NOTES for Zep 3:12
Humility and simplicity are often mentioned in the Bible as distinguishing qualities of the righteous. But what kind of simplicity is meant? Is social position in view, or education, or something else? If poverty guaranteed righteousness, then class struggle against owners and exploiters to the final victory would be the only possible means of building the Kingdom of God. But none of the prophets, who highly valued social justice, posed the question in this way.
Then what should be considered simplicity? Perhaps refusal of education, of excessive learning? Of course, illiteracy is not a sin, nor is stupidity, although both sometimes create many problems. Yet illiteracy and lack of education in themselves bring no one closer to righteousness and the Kingdom.
But what, then? In the Hebrew text of the Bible, the ideas of "simplicity" and "straightforwardness, wholeness" are often designated by one and the same word. Perhaps the answer lies here. Indeed, spiritual life becomes simple and natural when the one living it gains inner wholeness, above all wholeness of will, which presupposes concentration, resolve, and readiness to go to the end along the path once chosen.
And God helps the one who walks, but only when he is ready to submit to God completely and without reservations. Such readiness is humility, the real humility that is not connected with any words, gestures, or still less with a style of clothing. Humility and simplicity understood in this way really do help the righteous person follow God. And enter the Kingdom.