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The Biblical Consequences of Pride in Christian Life

Pride is identified in biblical texts as a significant sin, characterized by self-exaltation and opposition to God's will [8]. It is explicitly stated to be hateful to God and Christ [1]. The book of Proverbs frequently highlights the negative consequences of pride, asserting that "the pride of a person will bring him humiliation" [2]. This stands in stark contrast to humility, which is associated with honor and life [6].

One of the primary consequences of pride is humiliation and downfall. Matthew Henry, in his commentary on Proverbs 16:18, states that "Pride will have a fall" and that those who are haughty "will be brought down, either by repentance or by ruin" [9]. He further notes that God takes it as his honor to humble the proud, citing examples like Pharaoh, Sennacherib, and Nebuchadnezzar [9]. Similarly, John Gill, commenting on Proverbs 29:23, explains that Adam's pride, in seeking to be like God, led to his loss of God's image and a state of "darkness and ignorance," bringing him and his posterity low [10]. This humiliation is not merely a social consequence but a divine judgment, as God "will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease" [12].

Pride is also a root cause of various other sins and negative behaviors. It is often linked to self-righteousness, as seen in the Pharisee who boasted of his piety in Luke 18:11-12 [1]. Unsanctified knowledge can lead to pride, as indicated in 1 Corinthians 8:1, and even inexperience can foster it, as warned in 1 Timothy 3:6 [1]. The possession of power or wealth can also be sources of pride, leading individuals to exalt themselves [1].

Furthermore, pride is a significant instigator of strife and contention. Proverbs 13:10 explicitly states that "By pride comes nothing but strife" (KJV). Torrey's Topical Textbook lists pride as a direct cause of strife, alongside hatred, wrath, and a contentious disposition [4]. Ambition, which is connected with pride, also leads to "strife and contention" [5]. This suggests that pride, by fostering a sense of superiority or self-importance, creates conflict within communities and relationships.

The hardening of the mind is another consequence attributed to pride. Daniel 5:20 describes how Nebuchadnezzar's heart was "hardened in pride" (KJV), leading to his downfall [1]. This mental hardening makes individuals resistant to correction and unwilling to acknowledge their dependence on God. Self-will and stubbornness, which are forbidden in scripture, are said to proceed from pride, as well as unbelief and an evil heart [7]. Such individuals refuse to listen to God or his messengers and resist the Holy Spirit [7].

Pride is also depicted as defiling a person. Mark 7:20-22 includes pride among the evil thoughts and actions that "defile a man" [1]. This indicates that pride is not merely an external behavior but an internal corruption that pollutes the individual's character.

The Apostle Paul, despite his extraordinary spiritual experiences, recognized the danger of pride. John Gill notes that Paul's "abundance of the revelations" could have led him to be "exalted above measure" or "swelled with a vain conceit of himself" [11]. To counteract this, a "thorn in the flesh" was given to him, demonstrating that even those with profound spiritual gifts are susceptible to pride and require divine intervention to remain humble [11]. This highlights that pride is a persistent temptation, even for the most devout.

The biblical narrative consistently contrasts pride with humility, presenting humility as the path to honor and life [6]. Christ himself is presented as the ultimate example of humility, demonstrated in his incarnation, his subjection to his parents, his poverty, and his willingness to serve others, even washing his disciples' feet [3]. This divine example underscores the severity of pride as a sin that stands in direct opposition to the character of Christ.

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Pride — Is sin -- Pr 21:4. Hateful to God -- Pr 6:16,17; 16:5. Hateful to Christ -- Pr 8:12,13. Often originates in Self-righteousness. -- Lu 18:11,12. Religious privileges. -- Zep 3:11. Unsanctified knowledge. -- 1Co 8:1. Inexperience. -- 1Ti 3:6. Possession of power. -- Le 26:19; Eze 30:6. Possession of wealth. -- 2Ki 20:13. Forbidden -- 1Sa 2:3; Ro 12:3,16. Defiles a man -- Mr 7:20,22. Hardens the mind -- Da 5:20. Saints give not away. -- Ps 131:1. Respect not, in others. -- Ps 40:4. Mourn over, in others. -- Jer 13:17. Hate, in others. -- Ps 101:5. A hindrance to”
  2. Proverbs “Proverbs 29:23 (LEB) — The pride of a person will bring him humiliation, and the lowly of spirit will obtain honor.”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Humility of Christ, The — Declared by himself -- Mt 11:29. Exhibited in his Taking our nature. -- Php 2:7; Heb 2:16. Birth. -- Lu 2:4-7. Subjection to his parents. -- Lu 2:51. Station in life. -- Mt 13:55; Joh 9:29. Poverty. -- Lu 9:58; 2Co 8:9. Partaking of our infirmities. -- Heb 4:15; 5:7. Submitting to ordinances. -- Mt 3:13-15. Becoming a servant. -- Mt 20:28; Lu 22:27; Php 2:7. Associating with the despised. -- Mt 9:10,11; Lu 15:1,2. Refusing honours. -- Joh 5:41; 6:15. Entry into Jerusalem. -- Zec 9:9; Mt 21:5,7. Washing his disciples' feet. -- Joh 13:5. Obedi”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Strife — Christ, an example of avoiding -- Isa 42:2; Mt 12:15-19; Lu 9:52-56; 1Pe 2:23. Forbidden -- Pr 3:30; 25:8. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. An evidence of a carnal spirit -- 1Co 3:3. Existed in the church -- 1Co 1:11. Excited by Hatred. -- Pr 10:12. Pride. -- Pr 13:10; 28:25. Wrath. -- Pr 15:18; 30:33. Frowardness. -- Pr 16:28. A contentious disposition. -- Pr 26:21. Tale-bearing. -- Pr 26:20. Drunkenness. -- Pr 23:29,30. Lusts. -- Jas 4:1. Curious questions. -- 1Ti 6:4; 2Ti 2:23. Scorning. -- Pr 22:10. Difficulty of stopping, a reason for avoiding it -- Pr 1”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ambition — God condemns -- Ge 11:7; Isa 5:8. Christ condemns -- Mt 18:1,3,4; 20:25,26; 23:11,12. Saints avoid -- Ps 131:1,2. Vanity of -- Job 20:5-9; 24:24; Ps 49:11-20. Leads to strife and contention -- Jas 4:1,2. Punishment of -- Pr 17:19; Isa 14:12-15; Eze 31:10,11; Ob 1:3,4. Connected with Pride. -- Hab 2:5. Covetousness. -- Hab 2:8,9. Cruelty. -- Hab 2:12. Exemplified Adam and Eve. -- Ge 3:5,6. Builders of Babel. -- Ge 11:4. Miriam and Aaron. -- Nu 12:2. Korah, &c. -- Nu 16:3. Absalom. -- 2Sa 15:4; 18:18. Adonijah. -- 1Ki 1:5. Sennacherib. -- 2Ki 19:23. Shebna. ”
  6. Proverbs “The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life. -- Proverbs 22:4”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Self-Will and Stubbornness — Forbidden -- 2Ch 30:8; Ps 75:5; 95:8. Proceed from Unbelief. -- 2Ki 17:14. Pride. -- Ne 9:16,29. An evil heart. -- Jer 7:24. God knows -- Isa 48:4. Exhibited in Refusing to hearken to God. -- Pr 1:24. Refusing to hearken to the messengers of God. -- 1Sa 8:19; Jer 44:16; Zec 7:11. Refusing to walk in the ways of God. -- Ne 9:17; Ps 78:10; Isa 42:24; Jer 6:16. Refusing to hearken to parents. -- De 21:18,19. Refusing to receive correction. -- De 21:18; Jer 5:3; 7:28. Rebelling against God. -- De 31:27; Ps 78:8. Resisting the Holy Spirit. -- ”
  8. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:21: Here is, 1. The wretched character of wicked people. The temper of their minds is bad. They are proud; they magnify themselves above others. And yet that is not all: they magnify themselves against God, and set up their wills in competition with and opposition to the will of God, as if their hearts, and tongues, and all, were their own. There is something of pride at the bottom of every wilful sin, and the tenour of their lives is no better: They do err from thy commandments, as Israel, that did always err in their hearts; they err in judgment, and embrace princ”
  9. Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 16:18: Note, 1. Pride will have a fall. Those that are of a haughty spirit, that think of themselves above what is meet, and look with contempt upon others, that with their pride affront God and disquiet others, will be brought down, either by repentance or by ruin. It is the honour of God to humble the proud, Job 40:11, Job 40:12. It is the act of justice that those who have lifted up themselves should be laid low. Pharaoh, Sennacherib, Nebuchadnezzar, were instances of this. Men cannot punish pride, but either admire it or fear it, and therefore God will take the pu”
  10. Proverbs (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Proverbs 29:23: A man's pride shall bring him low,.... As the pride of Adam, in affecting to be as gods, knowing good and evil; he lost the image of God; was brought into a state of darkness and ignorance, into debt and to a dunghill, to beggary and rags; filled with loathsome diseases, and left in thraldom and bondage to sin and Satan; and so all his posterity were brought into the same low estate. This might be exemplified in particular persons, in Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Herod, and others; and, as will be in that monster of pride, the man of sin and antichrist; who will be hum”
  11. 2 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 2 Corinthians 12:5: And lest I should be exalted above measure,.... Over much elated in his mind, and swelled with a vain conceit of himself: through the abundance of the revelations; for he had not only one or two, or a few, but an abundance of them; and which, as everything does but grace, tended to lift up his mind, to stir up the pride of his heart, and to entertain too high and exalted thoughts of himself. Pride is naturally in every man's heart; converted persons are not without it; knowledge, gifts, and revelations are apt to puff up with spiritual pride, unless counterba”
  12. CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 1, section 19.17: crimes. Every ground of calumny is therefore taken away, that we may not think that God delights in the afflictions of men; for when he thus deals with men according as they deserve, the mouths of all must be stopped , ( Romans 3:19 ,) since the severity of the afflictions does not proceed from God, but finds its cause in men themselves. And will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease. We must keep in mind what I have already noticed, that the Prophet yields no small consolation to the godly by assuring them that God, though he spares the”
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