Whoever Exalts Himself

In this part of the sermon: The sermon connects the parable's conclusion ('everyone that exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted') to the rest of the narrative…

An example from Luke 14:7-11 where Jesus teaches humility by advising guests to take lower seats, illustrating the general principle of humbling and exaltation in social settings.

You have in the 14th chapter of this same gospel a parallel passage, Luke chapter 14 and verse 11. For every one that exalteth himself shall be humbled, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Now the setting here is not the setting primarily of the doctrine of how does a sinner find acceptance with God. Our Lord is dealing, verse 7, with those who choose out the chief's seats when they are bidden to a feast.

6:22 - 6:56 Read in full sermon

Driving home: In the kingdom of God, it will always be true that whoever exalts himself shall be humbled. Whoever humbles himself shall be exalted.

Martin shares his suspicion of men who always demand to be addressed by titles like 'reverend' or 'doctor,' seeing it as a manifestation of the Pharisaical spirit of seeking ecclesiastical recognition.

I'm always suspicious of the man who always wants to be addressed as reverend, or doctor, so and so. It makes me rather suspicious that there's something of this spirit of the Pharisees. He wants his official recognition, not in the synagogue and in the temple alone, but in the marketplaces. Now it's one thing if out of deference to a man's office, someone wants to call him pastor, or reverend, or doctor.

8:28 - 8:53 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The sermon then defines 'shall be humbled' as being brought low or abased, using the analogy of highway construction where mountains are leveled. This means God will 'cut down to…

The process of building a highway (like Route 80) by filling valleys and leveling mountains is used to illustrate the physical meaning of 'brought low' or 'humbled,' and then applied metaphorically to God leveling those who exalt themselves.

The word itself simply means to bring low. In a physical or in a spiritual or metaphorical way. In a physical or metaphorical sense. Look at Luke 3 and verse 5.

27:52 - 28:02 Read in full sermon

Driving home: All who exalt themselves. God will cut them down to size.

The common phrase 'cut him down to size' is used to vividly describe God's action of humbling those who strut in pride, like a 'proud bantam cock.'

May I say it in the blunt language of the street. God will cut him down to size. Sometimes we've seen a fellow strutting around. Like a little proud bantam cock.

30:50 - 31:01 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin identifies God as the author of this humbling, emphasizing the passive verb 'shall be humbled.' He provides the story of Nebuchadnezzar from Daniel 4 as a classic…

The detailed account of King Nebuchadnezzar's pride and subsequent humbling by God (Daniel 4) is presented as a classic, extended illustration of God's commitment to abase the proud.

For a classic illustration of this. Daniel chapter 4. Daniel chapter 4. And beginning with verse 28.

32:08 - 32:24 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The time of humbling is presented as both present (the 'awful hollowness' of self-congratulation for the Pharisee) and predominantly future. The Pharisee's lack of true joy and…

The Pharisee's experience of going home 'with nothing but the sound of his self-congratulation ringing in his ears' is an analogy for the emptiness and lack of true spiritual assurance that comes from self-exaltation.

I'll tell you what he had. He went down to his house. With nothing but the sound of his self-congratulation. Ringing in his ears.

39:01 - 39:13 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The time of humbling is presented as both present (the 'awful hollowness' of self-congratulation for the Pharisee) and predominantly future. The Pharisee's lack of true joy and…

A quotation from the hymn 'It Is Well With My Soul' is used to contrast the Pharisee's lack of forgiveness with the joy of a justified sinner who knows their sin is nailed to the cross.

My sin. Oh the bliss of this glorious thought. My sin. Not in part but the whole.

39:23 - 39:31 Read in full sermon

The point: If your assurance that 'all is well' rests solely on the deceitful witness of your own heart, God have mercy on you.

A quotation from the hymn 'Rock of Ages' is used to further illustrate the publican's posture of utter dependence on Christ's cross, in contrast to the Pharisee's self-reliance.

Oh my soul. He never knew what it was. To sing with mingled joy and grief. Nothing in my hands.

39:39 - 39:47 Read in full sermon

The point: If your assurance that 'all is well' rests solely on the deceitful witness of your own heart, God have mercy on you.

A quotation from the hymn 'Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness' is used to describe the beauty and glory of being clothed in Christ's righteousness, a joy unknown to the self-exalting Pharisee.

Or I die. He never knew what it was to say. Jesus. Thy blood in righteousness.

39:53 - 39:59 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not continue assuming a place of self-exaltation, lest you become an eternal monument to God's humbling law.

Hell is described as a 'monument' to the truth of the law 'Everyone that exalted himself shall be humbled,' emphasizing the eternal and irreversible nature of God's judgment on pride.

Into everlasting. Isn't there a sense in which hell. Is a monument. To this law of the kingdom.

47:30 - 47:43 Read in full sermon