Matthew 23:12

“And whoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled,

And whoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

Jesus finishes these important words off with a saying which sums up the eternal consequences of our attitudes. Colloquially it declares that ‘the way to up is down' (compare here Matthew 18:3; Matthew 20:26; Luke 14:11; Luke 18:14). This is the principle of the Kingly Rule of Heaven both in this world and the next. A very good example of the first part is found in Isaiah 14:9. There the King of Babylon sought glory for himself, and was brought crashing down, in that case without hope. Compare Daniel 4:30 where a similar thing happened, although that time ending in hope. Jesus Himself exemplifies the second. Under the Kingly Rule of Heaven those who set themselves to seek glory and position and recognition will find that if they are truly His they will have to be humbled (as the Apostles had to be when they were made to reveal their cowardice - Matthew 26:56; and see Luke 22:31; Luke 22:34. See Hebrews 12:5), whether it be in this world or the next, while those who maintain a humble attitude and behaviour before God and men, and seek only to genuinely serve, will find that God lifts them up and does great things through them, and their righteousness will be its own reward. They will desire nothing for themselves. But woe betide Christian men and women once they begin to covet titles and position, or to exert their own authority. Their usefulness to God will then be well nigh finished, for their light will no longer be shining before men so as to bring glory to God (Matthew 5:16). It will rather be shining in order to bring glory to themselves. And thus they will have had their reward on earth, and will lose out in Heaven. For God will not surrender His glory to another. Indeed those who find what is now said about the Scribes and Pharisees difficult should consider this well, for it may well indicate that they are following in the same path as them, for the humble will not be surprised. They will rather say, ‘Yes, this is what I deserve too', and will mean it (compare 1 Timothy 1:15).

In the end, however, the idea behind these words in Matthew 23:12 includes the judgment that is finally coming. Then those who have walked in true humility as servants, will find themselves ‘exalted' into the Lord's presence and what they have become will be their great reward. They will shine forth as the sun in the Kingly Rule of their Father (Matthew 13:43). But those who have exalted themselves, (and enter Heaven with high hopes), will find their hopes dashed. What they have been will have diminished them, and even should they enter Heaven, (and not be wailing and gnashing their teeth), their shining forth will be very much dimmed, for they will have already received their glory on earth (Matthew 6:1; Matthew 6:5; Matthew 6:16; Matthew 6:19; Matthew 6:22).