A Man with Dropsy Healed on the Sabbath

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Now it happened, as He went into the house of one of the rulers of the Pharisees to eat bread on the Sabbath, that they watched Him closely. 2 And behold, there was a certain man before Him who had dropsy. 3 And Jesus, answering, spoke to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the [a]Sabbath?”

4 But they kept silent. And He took him and healed him, and let him go. 5 Then He answered them, saying, “Which of you, having a [b]donkey or an ox that has fallen into a pit, will not immediately pull him out on the Sabbath day?” 6 And they could not answer Him regarding these things.

Take the Lowly Place

7 So He told a parable to those who were invited, when He noted how they chose the best places, saying to them: 8 “When you are invited by anyone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in the best place, lest one more honorable than you be invited by him; 9 and he who invited you and him come and say to you, ‘Give place to this man,’ and then you begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then you will have glory in the presence of those who sit at the table with you. 11 For whoever exalts himself will be [c]humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus was raised in Galilee, which led some to view him as unsophisticated compared to the elite of Jerusalem, who held him in disdain. On one Sabbath, he dined at the home of a well-known Pharisee and observed how guests vied for the best seats at the table. He shared a parable: “When you are invited to a wedding banquet, don’t take the best seat, as a more esteemed guest might arrive. The host may ask you to give up your place, leaving you embarrassed as you seek the least significant spot. Instead, choose a lower position, so when your host sees you, he might say, ‘Friend, come up higher.’ Then you’ll be honored among your fellow guests. For those who elevate themselves will be brought low, while those who humble themselves will be lifted up.”

This message contradicts worldly beliefs, which suggest that success requires aggressive self-promotion. In contrast, Jesus teaches that those who seek to elevate themselves will face humiliation. As stated in James 4:10, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” This presents a conflict between pride and humility.

Pride is fundamentally the belief that “the world revolves around me.” Jesus saw that pride permeated the lives of those around him—an issue not confined to the past but still relevant today. One challenge with pride is its invisibility; it’s often hard to recognize within ourselves. A notable saying goes, “Pride is the only disease that makes everyone sick except the one who has it,” highlighting our tendency to be blind to our own arrogance.

Many may recall Carly Simon’s song “You’re So Vain,” which, while never explicitly linked to a person, led Warren Beatty—the rumored subject—to acknowledge his connection to it. The lyrics highlight how a self-absorbed person might assume the song is directed at them.

Pride and vanity often lie just beneath the surface, only revealed when circumstances bring them to light. Another consequence of pride is its destructive potential, a warning exemplified by the devil. Initially, a beautiful angel named Lucifer, he fell from grace when pride led him to rebel against God. Isaiah 14:12-15 recounts how he sought to elevate himself to God’s level, but was ultimately cast down because of his arrogance.

Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden with the false promise that eating the forbidden fruit would make her like God—deceit that persists today as people are lured into self-sufficiency without God. Eating the fruit resulted in exile from paradise, exemplifying how pride leads to ruin.

People seldom ask, “How can I cultivate humility?” More often, they seek ways to succeed or rise to prominence. A search for “how to be more humble” on Amazon yields titles like “How to Stay Humble When You’re Smarter Than Everyone Else” and “The Know It All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World.” In contrast, the Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of humility, such as Proverbs 29:23, which warns that pride brings downfall, while humility leads to honor.

Three attributes define true humility:

First, true humility sees oneself as God does. It is not about self-deprecation but rather a balanced view of oneself as both a sinner deserving punishment and a beloved child of God. This duality mirrors Paul’s reflections in Romans 7, where he expresses his struggles with sin, yet in the next chapter speaks of the profound love of God for us.

There is a parable about the donkey Jesus rode into Jerusalem, who initially basked in the glory of being chosen. However, when he sought the same adoration again later, he was met with indifference and rejection. His mother reminded him that without Jesus, he was nothing, a truth that applies to all of us.

Second, true humility is demonstrated through our treatment of others. It is not a badge of honor; it is revealed by how we elevate others above ourselves. Philippians 2:3-6 instructs to act without selfishness, emulating Christ’s humility, who took on the form of a servant.

When faced with the task of washing the disciples’ feet—something none of them were willing to do—Jesus humbled Himself, showcasing the essence of true servitude. Ultimately, God exalted Him, reinforcing the principle that humility leads to elevation.

Third, true humility is often shaped by adversity. God may allow difficulties to touch our lives as a form of correction. Paul, too, experienced a “thorn in the flesh” to prevent him from becoming arrogant.

A pastor shared a moment when he was invited to receive an award at his former university. Caught up in pride before the ceremony, he was abruptly humbled when a bird defecated on him. It served as a reminder of the dangers of arrogance, prompting laughter and humility.

Are you experiencing trials that may be humbling you? When faced with adversity, individuals tend to respond either with bitterness or by seeking God, becoming better in the process. Which response will you choose?