The Humble Will Be Exalted: What Does This Paradox of Faith Mean?

As Christians, we're called to live humbly, recognizing that exalting ourselves can do no good in our spiritual lives. By embracing humility, we not only avoid the sin of self-centeredness but also open ourselves to divine blessings.

The Word of God teaches us that when we practice humility, we actually find exaltation, whereas self-promotion leads to humbling experiences. These concepts might seem contradictory at first, but in reality, they work together beautifully and can profoundly change us. 

The relationship between humility and exaltation can be called a paradox. On the surface, it might seem strange that those who humble themselves end up being exalted, as humility suggests staying low, while exaltation means being raised high. However, these seemingly opposing ideas are not contradictions.

In Matthew 23:12, we read Jesus teaching His followers that “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.” This is a reminder toward them not to follow the examples of the Pharisees who exalt themselves by being pretentious and arrogant. Their emphasis on outward displays of piety is one of their pitfalls. 

While they love to be seen doing spiritual things from the outside, like praying or giving to others, the Pharisees’ internal motivations often centered on seeking human recognition and using adherence to the law to validate their self-worth. This tendency manifested in practices like making their phylacteries larger and lengthening the tassels on their clothing.