Snapshot Series: "Pride"

Snapshots37  Mark 12:35-40  "Pride

In todays passage we are going to look at three things that pride does in our lives and look at how we as Christians need to combat that. 

What is pride?  Pride - a high or inordinate opinion of one's own dignity, importance, merit, or superiority, whether as cherished in the mind or as displayed in conduct.

David Rhodes said "Pride is the dandelion of the soul. Its root goes deep; only a little left behind sprouts again. Its seeds lodge in the tiniest encouraging cracks. And it flourishes in good soil: The danger of pride is that it feeds on goodness." 

Verses 35-37 Pride blinds us to truth.  

Matthew Henry said Christ shows the people how weak and defective the scribes were in their preaching, and how unable to solve the difficulties that occurred in the scriptures of the Old Testament

To prove that the Messiah is David’s Lord, Jesus quoted what David himself speaking by the Holy Spirit declared in Psalm 110:1. This clearly argues for both the Davidic authorship and the divine inspiration of this psalm. BKC

The Messiah is David’s Son and David’s Lord at the same time. This strongly implies that the Messiah is both God (David’s Lord) and man.  He will restore the future Davidic kingdom on earth

The Scribes although they knew the Scriptures were blinded to the truth and it was most likely because of pride. They were blinded to the fact that Psalm 110 was prophetic of Jesus and that Jesus the Messiah would die to pay the price for the sins of the world on the cross, they were blinded to the fact that he would rise again and that all who believe would have eternal life.

Are you blinded to that?  are you so full of pride that you will not admit you are a sinner and need a savior? GOSPEL

 Orhan Pamuk said “There's a lot of pride involved in my refusal to believe in god.”

I heard a story from David Jeremiah about child and her school teacher about Jonah the whale.

Pride is not reserved only for those who do not believe, believers fall to it as well when it comes to the many truths of God.

“A proud person is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.” ― C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Maybe the truth about you is you are full of pride and you are severely blinded by it.  If you consistently have thoughts that you can do things better then others or are always critical of others but not yourself.  You think you don't need instruction, you can handle everything yourself.  Truth be told you are full of pride and blinded by it.

How do we combat being blinded by pride?

-Be teachable.  Look at life and relationships as learning experiences.  Ask an impartial party their opinion. Maybe you think you are right or know better then another person, a healthy thing to do is ask another persons opinion

-Pray that the Lord will reveal where you are being blinded by pride.

Verses 38-39 Pride allows a high position or achievement to go to our head. 

 MH said Their going in such clothing was not sinful, but their loving to go in it, priding themselves in it, valuing themselves on it, commanding respect by it,

The Temple scribes occupied themselves recording, teaching, and ruling on points of law. They had worked hard and had great achievements.  The Scribes were important and wanted everyone to know it and show it so they acted it and that is why Jesus continually rebuked them.

3 Time Boxing  Heavy Weight Champ Mohammad Ali knew he was great Here are some things that he said 

"When you're as great as I am, it's hard to be humble."  

"To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you're not, pretend you are." 

"I don't always know what I'm talking about, but I know I'm right."

Fifteen referees. I want fifteen referees to be at this fight because there ain't no one man who can keep up with the pace I'm gonna set.. except me. There's not a man alive who can whup me. I'm too fast. I'm too smart. I'm too pretty. I should be a postage stamp. That's the only way I'll ever get licked.

Do you think his high position went to his head?

How do you combat pride when you actually are good at something or have accomplished something great?

-Avoid false humility.  Graciously accept encouragement

-Have people around you that hold you accountable.  Jack Johnson famous singer song-writer says he loves being around his family (brothers in particular) because they remind him who he is.  Because being on the rode and playing sold out shows to screaming fans can really make you think you are more then you really are.

-Realize that it was given to you by Jesus.

Abe Lincoln, in the Proclamation of a day of National Humiliation, Fasting and Prayer. said...  "We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven; we have been preserved these many years in peace and prosperity; we have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us, and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own. Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us" 

Verses 40 Pride can cause us to abuse others because of our position.   When a person allows pride to take root in their life they abuse whatever position they have. 

Interestingly enough Scribes were highly esteemed but it was also forbidden that they were paid for the duties as a Scribe.  Therefore they would need to acquire money from other people to survive.  Jesus was rebuking the fact that some of them took advantage of poor widows.  William Lane says it this way "the sponged off people who had limited means"  Take care of me I am a man of God.  They offered long drawn out prayers and tried to entice widows to give over their belongings to them because they were "men of God". 

They were falling to what I am going to call positional abuse... rather the using their position for good they used it for self promotion and gain fueled by pride.

How do we combat pride causing positional abuse?

-Use your position to help others.

-Use your position to Give Glory to Jesus

Whatever skill, talent and ability the Lord has given you it was not given to you so you will fall to pride it was given to you so you will bring glory to Jesus with it.