When considering every sin mentioned in the Bible, is pride a part of it? Well, the answer is yes, and I’ll give a detailed explanation from the biblical perspective as to why pride is a great sin.
In the book of Hebrews, Apostle Paul advice us to throw off everything that hinders and the sins that easily entangle. Pride is not just a sin that easily entangles but is also one that is difficult to overcome.
As we go through each day, we face the temptation of exhibiting a prideful attitude. Sometimes, we want to post our achievements on Facebook and Instagram so that our followers can see how smart and hardworking we are.
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Keep in mind that the Bible doesn’t utterly condemn celebrating accomplishments or taking pride in your own work. Still, there’s a thin line between this kind of pride and the sinful pride that displeases God.
To understand why pride is a sin, you need to know its biblical definition. Read on as I explain what the Bible says about the sin of pride.
What’s the Biblical Definition of Pride?
From the English dictionary, we learn that pride is the feeling of satisfaction a person derives from their achievements and self-worth (good pride). On the other hand, pride can mean an inflated opinion of a person’s importance, which makes them feel superior or better than others.
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Whether in the Bible or in the English dictionary, pride is the opposite of humility. Pride is considered one of the seven deadly sins in Roman Catholic theology. Similarly, it is one of the sins that the Lord hates, according to the book of proverbs 6:16-19.
Let’s discuss the definition of pride from the scriptural perspective
1. Seeking Equality with God
Proud people always want to put themselves in the position of God. Moreover, they have the habit of antagonizing everything associated with the kingdom of God. Whenever a prideful person excels, they never give praise to the Lord or consider Him as the reason for their success. Instead, they begin to see themselves as being extraordinary, powerful, and smart. Furthermore, they often attribute their achievements to their intelligence, connections, and diligence.
In the book of Isaiah 14:13-14, we see the perfect example of man’s pride. These verses of the scripture speak of the king of Babylon, saying, “I will ascend to heaven; above the stars of God I will set my throne on high; I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.”
Bible scholars believe these verses of the scripture were referring to satan. He came up with the wicked schemes to overthrow God in His kingdom. As a result of satan’s selfish desire and evil thoughts, the Lord God sent him away from heaven. And on the judgment day, the Lord will send him to hell, where he belongs.
Adam and Eve also fell into the temptation of pride when satan deceived them. Eve took the forbidden fruit from the serpent because she believed it would make her be like God (Genesis 3:4-6). Because of Adam and Eve’s insubordination, God sent them out of the garden of eden.
Serious consequences await anyone who wants to take the form of God. Everything we have, and all we’ve accomplished, comes from God, and He alone deserves the glory, honor, and praise.
2. Unwillingness to Follow Instruction
One of the attributes of prideful people is stubbornness. So whenever you see someone who doesn’t follow instruction or godly counsel, such a person has a proud heart. In the book of Exodus, chapters 5-14, the Bible tells us the story of a proud king named Pharaoh.
God sent His servant Moses to Pharaoh to release the Israelites from slavery so that they could serve Him. But Pharaoh refused to follow the Lord’s instruction, despite several warnings and disastrous happenings. Eventually, God revealed Himself as the almighty through the hands of Moses by parting the Red Sea. The Lord allowed the Israelites to walk freely through the sea and ensured Pharaoh and his horsemen perished in the same sea.
Unfortunately, people continue to repeat the mistakes of King Pharaoh in their daily living today, including Christians. They don’t want to obey God’s command nor follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. If you correct them for wrongdoings, they’ll get furious and even become defensive.
Scripture makes it clear that “If you reject discipline, you only harm yourself; but if you listen to correction, you grow in understanding” (Proverbs 15:32). Pride is a part of human nature; the spirit stays in the heart of man from birth. But if you accept Jesus Christ as your savior and begin to live a godly Christian life, the spirit of pride will have no place in your heart. Refusing to heed corrections and warnings usually results in calamity. (Proverbs 29:1)
3. Feeling Superior to Others
Instead of seeing themselves as being equal to others, proud people consider themselves as being better. And so, they look down on everyone who appears to be of a lower social status than them.
You can easily identify people who feel superior to others by the way they talk, walk, dress, and behave generally. If such people live in your neighborhood or attend your local church, they’ll be selective about those to interact with. They usually consider mundane things like money, houses, cars, and overall outlook as criteria for relating with others.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with being confident and having a sense of self-worth. But when it becomes excessive to the extent that you begin to feel others are lesser, there will be a problem.
Apostle Paul warns us about this attitude in Romans 12:3: “Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us.”
This verse of the scripture encourages us to stay humble, no matter what we have or our achievements. Additionally, we should always treat others with respect and dignity regardless of their social and financial status. God is the judge; He decides who to elevate and whom to debase. If someone feels better than others because of their success, God will bring them low.
4. Desperation for Recognition
Those who have a prideful heart always seek unnecessary attention and respect from others. Our Lord Jesus Christ commands us to be careful of such people in the book of Matthew 23:5-12.
The primary motive for which these proud people do everything is to show off. When they volunteer in their community, they’ll take several pictures of their activities and upload them on their social media pages. If they help those in need, they’ll announce it to family, friends, and neighbors, just to receive praise for their “good deeds.”
Furthermore, prideful people always announce their presence in a public space. Whenever they attend an occasion, they’ll call attention to themselves with their flashy appearance. Sometimes, they’ll deliberately attend a public function late when everyone is already in their seats, just to make a grand entrance.
That’s not all; people with a haughty spirit love greetings and titles. If you share a space with a proud person, they’d always want you to greet them first because of their obsession with respect.
In the book of Esther, we read the story of a man named Haman who was desperate for recognition. When Mordecai refused to bow to him, he became furious to the point of planning mass murder. Eventually, Haman’s wicked plans didn’t come to pass because God came through for Mordecai and the Jewish people. On the set day for the mass destruction of the Jews, the Lord gave them victory over their enemies.
As children of God, we must be careful not to emulate the behaviors of the Pharisees that Christ Jesus speaks of in Matthew 23. Desperately seeking attention, respect, and recognition will ultimately lead to shame and dishonor.
5. Self-Righteousness
In some cases, pride comes in the form of self-righteousness. It makes people feel they’re more morally upright than others, making them judgmental. Jesus gave an example of this self-righteous behavior in one of his parables in Luke 18:9-14.
According to this biblical parable, a pharisee and a tax collector went to the temple to pray. While praying, the pharisee boastfully declares, “God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.”
But the tax collector couldn’t lift his eyes up to heaven while praying. Instead, he said a few words of prayer: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Jesus Christ makes us understand that the tax collector, who came before the Lord with a lowly spirit, went home justified.
Ephesians 2:8 explains that it is by God’s grace that we have been saved through faith. Therefore, we can’t take credit for ourselves because it is the free gift of God. Therefore, let us hold on to the belief that we’re not righteous but only depend on the righteousness of God. When we go before the Lord with a heart of humility, He will receive us freely and grant our heart desires.
Pride is considered a sin in the Bible because it is an act of rebellion against God. When someone rebels against God, they will always give glory to themselves for every attainment. They will never acknowledge the sovereignty of God or even believe in His existence.
It’s worth mentioning that the sin of pride is deadly because it opens the door for other dangerous sins, which eventually results in the destruction of lives.
The Bible tells us that everything we have and own comes from God, including our lives (James 1:17). With this realization in mind, we must always return all the glory and honor to God, the giver of all things.
5 Key Bible Verses on Pride
Throughout the scripture, we see several verses and stories warning us about the dangers of pride. Here are some of the verses:
1. Jeremiah 9:23-24
Thus says the LORD: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.”
2. 1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
3. Proverbs 16:18
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
4. Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
5. Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community (Proverbs 6:16-19).
Kennie Oguntoyinbo is a freelance content writer, editor and proofreader with over 4 years of experience. She is highly skilled in creating captivating and informative content across the Christian, relationship, and parenting niches. With a deep love for Christian-related articles, she writes content that inspires the readers, combining biblical lessons with practical knowledge. Whether writing devotional blogs, relationship advice, or family-focused articles, she aims to glorify God while connecting with readers through relatable, encouraging, faith-driven articles.
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