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Lenten Season · Liturgy of the Passion · Year B

Philippians 2:5-11

Imitating Christ’s Humility

March 21, 2027

Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples, Nicolas Bertin
Christ Washing the Feet of His Disciples, Nicolas Bertin, 1720–30The Art Institute of Chicago
A French painting of the washing, with Peter half out of his seat in protest and the basin lit at the centre.He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave: Philippians 2 is the hymn, and the foot washing is the demonstration.Nicolas BertinA French history painter of the generation after Le Brun, who won the Prix de Rome and worked for the court at small scale.The Art Institute of ChicagoFounded in 1879 as both a museum and a school, and the home of American Gothic and of a famous Impressionist collection.The Art Institute of Chicago
Revised Common Lectionary
GospelMark 14:1-15:47Mk 14:1-15:47 orMark 15:1-39, (40-47)Mk 15:1-39, (40-47)
EpistlePhil. 2:5-11Phil 2:5-11
Old TestamentIsa. 50:4-9aIs 50:4-9a
PsalterPs. 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

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

A commentary on the Christ hymn of humility and exaltation.

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

A Reformed preaching commentary on Christ's self-emptying and Lordship.

Philippians 2Phil 2 Enduring Word · David Guzik

A verse-by-verse evangelical commentary on the humble and exalted Servant.

Classic commentaries on Philippians 2Classic commentaries on Phil 2 BibleHub

Aggregated commentary notes on the 'mind of Christ' passage.

Background & Word Study

Philippians and WorkPhil and Work Theology of Work

Reads the hymn's humility and service as a model for daily work.

The Christ Hymn (Philippians 2:6-11)The Christ Hymn (Phil 2:6-11) Enter the Bible

A background essay on the structure of the Christ hymn.

Overview: PhilippiansOverview: Phil BibleProject

An animated overview of Philippians and its call to Christlike humility.

The Church Fathers

Philippians 2, patristic commentaryPhil 2, patristic commentary Catena

Patristic commentary on the Christ hymn gathered 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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