What the Bible says about Recognition
(From Forerunner Commentary)
Jesus warns against this in the Sermon on the Mount when He tells us to do our spiritual devotions privately. We are to fast and pray privately. We should not let everyone know what and how much we are studying God's Word. We should not draw attention to our good deeds. However, the pride in a person leads him to ensure he is recognized and honored for what he does.
Notice that this verse does not say that the proud's work was not a good one. It may indeed have been a good work. But for him to make sure that he gets the glory for it has the same effect on him spiritually as eating too much honey has physically: It tastes awfully good going down, but it causes serious consequences later on. That is the lesson of the proverb: Seeking one's own glory will someday result in negative consequences.
John W. Ritenbaugh
Faith (Part Six)Related Topics: Boasting | Fasting | Honor | Men Pleasers | Praying | Pride | Recognition | Self Glorification
The scripture does not indicate that God in any way forcefully closed their eyes. Yet, something occurred—maybe it was the way that He did a particular act, something with which they were familiar, say, an idiosyncrasy in the way He broke bread. Nevertheless, they were eating, and He took a loaf of bread and broke it in such a way that the lights went on in their minds! They recognized who they were talking to.
John W. Ritenbaugh
We Are Unique!Related Topics: Recognition | Recognition of God | Removal of Spiritual Blindness | Spiritual Blindness