The Law of God teaches us that we must have humility before honor. Proverbs 15:33 reads, “The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, and before honor comes humility.” Proverbs 18:12 reads, “Before destruction the heart of a person is haughty, but humility goes before honor.” Proverbs 22:4 reads, “The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, honor, and life.” In my opinion, humility is the most important human characteristic. If we are humble, we are teachable. Humility is a precursor to love. We cannot love God or others unless we have some humility. If we have humility, God can teach us to love. So, if we want to receive honor from God (in this life and the next), we must have humility.
The Hebrew noun ʿănāvâ is defined as “humility, meekness, or gentleness.”[1] If we are humble, we are correctable. The teachable are receptive to God’s Word and God’s discipline. At 1 Peter 5:5, Peter wrote, “[C]lothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God is opposed to the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.” The Greek noun tapeinophrosynē is defined as “humility of mind.”[2] At Acts 20:19, Paul described himself as “serving the Lord with all humility.”
With all of this in mind, let us look at Mary, the mother of Jesus. As previously noted, the historical background is one of the five keys for unlocking a correct interpretation of Scripture. Dr. Mark Strauss notes that a young Jewish girl during the First Century would normally be engaged between 12 and 14 years of age.[3] Dr Scot McKnight suggests that some scholars would raise her probable age to 16.[4] The engagement would include a legal marriage contract, which could be broken only by divorce.[5] The betrothed partners were referred to as husband and wife.[6] Any infidelity would be treated as adultery.[7] According to Deuteronomy 22:23-24, the punishment for adultery was being stoned to death. Upon learning of her pregnancy, Joseph or his family could have charged Mary with adultery.
In the First Century Jewish culture, female virginity was strictly guarded. While engaged to Joseph, Mary would continue to live with her parents until the marriage ceremony, which could happen a year or so after betrothal.[8] At the time of the marriage ceremony, the groom and his companions went in procession to get the bride from her parents’ home.[9] The couple and their guests wore special wedding clothes and enjoyed a wonderful dinner and celebration at the groom’s house.[10] In a special nuptial chamber, the couple consummated the marriage, and thereafter, a bloodstained cloth was exhibited as proof of the wife’s virginity.[11] Any pregnancy other than caused by Joseph opened up Mary to public humiliation and even execution by stoning to death. A righteous man like Joseph would be expected, at a minimum, to divorce Mary.
God sent one of His chief angels, Gabriel, to announce to Mary the great honor bestowed upon her by God. Gabriel announced, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you” (Luke 1:28). The Greek verb charitoō is defined as “to indue with special honor, [to] be highly honored.”[12] Remember, humility comes before honor. As might be expected, Mary was perplexed (Luke 1:29). Then Gabriel reassured Mary, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God” (Luke 1:30).
Mary was honored with a special blessing and an experience of unique suffering (being impregnated out of wedlock and subject to ridicule and innuendo). Gabriel then explained that she would “conceive in her womb and give birth to a son, and you shall name Him Jesus” (Luke 1:31). Gabriel further explained that Jesus would be great and called the Son of the Most High, and He would be a king, “and His kingdom [would] have no end (Luke 1:31-32). Mary then asked, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34). Gabriel explained that “the Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the Holy child will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). Then Gabriel added, “For nothing is impossible with God” (Luke 1:37).
It should be noted that many great believers like Moses, Gideon, and Jonah gave significant pushback to God when given a difficult task or mission. Paul was blinded on the road to Damascus before he became obedient. However, Mary simply said, “Behold, the Lord’s bondslave, may it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Then the angel departed from Mary. The Greek noun doulē is defined as a “female slave or bondmaid.”[13] In my opinion, Mary had to be one of the most, or perhaps the most, humble humans that ever lived. Think about Mary’s obedience in comparison to Eve’s disobedience.
Further, the origin of the name, Mary, is from Miriam, the sister of Moses. Miriam was a very strong-willed and talented woman, who was inclined to compete with Moses, her younger brother. The name Miriam actually means “rebellion.” It seems that God is making a very strong statement about humility through Mary, the mother of Jesus. Mary later proclaimed, “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. For He has had regard for the humble state of His bond-servant; For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed” (Luke 1:46-48). Mary understood that God was giving her a unique status for all time.
Prophesying of a future time at the return of Jesus Christ to Planet Earth, Mary also said, “He [God] has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He [God] has brought down rulers from their thrones, and [He, God] has exalted those who were humble” (Luke 1:51-52). The most important human character trait is humility before God.
For more information about “Mary, The Archetype of Humility,” please see the attached YouTube Bible Class: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lsJhw-Oees
[1] “H6038 – ʿănāvâ – Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 3 Nov, 2024. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/h6038/nasb20/wlc/0-1/>.
[2] “G5012 – tapeinophrosynē – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 3 Nov, 2024. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5012/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/>.
[3] Strauss, Mark. “Luke.” Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Volume 1: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Gen. Editor, Clinton E. Arnold, et al., Zondervan Academic, 2002. pg. 331.
[4] McKnight, Scot. “The Real Mary.” iPad Ed. Paraclete Press, Brewster, Massachusetts, p. 9 of 181.
[5] “Luke.”
[6] McKnight.
[7] “Luke.”
[8] “Luke.”
[9] “Luke.”
[10] “Luke.”
[11] Wilkens, Michael. “Matthew.” Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary: Volume 1: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Gen. Editor, Clinton E. Arnold, et al., Zondervan Academic, 2002. pg. 11.
[12] “G5487 – charitoō – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 3 Nov, 2024. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g5487/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/>.
[13] “G1399 – doulē – Strong’s Greek Lexicon (nasb20).” Blue Letter Bible. Web. 3 Nov, 2024. <https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1399/nasb20/mgnt/0-1/>.
