What does the Bible say about being humble?
The Bible speaks with clarity and consistency about the nature and necessity of being humble. It is not simply one virtue among many, but a foundational posture that shapes a person's entire relationship with God and with others. Humility in Scripture is often described in terms of submission, obedience, and an accurate understanding of one’s dependence on the Creator. This virtue stands in direct contrast to the spirit of self-exaltation that characterizes much of human culture.
Christ as the Perfect Model of Humility
The supreme model of biblical humility is Jesus Christ. As described in Philippians 2:5–8, Jesus did not cling to His divine status but emptied Himself, took the form of a servant, and humbled Himself in obedience to the point of death—even death on a cross. His choice to become human was not an abandonment of power but a voluntary submission for the sake of fulfilling the Father’s will.
Nowhere is this more clearly revealed than in Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed, “Not My will, but Yours, be done” (Luke 22:42). In that moment, Christ aligned Himself fully with the Father’s purposes, even as it led to suffering and death. This act was not only an expression of trust but also a blueprint for what it means to be humble in the truest biblical sense: surrendering to God’s authority, even when the path ahead is dark or difficult.
Human Limitations and the Need for Humility
To be humble is to have an accurate understanding of oneself. The Bible does not flatter the human condition. In Revelation 3:17, Christ rebukes those who believe they are self-sufficient: “You say, ‘I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing,’ not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” This sobering statement captures the essence of spiritual blindness—when people fail to see their total need for divine grace.
Worldly systems often reward confidence, self-promotion, and control. Yet the Bible teaches that the kingdom of God operates by a different measure. In Matthew 20:16, Jesus declares that “the last will be first, and the first last.” In God’s economy, those who lower themselves will be lifted, and those who exalt themselves will be brought low (Matthew 23:12). This principle inverts the values of the world and calls believers to embrace weakness, dependence, and service.
Humility and the Life of Faith
Humility is also essential to genuine faith. Without it, one cannot fully submit to God’s guidance or receive His truth. Proverbs 3:5–6 exhorts believers to “trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” This call to trust assumes the posture of humility: acknowledging that God’s wisdom exceeds our own, and that we are not capable of directing our lives apart from Him.
Jesus frequently used children to illustrate this point. In Matthew 18:3–4, He says, “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” The childlike heart is one of openness and dependence—a heart not cluttered by pride or self-sufficiency. This is the spirit required to receive salvation and to live faithfully.
Humility, Confession, and Transformation
A humble heart is a repentant heart. First John 1:9 assures believers that “if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Confession, by nature, requires a breaking down of pride and an acknowledgment of guilt. It is an act of transparency before God, a submission to His justice, and a trust in His mercy.
Through this process, humility becomes the doorway to transformation. The Holy Spirit does not shape proud hearts that resist correction or seek to justify themselves. Rather, transformation comes through surrender. Those who are humble enough to admit their sin find themselves drawn into a deeper, sanctifying relationship with God—one marked by grace, renewal, and obedience.
Humility in Relationships with Others
The Bible also connects humility with how we treat others. In Philippians 2:3, Paul writes, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” This command reflects the pattern of Christ, whose incarnation and sacrifice were not for His own sake but for the good of others.
Loving others with Christ-like humility means serving without expecting reward, remaining patient in the face of offense, and continuing to love even when love is not returned. Romans 12:14 instructs, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” Likewise, Jesus commands in Matthew 5:44, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” These imperatives go against the instincts of fallen human nature, but they reflect the self-giving, humble character of the kingdom of God.
Humility and the Gospel
The gospel itself demands humility. It confronts every person with the reality that salvation cannot be earned, achieved, or deserved. Romans 3:22 declares that “the righteousness of God comes through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.” This righteousness is not granted because of good works or religious observance but solely because of grace. To receive the gospel is to admit one’s need, to abandon all claims to personal merit, and to rest entirely on Christ.
This message directly opposes the modern emphasis on autonomy and self-determination. The gospel says we are not the masters of our fate. We are creatures who have sinned and who can only be restored through the atoning work of Jesus. To embrace the gospel is to embrace humility—not only in our initial confession of faith but in the daily walk of submission, worship, and trust.
Humility in Light of Eternity
The call to humility is not just for this life. It has implications for eternity. Throughout Scripture, there is an eschatological tension: the proud and powerful seem to reign now, but a day is coming when all things will be reversed. This theme appears in the Magnificat of Mary (Luke 1:52), where she sings that God “has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate.”
Though the fullness of God’s kingdom is not yet visible, believers are called to live as citizens of that kingdom now. This includes enduring suffering, bearing injustice, and waiting patiently for the Lord’s vindication. The humble trust that God's promises will be fulfilled—not always in this age, but certainly in the age to come. This quiet confidence shapes how Christians respond to trials, how they view worldly power, and how they understand the unfolding purposes of God.
The Enduring Call to Be Humble
In every age, the Bible calls God’s people to be humble. This is not a temporary emphasis, nor a suggestion for only the most devout. It is a defining characteristic of the true disciple. To be humble is to acknowledge our dependence, submit to divine authority, and love others with the servant-hearted compassion of Christ. It is to walk by faith, not by sight; to trust the wisdom of God above our own; and to live with the hope that in God’s time, the lowly will be lifted up.
The life of humility is not always visible or celebrated by the world. But it is precious in the sight of God, and it is the way of the cross. For those who walk this path, the promise is sure: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you” (James 4:10).
Verses about humility:
Proverbs 11:2, "When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom."
Micah 6:8, "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"
Philippians 2:3, "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves."
James 4:10, "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
1 Peter 5:5-6, "Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you."
Matthew 23:12, "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
