Luke 14:11

14:11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but ¹  the one who humbles ²  himself will be exalted.”

Luke 18:14

18:14 I tell you that this man went down to his home justified ³  rather than the Pharisee. ⁴  For everyone who exalts ⁵  himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 3:5

3:5 Every valley will be filled, ⁶ 

and every mountain and hill will be brought low,

and the crooked will be made straight,

and the rough ways will be made smooth,

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context, which involves the reversal of expected roles.

² sn The point of the statement the one who humbles himself will be exalted is humility and the reversal imagery used to underline it is common: Luke 1:52-53; 6:21; 10:15; 18:14.

³ sn The prayer that was heard and honored was the one given with humility; in a surprising reversal it was the tax collector who went down to his home justified.

⁴ tn Grk “the other”; the referent (the Pharisee, v. 10) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

⁵ sn Everyone who exalts himself. See Luke 14:11. Jesus often called for humility and condemned those who sought honor.

⁵ sn The figurative language of this verse speaks of the whole creation preparing for the arrival of a major figure, so all obstacles to his approach are removed.