs 16:19,
5. “Let another praise, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.” - Proverbs 27:2.

BIBLE VERSES ABOUT PRIDE

1. “Everyone who is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.” – Proverbs 16:5,
2. “The Lord Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled).” - Isaiah 2:12,
3. “God is opposed to the proudbut gives grace to the humble.” - James 4:6,
4. “When pride comes, then comes dishonor, but with the humble is wisdom.” - Proverbs 11:2,
5. “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” - Proverbs 16:18.

CONCLUSION

The Bible makes two things perfectly clear when it comes to pride and humility:

1. God is opposed to the proud (James 4:6),
2. God gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).

If we want to please God, we need to practice humility and we also need to check our egos at the door! 

There is no place for sinful pride in the kingdom of God!  God wants His children to be humble, not proud. 

Being humble means following God’s commandments and putting others' needs ahead of our own.  This is how Jesus lived while He was on earth, and it is how His disciples are to live also.

Consider the following two scriptures:

1. “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” - Philippians 2:5-7,
2. “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” – Mathew 20:28.

We will end today’s lesson with the following scripture:

• “Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever then humbles himself as this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever receives one such child in My name receives Me.” – Mathew 18:3-5.