A person's standing in society in the sight of others. The status of individuals in the sight of the world often differs radically from their status in the sight of God, but it is the latter that really matters.
Factors contributing to high social status
High status associated with a position of secular authority
Daniel 2:37–38 See also 2 Samuel 15:1–6; 1 Chronicles 29:26–28
You, O king, are the king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength, and glory. Wherever the sons of men or beasts of the field or birds of the air dwell, He has given them into your hand and has made you ruler over them all. You are that head of gold.
High status based upon a position of domestic authority
Malachi 1:6 See also Psalm 123:2; Luke 17:7–10; 1 Corinthians 11:3
“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is your fear of Me?” says the LORD of Hosts to you priests who despise My name. “But you ask, ‘How have we despised Your name?’
High status owing to recognition of religious authority
Acts 5:34 See also Matthew 23:1–2, Matthew 23:8–10; Acts 23:1–5
But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a short time.
High status owing to pious conduct
Matthew 23:5–7 parallels Mark 12:38–39, Luke 20:45–46 See also Matthew 6:2, Matthew 6:5, Matthew 6:16; Luke 7:4–5
All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.
High status based on wealth
Proverbs 19:4 See also 1 Kings 10:4–7 parallel 2 Chronicles 9:3–6; Job 1:1–3; James 2:1–4
Wealth attracts many friends, but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
Factors contributing to low social status
Low status on account of occupation
Matthew 9:11 parallels Mark 2:16, Luke 5:30 See also Luke 15:1–2, Luke 18:11
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
Low status through sickness
Leviticus 13:45–46 See also Matthew 20:29–31 parallels Mark 10:46–48, Luke 18:35–39; Luke 17:12–13
A diseased person must wear torn clothes and let his hair hang loose, and he must cover his mouth and cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ As long as he has the infection, he remains unclean. He must live alone in a place outside the camp.
Low status through poverty
Amos 5:11–12 See also Job 24:1–12; Luke 16:20; James 2:1–4
Therefore, because you trample on the poor and exact from him a tax of grain, you will never live in the stone houses you have built; you will never drink the wine from the lush vineyards you have planted. For I know that your transgressions are many and your sins are numerous. You oppress the righteous by taking bribes; you deprive the poor of justice in the gate.
Status in God's kingdom
The reversal of human status
Matthew 5:3–6 parallel Luke 6:20–21 See also Matthew 19:13–15 parallels Mark 10:13–16, Luke 18:15–17; Matthew 19:16–30 parallels Mark 10:17–31, Luke 18:18–30; Luke 1:52–53, Luke 16:19–26; 1 Corinthians 1:26–29
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Believers must take the lowest status
Matthew 18:1–5 parallels Mark 9:33–37, Luke 9:46–48 See also Matthew 20:20–28 parallel Mark 10:35–45; Luke 14:7–11; John 13:12–15; Philippians 2:3–5
At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who then is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus invited a little child to stand among them. “Truly I tell you,” He said, “unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes a little child like this in My name welcomes Me.
All believers enjoy equal status before God
Galatians 3:28 See also 1 Corinthians 7:22, 1 Corinthians 11:11–12; Philemon 1:15–17; James 1:9–10
There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.