Q: #546. What does the Bible have to say about pride? Is pride a sin?
A: The Bible clearly calls pride a sin (Prov 21:4)(Prov 16:5). In fact, if you think about it, “pride” is at the root of ALL sins. Examples of this sin are found throughout the Bible. It was why Satan originally fell (Ezek 28:12-19). King Nebuchadnezzar (Dan 4:29-37) and Peter fell because of it (Mt 26:31-35)(Mk 14:27-31). (2 Tim 3:2) tells us that “men being proud” is one of the signs of the last days.
Pride is the reason why non-Christians who know about Jesus refuse to turn to Him. Paraphrasing Alistair Begg, “Would anyone choose Hell over Heaven? YES! Why? Pride. They don’t want to go in the only way you can go in, on your knees. They don’t want to admit they are a failure, that their life is a mess.” (Prov 6:16-19) says that God HATES pride, and it is an “abomination” to Him.
In essence, pride is always about placing ourselves above everything else (including God and other people). It is at the heart of anger, racism, hatred, unforgiveness, murder, adultery, fornication, divorce, and more… In the end, pride will ultimately lead to our destruction (Prov 16:18).
Pride is a sin that we all struggle with from time to time, and I believe that we need to pray to God on a regular basis to “crush any pride in us.” Instead of being prideful, let us “be clothed with humility” (1 Pet 5:5), and remember that if we will humble ourselves, God will exalt us (Mt 23:12)(Lk 14;11), and give grace to us (James 4:6)(1 Pet 5:5).
For more verses on pride, see: (Lk 18:11-14)(Jer 50:31)(Mt 11:25)(1 Jn 2:16)(Rom 12:3)(Isa 23:9)(Ps 138:6).
A few more quotes on “pride.”
A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle. Obsessed people know that you can never be “humble enough,” and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known (Mt 5:16). – Francis Chan (Crazy Love)
When we sin, we are often upset, not because we have grieved the Spirit but because our pride has been injured. – Vance Havner
The specific purpose of the thorn in the flash, as Professor F.F. Bruce put it, is to puncture your pride. – R.T. Kendall
Satan’s number one weapon is pride. God’s number one defense is humility. – Larry Burkett
