How does 3 John 1:9 connect with Matthew 23:12 on humility? Setting the Scene • 3 John 1:9 – “I wrote something to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept our authority.” • Matthew 23:12 – “For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Both verses spotlight the same heart issue—pride versus humility—played out in different settings: a local church dispute in 3 John and Jesus’ broader warning to religious leaders in Matthew. Diotrephes: A Case Study in Pride • “loves to be first” – Diotrephes craves preeminence, dismissing apostolic authority and sidelining fellow believers (3 John 1:10). • His attitude mirrors Proverbs 29:23: “A man’s pride will bring him low, but a humble spirit will obtain honor.” • He stands as a negative example of leadership fueled by self-promotion rather than servant-hearted love. Jesus’ Principle on Humility • Matthew 23 highlights Pharisees who “tie up heavy burdens” (v. 4) and “love the place of honor” (v. 6). • Verse 12 distills the divine order: self-exaltation leads to humbling; self-humbling invites God’s exaltation. • Complementary texts underscore this principle: – James 4:6: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” – 1 Peter 5:5-6: “Clothe yourselves with humility… so that He may exalt you at the proper time.” Connecting the Dots • Diotrephes embodies the self-exalting leader Jesus warns about. His refusal to submit to apostolic instruction places him on the wrong side of Matthew 23:12’s promise. • John’s silence about immediate judgment hints at the coming humbling God ordains; Jesus’ words guarantee it. • Conversely, the unnamed faithful believers in 3 John (e.g., Gaius, v. 1-8) model humble service and will experience the exaltation Jesus promises. Living It Out: Practical Takeaways 1. Examine motives: Am I “loving to be first” in ministry, work, or family? Philippians 2:3-4 calls us to count others more significant than ourselves. 2. Submit to godly authority: Rejecting biblical counsel aligns us with Diotrephes, not with Christ-like humility. 3. Serve quietly: Seek opportunities to elevate others rather than secure recognition. God sees (Matthew 6:4). 4. Trust God’s timing: Humbling ourselves may look like loss now, yet Matthew 23:12 assures future honor from the Lord. 5. Encourage humility in leaders: Support and pray for shepherds who model 1 Peter 5:3 “not lording it over those entrusted,” and graciously challenge pride when it surfaces. Pride exalts self and invites God’s humbling; humility lifts Christ and invites God’s honor. 3 John 1:9 and Matthew 23:12 stand together as both warning and promise for every believer today. |
    |