Read: Matthew 27:35-54

There are some weeds that grow so aggressively in some places that are extremely difficult to kill. Pride is also a similar thing. It is one of the seven things God hates (Prov. 6:16-19). The pride of men nailed Jesus to the cross. The onlookers, out of pride, hurled abuses as He suffered and died.

Martin Luther was a strong critic of the pride and self-righteousness of his own day. He said, “Pride is really the haughtiness of Satan against the name and Word of God. People who claim to be wise in matters of faith pompously exalt themselves, regarding God Himself as nothing and all others in comparison to themselves as mere fools. When this happens there is no humility and no fear of God. At present there are many such haughty people. They have discovered that they are learned or are otherwise esteemed by the people in points on which they take pride. In fact, they are destitute. Such people are enemies of God and must be overthrown, for they have excluded themselves from the kingdom and grace of God.”

Those who demanded for Jesus’ death were the religious leaders of that time. They were satisfied with the spiritual status quo, proud of their spiritual heritage and blind to their spiritual emptiness. If someone has spiritual pride even today, he may say, “He saved others, but He can’t save Himself.” Only if you let go of pride, you will be able to say like the centurion said, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matt. 27:54). Are you too proud to admit that you are lost in your sins? If so beware – you are too proud to see the kingdom of heaven. Is your pride really worth that?