What does it mean to clothe yourself with humility (1 Peter 5:5)?

"Yea, all of you bind on humility to one another." The more numerous authorities read "all of you, being subject to one another, bind on humility," but some of the best MSS. and versions drop "being subject," which results in what has just been given. "Clothed" is too vague here. It is a word unique in N. T. usage, and occurs but rarely elsewhere. The figure is taken from the apron a slave girt on to do his work earnestly without soiling his dress. The Lord from a far different motive stooped lower still when He girded Himself with a linen towel to wipe the feet of His own which He washed clean from defilement. This was holy love; and this alone constrains us to bind on lowly-mindedness, to which we are all exhorted by the apostle who had not forgotten his sad ignorance and error on that memorable and touching occasion.

But he also fortifies the call with the solemn admonition, that God opposes Himself to haughty men, and gives grace to humble, the same quotation word for word as in James 4:6. See Prov. 3:34, and Rom. 12:16. Thus indeed it is a moral principle on both sides which runs through scripture; and it is a lesson for every soul in the church from day to day which none can afford to overlook. It is the more needed, because there is a ready danger of being haughty under a misapplied idea of position and duty, and of losing the grace God is so willing to bestow through failure in cherishing that lowliness which is only found perfectly in Christ.

Peter had suffered for his self-confidence, the root of which was pride of heart, and he desired to save the beloved saints to whom he wrote, and us, from this folly; hence his exhortation, "Be clothed with humility" (chap. 5:5). The R.V. reads, "Gird yourselves with humility, and serve one another." The New Translation reads, "And all of you bind on humility towards one another." I am sure that Peter had in his memory the unforgettable act of the Lord when on the night on which He was betrayed He rose from the supper-table and laid aside His garments and took a towel and girded Himself and began to wash His disciples' feet. Peter had resented the Lord's taking that place of lowly service to him; he did not understand then that Divine love must serve its objects as long as a need remains; and while the feet-washing was a symbolical act, and while in it there is a depth of meaning only discerned by loving hearts, we must not miss that which lies on the surface. "I have given you an example," said the Lord, that ye should do as I have done to you." Luke tells us that at that same Supper He said to them, "I am among you as He that serves." God looks for the reproduction of the features of His Son in us, and if our hearts are affected by the love of the Lord we shall gladly serve one another with humility of heart. "God resisteth the proud, but gives grace to the humble." And grace from above and humility within are needed for such service.

A prayerful consideration of verses 5 and 6 will give us a deeper appreciation of the context of verse 7. Peter's choice of words (especially his verbs and their tenses) are of immense importance, and would well repay a careful study; here we can but briefly refer to one or two outstanding examples. In verse 5 he stresses the thought of humility, and in so doing makes use of words which are peculiar to this passage of Scripture — "be clothed with humility," or as the marginal reading — "bind on humility." These words contain a great challenge as to our relations with our fellow-believers — the suggestion is the girding of oneself with the badge of servitude — a token of true and real deference one towards the other. The perfect example, as always, is seen in our precious Lord — He took "a bondman's form" serving here in the perfection of unchanging love. The beautiful incident of John 13 impresses the affections with the glory of One who in His Person "is over all, God blessed for ever," yet in holy Manhood would gird Himself to serve so wondrously in love. The practical carrying out of Philippians 2:1-4, would establish the foundation for unity amongst the people of God.

But this principle is widened to include the subjection of every believer to each other, a most striking and instructive admonition. This is the spirit of honest service one to another, the willingness to forego personal preferences for the sake of unity and spiritual prosperity. The elder may well be an example to the younger in this gracious virtue. "And be clothed with humility" Is a precious complement of this, in contrast to the pride that God resists, and which cannot therefore prosper. To the humble however He gives grace, for humility is actually only facing the. truth as it is .

(Vv. 5, 6). The younger are to be subject to the elder, and all are to bind on humility towards one another. The working of pride that would lead us to exalt ourselves, and seek a place of prominence amongst the people of God, is destructive of true fellowship in the Christian circle. The allowance of pride leads to strife and division, but humility binds the saints together. Humility would keep the elder saints from lording it over God's flock, and hold the younger in subjection to the elder.

Humility is to be the right clothing for the saints of God. "They are to gird themselves with humility in this way, humility being that which will keep everything rightly adjusted, as the girdle the robe, and which would thus enable for such activity as all are called to; for humility is a grand help against discouragement by the difficulties of the way, and necessarily against all that would search out any remnant of pride in us" (F.W. Grant). Self-exaltation is the very essence of sin. God cannot tolerate it in His people. The example of Christ, who made of Himself no reputation, forbids it. God resisteth therefore always and in every way the proud, while He giveth grace to the humble. "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time." How little these great exhortations are considered in our times! Even among those who have the truth and believe in the revelation of God, while there is much increase in knowledge, there is little evidence of true humility. Humility will never leave us ashamed. We do not need to exalt ourselves; the Lord will do it for us.

Hear what God has to say of them. He hears them (Psa.9:12), they enjoy His presence (Isa.57:15), He delivers them (Job 22:29), exalts them (Luke 14:11; 18:14), gives them more grace (Jas.4:6), while He resists the proud. Saints are exhorted to put on humility and be clothed with it (1 Pet.5:5) (a beautiful word, meaning that on whatever side we are approached, humility is seen), to walk in humility (Eph.4:1,2), but to beware of false humility (Col.2:18, 23), which is only pride in disguise.

Not only did He empty Himself of all His outward glory in the form of God: but He took a slave's form. He might have taken the form of an Emperor or of a mighty King, in wealth and luxury: but, No, by His own act, (for I think the Greek implies this), He emptied Himself and deliberately took a slave's form. And the remarkable thing is that the word form is the very same word as in the previous verse: "Who subsisting in the form of God." As we have seen, it means, not exterior form, but inner, essential quality. He was not like an actor might be, dressed up in the fashion of a slave: though indeed we see Him in the outward character of a slave in the thirteenth of John, where He laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself, and did the slave's work, of washing the feet. And Peter fully realized this, I believe, and had it in his mind when he wrote: "Be clothed with humility:" for this might well be translated: "Gird on the slave's apron;" for the word in its noun form means this. Here we see the inner, essential quality, the very spirit of our Lord, shining out so that we may gaze upon Him in wonder and awe.

As read in the Authorised Version, the second exhortation in this scripture would seem to render the first nugatory; for if all were to be subject one to another there could be no reason to urge upon the younger to submit themselves unto the elder. It is therefore of importance to note that the words "be subject" in the second sentence should be omitted. In the Revised Version the passage is thus given: "Likewise ye younger, be subject unto the elder. Yea, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to serve one another," etc. (See also the New Translation.) If there is a moral suitability in the subjection of the younger to the elder, it is also incumbent upon all believers, whether young or old, to cherish the spirit of humility, and to seek in love to serve one another, as otherwise they could not tread in the footsteps of Him who was the meek and lowly in heart, and who was in the midst of His disciples as One that served.

(1 Peter 5:5,) "Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves to the elder: yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resists the proud, and gives grace to the humble." Unless I am clothed with humility I shall not be subject." The meek will he guide in judgment, the meek will he teach his way." The humble one is always cared for by God. "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart," are the Lord's own words. Humility is a blessed thing, and what a little thing would puff us up. I get Paul saying that the flesh is so utterly corrupt that it would boast because it had been in glory. Because he, Paul, had been in heaven, the Lord had to give him a thorn in the flesh in order to keep him from being puffed up. And we often may be puffed up, just because of His mercy to us, because He has brought us into this place of light and liberty. The only security of the saint is to walk lowlily, to walk humbly.

The Lord will blight, and wither, and scatter all that plumes itself on having got truth, and light, and a right position. It is one thing to have gained that position, and another thing to maintain it; for the power of the enemy is all the more brought to bear on those who have taken this position, in order that they may the more flagrantly dishonour the Name that is put upon them. "God resists the proud, but he gives grace to the humble." What a solemn thing for the saint of God to get into a position in which God has actually to resist him! What a dreadful thing to have the Lord set against us because of pride allowed in the heart! God resists a proud person: but where is there room for pride in us who are the vilest of the vile?