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Holy Week · The Sunday of the Passion (Palm Sunday)

Philippians 2:5-11

Imitating Christ’s Humility

March 29, 2026

Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples, Nicolas Bertin
Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples, Nicolas Bertin, 1720-30The Art Institute of Chicago
The master on the floor with a basin, and a room full of men who cannot look at him.He emptied himself, taking the form of a servant.Nicolas BertinA French painter of the generation that followed Le Brun, working at the scale of a room rather than a ceiling.The Art Institute of ChicagoThe Art Institute of Chicago.The Art Institute of Chicago
Historic One-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 21:1-9Mt 21:1-9Alt. GospelJohn 12:12-19Jn 12:12-19Alt. GospelMatt. 26:1-27:66Mt 26:1-27:66Alt. GospelMatt. 27:11-54Mt 27:11-54
EpistlePhil. 2:5-11Phil 2:5-11
Old TestamentZech. 9:9-12Zec 9:9-12
PsalterPs. 118:19-29Ps 118:19-29Alt. PsalmPs. 31:9-16Ps 31:9-16

Overview & Insights

“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 2:5)

Call for Mutual Consideration Paul’s concern for unity of mind and mutual consideration among the members of the Philippian church need not imply that there was an atmosphere of dissension there. The fact that two members are singled out by name and urged to agree in 4:2 could suggest (unless 4:2 belongs to an originally separate letter) that theirs was an exceptional case of conflict. We do not know what Epaphroditus had told Paul about the state of the church, but at this time Paul found sufficient evidence of quarrelsomeness and selfish ambition in some sectors of the Roman church to make him anxious that nothing of the sort should manifest itself at Philippi.

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Commentary

Commentary on Philippians 2:5-11Commentary on Phil 2:5-11 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary reads the Christ hymn of self-emptying against the day's mix of palms and passion.

Philippians 2:5-11 - Center for Excellence in PreachingPhil 2:5-11 - Center for Excellence in Preaching Center for Excellence in Preaching

A Reformed preaching commentary on the voluntary humiliation and exaltation of Christ.

Philippians 2 Commentary: Humble Living in Light of JesusPhil 2 Commentary: Humble Living in Light of Jesus Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik traces the hymn's descent and exaltation with evangelical application.

Philippians 2:5-7 CommentaryPhil 2:5-7 Commentary Precept Austin

A detailed word study of the mind of Christ and the form of a servant.

Philippians 2:5 CommentariesPhil 2:5 Commentaries BibleHub

Classic commentators gathered on the call to have the mind that was in Christ Jesus.

Background & Word Study

Philippians OverviewPhil Overview BibleProject

An animated summary of the letter's theme of unity through the humility of Christ.

Philippians 2:5 InterlinearPhil 2:5 Interlinear BibleHub

The Greek interlinear exposes key hymn words like emptied and exalted.

The Church Fathers

Philippians 2 - CatenaPhil 2 - Catena Catena

Patristic comment on the hymn of Christ's humility and lordship, verse by verse.

Questions preachers ask

What is the Christ hymn?

Philippians 2:6–11 is an early hymn: Christ, being in very nature God, emptied himself, took the form of a servant, and was obedient to death on a cross, and so God exalted him. Paul holds it up as the pattern for humble, self-giving love.

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