Parables regarding Pride & Humility

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

—Luke 14:11

Humility in Life

Two striking parables deal with pride and humility. They touch on real-life circumstances: in public social events (Luke 14:7-10) and in public prayer (Luke 18:10-14). For some such occasions were opportunities to 'put their best foot forward,' to 'dress to impress,' or, simply put: to 'show off.' Today people 'show off' with fancy clothes, expensive cars and luxurious holidays. Times have changed; human nature hasn't. The key choice we face on a daily basis is one between pride and humility. With Jesus' two short and witty parables, He strikes at the heart of every person.

Humility in Public Social Events

Being invited by friends is a lovely thing. Going to a nice dinner is nice. Not only the food, but the company are important. Some people invite friends with good intentions; others with hidden motvies: they want something from others or they seek to impress or show off. Public events are occasions 'to see and be seen.' People in all cultures and throughout history have this in common. Times have changed; human nature hasn't.

Luke informs us that Jesus spoke this parable after noticing how people sought out places of honour for themselves (Luke 14:7):

And He began speaking a parable to them invited guests when He noticed how they had been picking out the places of honor at the table, saying to them,

The parable is an illustration of the attitude that is behind such actions. Jesus encouraged humility followed by honour (Luke 14:10), and discouraged pride followed by disgrace (v 9). The principle is simple: self-exaltation leads to humiliation; humbling ourselves leads to honour (v 11).

The wise king Solomon had taught the following:

Do not claim honor in the presence of the king, and no not stand in the place of great men; for it is better that it be said to you, "Come up here," than for you to be placed lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.

—Proverbs 25:6-7

Jesus and His audience would've been familiar with the wisdom of the ancient king famous for his wisdom. They knew, yet because of human pride people seek to upscale and 'climb the ladder' in society. Is it wrong to seek to make contacts and achieve something in life? Not at all; but it shouldn't be driven by pride and self-exaltation.

The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, honor and life.

—Proverbs 22:4

Humility in Public Prayer

Religious life was important to virtually everyone in the time Jesus walked the earth. Even today most people are religious in some way, despite the rise of secularism in the West, or secular replacement 'religions.' Public prayer was common; what people thought of others was important. Some mistook prayer as an opportunity to display how religious one was, or, in other words, to 'show off.' As mentioned above, today people 'show off,' too: with fancy clothes, expensive cars and luxurious holidays. Times have changed; human nature hasn't. The key choice we face on a daily basis is one between pride and humility. This is especially important in a religious context: God requires purity of heart and motive. He is the God who sees the heart; He's not fooled by outward performance.

Luke sets the stage of this parable with the following introductory statement (Luke 18:9), reenforcing the power and wit of the story parable and the point Jesus was making:

Also He spoke this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:

By directly addressing those who took pride in their religious performance and, at the same time, had the audacity to despise others, Jesus not only struck at the heart of what was wrong with them, He did so in a most clever way: addressing the issue indirectly (by way of parable), yet communicating the matter directly—it was unmistkingly clear! But to remove all doubt in the hearers, Jesus stated the matter in an equally striking conclusion (Luke 18:14), echoing the words of the previous parable (Luke 14:11).

Summary of the Parable

Two men went to pray; one a religious man, the other a sinful person (Luke 18:11). The former bragged about his religious activity and expressed his disdain for sinners before God (vv 11-12); the latter uttered a short prayer with a posture that shows remorse (v 13).

Analysis of the Parable

The respective prayers (direct speech) expose their hearts and attitude. It is obvious who displayed pride and who portrayed humility. A comparison is helpful.

The Prayer of the Religious Man:

'God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.'

The Prayer of the Sinner:

'God, be merciful to me a sinner!'

The sheer difference in length of the respective prayers already indicates something about these two characters. Although parables are fictional stories, they are close to, or parallel, to real life—and they strike directly at the heart of real people. Jesus spoke this parable addressing people's attitude (Luke 18:9). Prayers can reveal or expose a lot about people's hearts. After all, words from the mouth come from the overflow of the heart (see Matthew 12:34). The religious man's prayer starts with negative pronouncements about sinners. He clearly had the other person in mind, exposing his arrogant attitude all the while thinking his prayer is pleasing to God! He even thanked God that he was not like the ones he despised. He then commenced praising himself by telling God about his religious duties. Why would he do that? Didn't he know that God already knew? Or was his prayer intended to be heard by others? Perhaps to impress others? Presumably so. He was exalting himself and despsing others at the same time. Now, fasting and tithing are good religious practices, yet coming from an arrogant heart is a different matter. Obviously, for Jesus the heart from which the prayer comes from is more important than the words of the prayer. In His conclusion at the end of the parable, Jesus indicates that this man was not justified by God—his prayer coming from such an proud attitude is not acceptable to God, because he exalted himself (Luke 18:14). God resists the proud, yet gives grace to the humble (see Proverbs 3:34; 1 Peter 5:5; James 4:6).

The prayer of the sinner shows humility and he was, therefore, justified. God hears the sincere prayer of sinners when they pray in repentance. His short prayer did not seek to impress God, nor was it intended for other people. He prayed to God. It showed that he was serious about repentance. Now, 'tax collectors' in the time of Jesus was a disreputable profession because they collected taxes for the occupiying force: Rome. And many did so by extortion and became rich by corruption (cf., Luke 19:1-10). They were despised by the masses. If the religious man's prayer naming the sinners indicates an ascending order of sinfulness, then the tax collectors were the worst of them all!

Yet God gives grace to the humble—every time when they are sincere and authentic. Jesus came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15); He died on the cross to save those who believe in Him and receive forgiveness from Him. The religious man despised and rejected sinners; God does not reject anybody who comes to Him in humility. He is compassionate and kind. Jesus expressed God's nature, often to the irritation of the religious people who were proud of their own achievements. Yet Isaiah had already told them, that our own religious works are like filthy rags before God (Isaiah 64:6). No matter how hard we try, we all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). That doesn't mean we shouldn't try to do good—we should, at all times and in every way. But it does mean that we should not become proud about it, and certainly not despise others. We are to associate with the humble (Romasn 12:16). God gives grace to the humble.

Interpretation of the Parable

The parable addresses the wrong attitude in prayer: pride; as well as the right heart before God: humility. The final conclusion of Jesus (Luke 18:14b) affirmed in principle what the parable taught in story-form: the religious man exalted himself, yet was humbled; the sinful man humbled himself and was exalted—and justified! Getting right with God through humility is the most important aspect to life. No matter what religious activities we are involved in, if the fundamental motive and governing attitude is pride, it is wrong and worthless before God.

Summing Up Both Parables

Whether at a dinner party or in public prayer, humility is pleasing to God, yet pride is repulsive to Him. Both parables have the same conclusions (Luke 14:11; 18:14b), as pride and humility can manifest in all sorts of circumstances because they are the ultimate driving force of people's words and actions.

Both parables are direct messages (by means of the indirect form of the parable) to people's behaviour and attitude (Luke 14:7; 18:9). Jesus addressed an important matter of the heart. Humility is pleasing to God; pride isn't. Despising others is wrong before God. Be it the rich despising the poor, or the successful triumphing over those who failed, or people in power abusing it to exploit the powerless, all such pride is wrong before God—and destructive for society.

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