“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.
Parallel translations
- WEB “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.
- KJV The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
- BSB A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
- ESV “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
- NKJV “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
- NLT “Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. Followers of Christ should expect to share in His treatment.
Overview
Jesus draws on a common proverb to prepare His disciples for opposition: if the Master is persecuted, the servants will be too. Far from a complaint, this is a call to humble identification with Christ. To follow Him is to walk His path, including its suffering, as a privilege rather than an injustice.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- John 15:20Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his lord.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
- Luke 6:40A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like his teacher.
- John 13:16Most certainly I tell you, a servant is not greater than his lord, neither one who is sent greater than he who sent him.
- Heb 12:2–4looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- 2 Sam 11:11Uriah said to David, “The ark, Israel, and Judah, are staying in tents; and my lord Joab and the servants of my lord, are encamped in the open field. Shall I then go into my house to eat and to drink, and to lie with my wife? As you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do this thing!”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 10:24 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.