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Matthew 23:12

New Testament Gospel ASV (1901)

What does Matthew 23:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Matthew 23:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Matthew 23

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9And call no man your father on the earth: for one is your Father, [even] he who is in heaven.
10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, [even] the Christ.
11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble himself shall be exalted.
13But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter[.]
14Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows` houses, even while for a pretence ye make long prayers: therefore ye shall receive greater condemnation.
15Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is become so, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves.
← Matthew 23:11Matthew 23:13 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“And whosoever shall exalt himself, etc.] Above his fellow Christians, or fellow ministers, by entertaining too high an opinion of himself, by boasting of his gifts, as preferable to others, and as if he had not received them; by assuming, or eagerly coveting titles of honour among men, or by affecting honour that do not belong to him, or, abusing what he has: “shall be abased”; or humbled by God, or men, or both; such shall lose the honour they have, and come greatly short of what they are ambitious of; they shall fall into disgrace with men, and are abominable in the sight of God: “and he that shall humble himself”; by entertaining low thoughts, and a mean opinion of himself, behaving…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased--See on Luk 18:14. What follows was addressed more immediately to the scribes and Pharisees.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“See the notes at Matthew 20:26. He that shall humble himself ... - God will exalt or honor him that is humble, and that seeks a lowly place among people. That is true religion, and God will reward it. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled, and he that shall humble himself shall he exalted - It is observable that no one sentence of our Lord's is so often repeated as this: it occurs, with scarce any variation, at least ten times in the evangelists. Luk 14:11; Luk 18:14. Matthew 23:13”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“Mat 5:3, Mat 18:4; Job 22:29; Psa 138:6; Pro 15:33, Pro 16:18, Pro 16:19, Pro 29:23; Isa 57:15; Dan 4:37; Luk 1:51, Luk 1:52, Luk 14:11, Luk 18:14; Jam 4:6; Pe1 5:5 Matthew 23:13”
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Related study paths

Read Matthew 23 in contextBrowse Greek word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification