What does Matthew 23:12 mean?

Jesus has just repeated to His disciples that the greatest among them would be servant to the others (Matthew 20:26). This is the way of His kingdom. They will not find greatness in titles or seats of honor or the respect of other men. Greatness in His kingdom is only to be found in service (Matthew 23:11).

The phrase given here could be read as a proverb: Those who seek prestige will find shame, and those who seek humility will find honor. This is more than a simple command from the Lord to be humble. It is a reminder that God works to humble—to lower, to shame—those who try to exalt themselves. At the same time, God works to lift up—to honor—those who intentionally serve others with a humble spirit.

Peter heard this from Jesus with his own ears. Later, he will write something similar in 1 Peter 5:6: "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you."

As Paul will write to the Philippians, this is exactly what happened to Jesus:

"And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:8–11).