Bible Strands
Matthew 10:24
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses His disciples during the missionary commissioning in Matthew 10, warning them of imminent persecution as He outlines the costs of following Him.
The words — ὑπὲρ (huper) means "above" and μαθητὴς (mathētēs) means "disciple," establishing that the follower cannot outrank the one who instructs.
The thread — This parallel structure appears in John 13:16 regarding servants and messengers, John 15:20 regarding shared persecution, and Luke 6:40 regarding the disciple's eventual conformity to the teacher.
Why it lands — It demands acceptance of the same treatment as the leader, stripping away expectations of preferential status while preparing the believer for shared hardship.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
Cross-references
- John 15:20 Remember the word that I spoke to you: ‘No servant is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well; if they kept My word, they will keep yours as well.
- Luke 6:40 A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
- John 13:16 Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
- Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- 2 Samuel 11:11 Uriah answered, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers are camped in the open field. How can I go to my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing!”