Being Human; Part 1: Humility
With all the exciting advances in technology and AI, it’s not uncommon for us to question our value as humans. In many cases, machines can do a better job than us. And as the world hurtles down this scary road, we’re already seeing signs of humanity becoming more and more artificial. We no longer need to think, the machines do that for us. Society tells us how to react to different situations and how to live in the world. While we’re breaking from Ephesians, we’re going to take a look at some of the things that make us human. What better way to do that than to study Jesus? We’ll start today to look at what Jesus implies is the cornerstone of our characters: humility. Humility is an elusive thing, just when you think you have it, you don’t! Today, we will be focusing only on verse 35.
Scripture
Matthew 9:35-38 ESV 35 And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38 therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Bible Study Questions
Jesus’ way
When reading verse 35, there are many things that we can learn about Jesus. What are some of the things that strike you?
Matthew 9:35 ESV And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.
Ecclesiastes 9:10 ESV Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going.
Colossians 3:12 ESV Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
The humility of Jesus
Jesus was healing every disease and affliction. He was teaching in their villages and synagogues. Jesus is the son-head of God incarnate. One could be forgiven for thinking that these tasks were menial to Him, yet He did them. Why?
Matthew 9:35 ESV And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.
John 5:30 ESV “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.
Why humility
Jesus’ act of teaching and healing the Jews was really an act of humility. Jesus humbles Himself to the Father’s will by submitting and through submitting, obeys God. This thing of humility is a major theme in the Bible. Why is it so important?
Matthew 9:35 ESV And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.
Deuteronomy 8:2 ESV And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
Isaiah 57:15 ESV For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Matthew 5:3-5 ESV “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (4) “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. (5) “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
The enemy of humility
So Jesus and the Bible tell us that humility is a building block for being human. Do you think we see a lot of humility in the world today? Why or why not?
Matthew 9:35 ESV And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.
Proverbs 8:13 ESV The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
Proverbs 16:18 ESV Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
Why is there pride
Our default position in life is not humility. It’s pride and none of us are “safe” from it. It is a daily grind to strive to be humble. Why is pride such a driver in our society today, and why do we relish it as human beings?
Matthew 9:35 ESV And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.
Romans 5:12 ESV Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Romans 7:19 ESV For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
2 Corinthians 4:4 ESV In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
When God intervenes
Sometimes we fall prey of pride when we’re not even aware of it. In fact, we’re seldom aware of it. For most of us, when seeking God out, He will intervene and humble us to get rid of the pride that separates us from Him. Can you think of a character in the Bible that was humbled? Are you being humbled? How?
Matthew 9:35 ESV And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.
Luke 5:4-6 ESV And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” (5) And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” (6) And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking.
Seeking humility
So, sometimes God will intervene and put us back on track - an act of grace, though sometimes it is painful. What can we do to ensure we are constantly seeking humility and being more human?
Matthew 9:35 ESV And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.
2 Chronicles 7:14 ESV If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Philippians 2:3 ESV Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.