Note 1 at Lu 9:46: The truth of humility being the key to greatness or success was not new. The Old Testament had an abundance of scriptures that proclaimed this, including the examples of humility illustrated in the lives of Joseph and Moses (Ge 39:3-4; Nu 12:3 with De 34:10; 2Ch 7:14; Pr 15:33, 16:18, 18:12, 29:23; and many others). However, Jesus gave this truth new meaning by walking in humility as no one ever had before.

This path to greatness through self-denial is exactly opposite to the world's path of exalting self at everyone else's expense. The path of humility could not possibly work if there was no God; we would simply be trampled underfoot. Therefore, humility is a step of faith; i.e., faith that God is the judge and that promotion comes from Him (Ps 75:6-7) and faith that God will resist the proud but give grace to the humble (1Pe 5:5).

Humility is trusting in God and not in ourselves. This is why it is easy to be humble when we've failed and, conversely, hard to be humble when we've achieved great success. This is precisely why Paul commanded Timothy not to put a novice into a position of leadership in the church. Pride is self-sufficiency and self-exaltation, while humility is self-denial and dependence upon God.

This became one of Jesus' dominant teachings to His disciples (Mt 11:29, 20:25-28, 23:12; Mr 8:35, 10:42-45; Lu 9:24, 14:11, 17:33, 18:10-14, 22:25-27; and Joh 13:12-17). God's kingdom is founded upon this principle of humility before honor. God's kind of love is selfless (Joh 15:13 and 1Co 13:4-8), as can be seen by Jesus' own actions. Pride is the only reason that strife comes (Pr 13:10); therefore, humility is the key to walking in love with our brothers and sisters in the Lord.