Main Text: Proverbs 29:23
"A man's pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit."
“Finally Brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable… think on these things.” - Philippians 4: 8
Websters 1828 - HON’OR, noun on’or. [Latin honor honos.]
- The esteem due or paid to worth; high estimation.
- A testimony of esteem; any expression of respect or of high estimation by words or actions
I. The meaning of honor
A. Literally, to be heavy, weighty. – (be glorious)
- “And now, saith the LORD that formed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob again to him, Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious H3513 in the eyes of the LORD, and my God shall be my strength.” – Isaiah 49: 5
B. Figuratively, to give weight to, to esteem, to value, to adorn, to revere, to respect.
“The root of Kabod literally means heavy or weighty. The figurative meaning, however, is far more common: ‘To give weight to someone.’ To honor someone, then, is to give weight or to grant a person a position of respect and even authority in one’s life. While honor is an internal attitude of respect, courtesy, and reverence, it should be accompanied by appropriate attention or even obedience. Honor without such action is incomplete; it is lip service. God the Father, for example, is honored when people do the things that please him. Parents are honored through the obedience of their children. The source of all honor is God on the basis of His position as sovereign Creator and of His character as a loving Father. God the Father has bestowed honor on his Son, Jesus Christ (Jn. 5: 23). The granting of honor to others is an essential experience in the believer’s life. Christians are to bestow honor on those for whom honor is due. The believer is to honor God, for He is the sovereign head of the universe and His character is unsurpassed. The believer is to honor those in positions of earthly authority, such as governing authorities. As a participant in the church, the believer is called to honor Jesus Christ, the head of the church, fellow believers, ecclesiastical leaders, and widows.”
-Baker’s Dictionary of Evangelical Theology
II. The honor of God:
A. Proverbs 3: 9- Honor the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase.
B. Revelation 4: 11 - Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
“It is the natural duty of every creature to honor its Creator; and with such a glorious and blessed God as Jehovah is, it certainly must be incumbent upon all, who have any understanding of his existence, to render honor and homage unto Him. Such is His personal grandeur, such is the perfection of His character, such is the almighty power, and such are the obligations under which we are placed to Him as our Creator, that, altogether apart from spiritual things, it is, undoubtedly, the duty of every creature to honor God. Ordinary children are bidden to honor their father and mother; then, how much more should the children of God honor their Father in heaven! He has done so much for us above and beyond our creation – in our election, in our effectual calling, in our regeneration, in the bloodwashing, in the daily supply of our needs, in the continual preservation of our souls from going down into the pit – that we are overwhelmed with indebtedness to Him; and the very least return that we can make to him is to render Him all the honor that we can.” – Charles Spurgeon
III. The honor God grants to men.
A. Proverbs 3: 16 - Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
B. Proverbs 4: 8 - Exalt her, and she will promote you; She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
C. Proverbs 21: 21 – He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.
D. Proverbs 22: 4 – By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life.
E. 2 Timothy 2: 21 – If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
F. I Samuel 2: 30b – for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
IV. Honoring one another:
A. Proverbs 20:3 - It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.
B. Leveticus 19: 32 – Thou shalt rise up before the hoary head, and honor the face of the old man, and fear thy God: I am the Lord.
C. Romans 12: 10 – Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another.
D. I Peter 3: 7 – Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.
V. Misplaced honor: Pro. 26:1, 8
Proverbs 26: 1 – As snow in summer, and as rain in harvest, so honor is not seemly for a fool.
Proverbs 26: 8 – As he that bindeth a stone in a sling, so is he that giveth honor to a fool.
Proverbs 11: 22- As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion.
VI. Wisdom, honor, and humility:
Proverbs 15:33 – The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility
Proverbs 18:12 – Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honor is humility.
Proverbs 29:23 – A man’s pride shall bring him low: but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit.
“This agrees with what Christ said more than once. 1) That those that exalt themselves shall be abased. Those that think to gain respect by lifting up themselves above their rank, by looking high, talking big, appearing fine, and applauding themselves, will on the contrary expose themselves to contempt, lose their reputation, and provoke God by humbling providences to bring them down and lay them low. 2. That those who humble themselves shall be exalted, and shall be established in their dignity: Honor shall uphold the humble in spirit; their humility is their honor, and that shall make them truly and safely great, and recommend them to the esteem of all that are wise and good.” – Matthew Henry
It is with us as it is with our Lord – honor comes out of humiliation. He is meant to be not only our Savior, but our example too. If we can go down the steps of humiliation, we shall rise up the stairs of His glory.” Joseph Hall