Matthew 23:12 NIV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 23:11-12

See the notes at Matthew 20:26.He that shall humble himself ... - God will exalt or honor him that is humble, and that seeks a lowly place among people. That is true religion, and God will reward it. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 23:11-12

Matthew 23:11-12. But he that is greatest among you, &c. If any one among you would in reality be greater than another, let him be the more condescending, kind, and ready cheerfully to serve others in love. The words may either imply, 1st, a promise that such should be accounted greatest, and stand highest in the favour of God, who should be most humble, submissive, and serviceable: or, 2d, a precept enjoining the person who should be advanced to any place of dignity, trust, or honour... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 23:1-39

129. More about scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 23:1-39; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45-47)Instead of teaching only the law of Moses, the scribes and Pharisees added countless laws of their own. Instead of making the people’s load lighter, they made it heavier. People could profit from listening to the scribes’ teaching of Moses’ law, but they were not to copy the scribes’ behaviour (Matthew 23:1-4).Jesus gave two specific reasons for his condemnation of the scribes. First, they wanted to make a... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 23:12

abased = humbled, as in next clause. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 23:12

Matthew 23:12. Whosoever shall exalt himself— Dr. Doddridge observes, that our Saviour, by the frequent repetition of this maxim, seems to intimate, that he intended it not only for those who were to be the teachers of others, but for all his disciples without exception; and it is well worthy of our observation, that no one sentence of our Lord's is so frequently repeated as this, which occurs at least ten times in the Evangelists. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 23:12

12. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased—See on :-. What follows was addressed more immediately to the scribes and Pharisees. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 23:1-12

1. Jesus’ admonition of the multitudes and His disciples 23:1-12 (cf. Mark 12:38-39; Luke 20:45-46) read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 23:11-12

In concluding these warnings Jesus returned to the subject of humility that He had stressed with His disciples earlier (cf. Matthew 18:4; Matthew 20:20-28). Jesus taught His disciples to be servants of others, not lords over them."Leadership positions should never be a goal in and of themselves, but should always be viewed as opportunities to serve others." [Note: Barbieri, p. 74.] The reversal of fortunes that Jesus predicted here will happen when the kingdom begins. Jesus Himself was the... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 23:1-39

Denunciation of the Pharisees1-36. Final denunciation of the Scribes and Pharisees. The other synoptists insert in this place a brief utterance directed against the scribes (Mark 12:38-40; Luke 20:45-47), but the discourse as it stands is peculiar to St. Matthew. A portion of it, however, is inserted by St. Luke at an earlier period, on the occasion of a dinner at a Pharisee’s house (Luke 11:37-52) and this suggests that we have here a collection of sayings against the scribes and Pharisees... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 23:12

(12) Whosoever shall exalt himself.—The precept seems to have been one which our Lord desired specially to imprint on the hearts of the disciples. It had been spoken at least twice before, as in Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14. The echoes of it in James 4:10, 1 Peter 5:6, show that the impression had been made. read more