New International Version
Matthew 23:12
12For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Matthew 23:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
Context of Matthew 23:12
10Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one Instructor, the Messiah. 11The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted. 13“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.
Read all of Matthew 23Matthew 23:12 word by word
ὅστις δὲ ὑψώσει ἑαυτὸν ταπεινωθήσεται, καὶ ὅστις ταπεινώσει ἑαυτὸν ὑψωθήσεται.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Matthew 23:12
- Matthew 5:3“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
- Matthew 18:4Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
- Job 22:29When people are brought low and you say, ‘Lift them up!’ then he will save the downcast.
- Psalms 138:6Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.
- Proverbs 15:33Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor.
- Proverbs 16:18Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
- Proverbs 29:23Pride brings a person low, but the lowly in spirit gain honor.
- Isaiah 57:15For this is what the high and exalted One says— he who lives forever, whose name is holy: “I live in a high and holy place, but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
- Daniel 4:37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
- Luke 1:51He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts.
- Luke 14:11For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
- Luke 18:14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
- James 4:6But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
- 1 Peter 5:5In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Commentaries on Matthew 23:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Whosoever shall exalt himself, etc. - 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…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 11-12The disciples of Jesus should lead by serving others, in distinct contrast to Israel's religious leaders (described in 23:5–7).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased--See on Lu 18:14. What follows was addressed more immediately to the scribes and Pharisees.Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 23:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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