The words of Matt. 23: 12-13-"Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled, but whoever humbles himself shall be exalted," we hear often and many are the ways we explain it. Here is a Korean's understanding of what is meant and not meant.
1) A life of unconditional declining.
2) No matter where one goes to take the last place.
3) Always refuse to be praised.
4) To walk with heads down, backs bent and eyes to the ground.
5) None of the above.
The author of the above says it is surprising how many would subscribe to the 4 above.
He goes on to explain that we have to see another dimension to what is being said. To use spiritual language it is not to inflate ourselves. It is not to lie or see ourselves as more than we are.
How does one know he is inflating himself ? He then lists some of the characteristics one would be showing . He uses the persons opposed to Jesus in the Gospel as the foil to explain what is meant.
One who has an authoritarian attitude. and does not allow for disagreement.
Those who are fastidious about their dress.
Those who try to raise themselves at the expense of others. Those who see the world ending any day now with God ready to punish. They are passing themselves off as the the just ones, the exalted.
This is a different way of looking at the words of Jesus but with good reasons for their understanding.
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