Posted by Chester Morton / Sunday 19 March 2017 / No comments
Jesus' teachings on humility
A person can be described as a humble person when, though a
very important person, has a modest opinion of himself.
Jesus’ teaching on humility is somehow fused with greatness or
otherwise among people. He taught that any person who wants to be seen as the
greatest must portray him or herself as the least.
Jesus was with his disciples one day. The disciples asked him
who was the greatest among them. Jesus called a child and placed the child in
their midst. Then he taught that anybody who humbles himself as the little
child in their midst is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven. He emphasized by
saying unless a person turns himself into a little child, that person will
never enter the kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus also taught against all manner of self-exaltation. He
did not believe that people must lift themselves so high above others. He taught
that anybody who exalts himself shall be brought down and anybody who humbles
himself shall be exalted.
The disciple, like many of their counter-parts then, were
concerned about the position they were going to occupy in the kingdom of God
with Jesus. One day, two of Jesus’ disciples, James and John, the sons of
Zebedee made a request of Jesus. They wanted to be granted the favour of
sitting on the right and on the left of Jesus in his kingdom. Jesus told them
it was not his place to grant that request. Jesus taught them that anyone of
them who wants to be the greatest among them must be the lowliest. In other words,
humility is the key to greatness.
On another occasion, Jesus was teaching about how the Pharisees
like to be seen on the chief seats at important gatherings. Jesus taught them
that the person who would be considered as the greatest is the one who is a servant
to the others.
Jesus again exhorted the people on humility by advising that
when they go to a gathering, they should remain amongst the people at a lowly
placed location so that they are rather invited to join the high-table instead
of sitting at the high table only to be asked to step down in front of
everybody and be shamed.
Again Jesus taught that those who are humble shall receive
blessings from God. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that “blessed are
the meek, for they shall inherit the earth”. In other words, those who humble
themselves shall receive the reward of possessing the earth. In effect, there
is a reward for being humble.
SAMPLE QUESTIONS
1. Highlight Jesus’ teachings on humility.
2. What did Jesus teach on humility?
