The preachers quoted here call pride the root of sin and the fullest expression of the sinful nature. They describe it as independence from God that shows in prayerlessness, as thinking more of ourselves than we should, and as the sin a person is least likely to see in himself.
Scripture has many words for pride, among them the Hebrew gaon, loftiness,1 and the Greek huperephania, haughtiness.2 Its best-known verdict is Proverbs 16:18: "Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall." In the list of seven things the LORD hates, "a proud look" comes first (Proverbs 6:16-17).
The Bible sets pride at the beginning of sin. The serpent's promise was "ye shall be as gods" (Genesis 3:5). Paul warns that a novice in office may, "being lifted up with pride", fall into the condemnation of the devil (1 Timothy 3:6). Augustine, quoting the saying that pride is the beginning of sin, asked, "And what is pride but the craving for undue exaltation?"3
God sets himself against it. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble" (James 4:6). Nebuchadnezzar learned it by losing his reason and his throne, and confessed that "those that walk in pride he is able to abase" (Daniel 4:37). In the parable it was the Pharisee, thanking God that he was not as other men, who went home unjustified (Luke 18:9-14).
Pride takes many forms: boasting, self-reliance, contempt for others, and resentment of correction. Paul's question strikes at its root: "what hast thou that thou didst not receive?" (1 Corinthians 4:7). Its most dangerous form is religious. Jonathan Edwards observed, "It seems to be the nature of spiritual pride to make men conceited and ostentatious of their humility."4
Pride also sets people against one another. "Only by pride cometh contention" (Proverbs 13:10). The disciples argued about who should be greatest, and Jesus answered by setting a child among them (Mark 9:33-37). Paul's remedy is, "in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" (Philippians 2:3). That is why pride destroys fellowship as well as worship.
The remedy Scripture gives is to look at Christ, who "humbled himself" (Philippians 2:8), and to boast in something else: "let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me" (Jeremiah 9:24). "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God" (1 Peter 5:6).
- Strong's Hebrew 1347, gâʼôwn: "{arrogance or majesty; by implication, (concretely) ornament}".
- Strong's Greek 5243, hyperēphanía: "haughtiness".
- St. Augustine, City Of God, "Chapter 13.--That in Adam's Sin an Evil Will Preceded the Evil Act".
- Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections, "VI. Gracious affections are attended with evangelical humiliation".
In their own words
Each line below is quoted exactly from a sermon on this site. Follow the link to hear or read it where it was said.
Pride is a sin of whose presence its victim is least conscious.
J. Oswald Sanders
in Peculiar Perils of Leadership
Read in context
Pride is at the very top of the list of things God hates.
David Wilkerson
in The Path That Pride Leads To
Read in context
Pride is independence of God demonstrated through prayerlessness.
Brian Long
in The Humility of Christ (Conference Call)
Listen at 17:21
Pride is thinking more of ourselves than we should in a nutshell.
Shane Idleman
in Are You Contentiously Contending
Watch at 14:25
Pride is the great master-scar of the soul; it will bud and blossom--it cannot be hidden.
Thomas Brooks
in The Great Master-Scar of the Soul
Read in context
Pride is ours, and rules in us with such terrible power, because it is ourself, our very nature.
Andrew Murray
in In the Disciples of Jesus
Read in context
Pride is the root of all sin and evil that came into the universe.
K.P. Yohannan
in Peace Through Humility
Read in context
Pride is always looking on how to share the glory.
Gbile Akanni
in Humble Thyself
Listen at 27:00
Pride is the ultimate expression of the sinful nature.
Phil Beach Jr.
in The Deep Dealings of God Pt 27 - Let Us Go on Unto Perfection - Now Faith and God's Love
Listen at 37:46
What Scripture says
- Proverbs 16:18 pride goes before destruction
- James 4:6 God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble
- 1 Corinthians 4:7 what hast thou that thou didst not receive?
- Daniel 4:37 those that walk in pride he is able to abase
- Luke 18:14 every one that exalts himself shall be abased
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