Ambition: Unclassified Scriptures Relating To

Though his arrogance reaches the heavens, and his head touches the clouds,

…he will perish forever, like his own dung; those who had seen him will ask, ‘Where is he?’

Their graves are their eternal homes—their dwellings for endless generations—even though their lands were their namesakes. …

Woe to you who add house to house and join field to field until no place is left and you live alone in the land.

…and wealth indeed betrays him. He is an arrogant man never at rest. He enlarges his appetite like Sheol, and like Death, he is never satisfied. He gathers all the nations to himself and collects all the peoples as his own.

Will not all of these take up a taunt against him, speaking with mockery and derision: ‘Woe to him who amasses what is not his and makes himself rich with many loans! How long will this go on?’

Woe to him who builds his house by unjust gain, to place his nest on high and escape the hand of disaster!

Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. …

What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.

All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. …

For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Then they came to Capernaum. While Jesus was in the house, He asked them, “What were you discussing on the way?” …

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and declared, “Teacher, we want You to do for us whatever we ask.” …

In His teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, to receive greetings in the marketplaces,

…and to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.

Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. …

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?

Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.

Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.

A dispute also arose among the disciples as to which of them should be considered the greatest.

But you shall not be like them. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who leads like the one who serves.

How can you believe if you accept glory from one another, yet do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

This is a trustworthy saying: If anyone aspires to be an overseer, he desires a noble task.

What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you?

You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh, the desires of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not from the Father but from the world.