Overview

Pride can be a reasonable or justifiable self-respect, or an improper and excessive self-esteem such as conceit or arrogance. The apostle Paul expressed a positive kind of pride when speaking of confidence in Christians (2 Corinthians 7:4) or of strength in the Lord (12:5, 9). However, it is the latter, sinful meaning of “pride” that most frequently appears in the Bible, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The ten Hebrew and two Greek words generally used for pride refer to being high or exalted in attitude, the opposite of the virtue of humility, which is so often praised and rewarded by God. One other Greek word refers to a person’s being puffed up or inflated with pride or egotism. The idea is that one gives the impression of substance but is really filled only with air (see, for example, 1 Corinthians 5:2; 8:1; 13:4; Colossians 2:18).

Pride is basically a sin of attitude and of the heart and spirit. Hence one reads, “Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin” (Proverbs 21:4, RSV). Ecclesiastes 7:8 speaks of being proud in spirit and the psalmist declares, “O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty” (Psalms 131:1, NASB). Pride is cited in the two lists of the most glaring sins in the Bible. Along with the sins for which God is going to judge the Gentiles, one finds insolence, arrogance, and boasting (Romans 1:30). Included with the sins that will be prevalent in the last days, Paul includes boasting, arrogance, and conceit (2 Timothy 3:2-4).

As with so many of the sins of attitude, pride cannot remain internalized. It can infect one’s speech; boasting is one way by which this sin can appear in one’s speaking (see the passages referred to above and also Malachi 3:13). Pride can also appear in the way one looks at another person. Hence, the Scriptures speak of “haughty eyes” in Proverbs 6:17, or, as it could also be rendered, “a proud look.” The psalmist speaks of a person with haughty looks and arrogant heart (Psalm 101:5; see also Proverbs 30:13). Pride may also take the ugly form of contemptible treatment of others (Proverbs 21:24). One of the illustrations of this in the Bible is the way in which the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders treated and spoke of those beneath their social level (for example, Matthew 23:5-12; John 9:34). They especially despised tax collectors and sinners.

Outstanding examples of proud people can be found in both Testaments. Pride was the downfall of King Uzziah, who, because of this sin, dared to offer incense on the altar of incense and was smitten with leprosy as his punishment from God (2 Chronicles 26:16). Hezekiah, after his healing by the Lord, became proud of heart and brought God’s anger upon himself, Judah, and Jerusalem (32:25-26). The Pharisee praying in the temple, comparing himself with the humble tax collector, is another example (Luke 18:9-14). Herod’s refusal to give God the glory for his greatness brought judgment from God: Herod was eaten by worms and died for his sin of pride (Acts 12:21-23). In fact, Ezekiel 28, which describes the pride of the leader of Tyre, is taken by many biblical scholars to refer, in a deeper sense, to the fall of Satan in the beginning.

Pride can bring about the downfall not only of individuals but also of nations. This was the sin that is specifically mentioned as leading to other sins and that ultimately brought about the removal of both Israel and Judah from the land of Canaan (Isaiah 3:16; 5:15; Ezekiel 16:50; Hosea 13:6; Zephaniah 3:11). It is also the specific sin that brought about the downfall of the king of Assyria (Isaiah 10:12, 33) and of the king of Moab (Jeremiah 48:29). Because of its deadliness, Israel is specifically warned against pride and the tendency to forget God that so often stems from it (Deuteronomy 8:14).

In the light of the preceding discussion, it is no surprise to read in the Bible that pride is one of the seven things that the Lord hates (Proverbs 6:17). It is also said by two different writers that God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (see James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5; see also Proverbs 3:34 and 18:12, to which James and Peter may be referring). The words of Mary, the mother of Jesus, in her hymn of praise to God may summarize the attitude of God and the Bible toward pride: “His mighty arm does tremendous things! How he scatters the proud and haughty ones! He has taken princes from their thrones and exalted the lowly” (Luke 1:51-52).

HOW CAN PRIDE DESTROY OUR LIFE?

BIBLE READING: Psalm 10:1-18
KEY BIBLE VERSE: The wicked say to themselves, “God isn’t watching! He will never notice!” (Psalm 10:11)

PRIDE LURES US INTO LIVING INDEPENDENTLY OF GOD

There is an incompatibility between blind arrogance and the presence of God in our heart. The proud person depends on himself or herself rather than on God. This causes God’s guiding influences to leave his or her life. When God’s presence is welcome, there is no room for pride, because he makes us aware of our true self.

BIBLE READING: Mark 6:1-13
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any mighty miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. (Mark 6:5)

PRIDE UNDERMINES OUR FAITH

Jesus could have done greater miracles in Nazareth, but he chose not to because of the people’s pride and unbelief. The miracles he did had little effect on the people because they did not accept his message or believe that he was from God. Therefore, Jesus looked elsewhere, seeking those who would respond to his miracles and message.

BIBLE READING: Luke 18:9-14
KEY BIBLE VERSE: I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored. (Luke 18:14)

PRIDE CAN CUT US OFF FROM GOD AND OTHERS

The Pharisee in Jesus’ parable did not go to the temple to pray to God but to announce to all within earshot how good he was. The tax collector went recognizing his sin and begging for mercy. Self-righteousness is dangerous. It leads to pride, causes a person to despise others, and prevents him or her from learning anything from God. The tax collector’s prayer should be our prayer because we all need God’s mercy every day. Don’t let pride in your achievements cut you off from God.

BIBLE READING: Ephesians 2:11-22
KEY BIBLE VERSE: Christ himself has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one people. He has broken down the wall of hostility that used to separate us. (Ephesians 2:14)

PRIDE DISTORTS OUR VIEW OF OURSELF AND OTHERS

Jews and Gentiles alike could be guilty of spiritual pride-Jews for thinking their faith and traditions elevated them above everyone else, Gentiles for trusting in their achievements, power, or position. Spiritual pride blinds us to our own faults and magnifies the faults of others. Be careful not to become proud of your salvation. Instead, humbly thank God for what he has done, and encourage others who might be struggling in their faith.

GOD’S WORD ON PRIDE

There is a positive, healthy side to pride-being proud of your children or spouse, taking pride in your work. But the Bible looks mainly at the destructive side of pride because it has such great power to damage our relationships with others and with God. Pride is destructive when it involves wanting too much recognition, taking too much credit, wanting your own way, thinking your way is best-in summary, thinking too highly of yourself. It causes us to face the world from a selfish point of view, blinding us to our faults and leading to jealousy, envy, and a judgmental attitude toward others.

WHY IS PRIDE CONSIDERED ONE OF THE “SEVEN DEADLY SINS” WHEN OTHER THINGS SEEM SO MUCH WORSE?

• Ezekiel 28:11-19 . . . Your heart was filled with pride because of all your beauty.
  The Bible seems to indicate that pride was the sin that resulted in Lucifer (Satan) being cast from heaven.
• Daniel 5:20 . . . When his heart and mind were hardened with pride, he was brought down from his royal throne.
  Pride leads to a hardness of heart, which, in turn, leads to an arrogant disregard of God and sin.
• Psalm 10:2-11 . . . These wicked people are too proud to seek God. They seem to think that God is dead.
  Pride leads to ignoring God and a life of disobedience.
• 2 Timothy 3:2-5 . . . They will be boastful and proud . . . They will be unloving and unforgiving . . . They will betray their friends.
  Pride can destroy relationships faster than almost anything else because it is always taking away from others. Pride strengthens your position at the expense of others. It is selfish.
• 2 Chronicles 26:16-20 . . . When he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall.
  An inflated estimation of our past successes leads to prideful behavior and, ultimately, judgment.
• Luke 18:10-11 . . . The proud Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer.
  Pride renders us blind to our own sin.
• Obadiah 1:3 . . . You are proud because you live in a rock fortress and make your home high in the mountains.
  Pride finds comfort in false security.
• 1 Corinthians 4:6-7 . . . If you pay attention to the Scriptures, you won’t brag about one of your leaders at the expense of another.
  Pride can infect our spiritual lives and divide the church.
• Acts 8:30-31 . . . “Do you understand what you are reading?” . . . And he begged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him.
  Pride may keep us from asking others for help.
• Acts 12:22-23 . . . Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God.
  God hates pride and will judge it severely.

WHEN IS PRIDE HEALTHY AND APPROPRIATE?

• Romans 15:17 . . . It is right for me to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me.
  Paul was proud not of what he had accomplished but of what God had done through him.
• 2 Corinthians 5:11-13 . . . Are we trying to pat ourselves on the back again? No . . . it is to bring glory to God.
  Like Paul, if we take pride in anything, we ought to take pride in the integrity and honesty of our ministry and life.
• Galatians 6:14 . . . God forbid that I should boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  The only thing we are right to be proud of is what Christ has done in saving us from our sin and from death.

PROMISE FROM GOD:

• Psalm 18:27 . . . You rescue those who are humble, but you humiliate the proud.
  God delivers the humble but humiliates the proud.
• Proverbs 16:18 . . . Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall.
• Matthew 23:12 . . . Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
  God delivers the humble but humiliates the proud.

Please stay tuned for more.