New Testament · Gospel

Luke 6:40

Blessings and Woes

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. Luke 6:40 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Luke 6:40, in plain English

Jesus said, 'A student isn't above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher.'

Why it's here

The goal isn't to become greater than Jesus — it's to become like Him. That's what spiritual maturity looks like.

Who's speaking

Jesus teaches about the nature of discipleship and spiritual formation.

Where it sits in the story

The best thing that could happen in your faith journey is to become more like Jesus. Not more impressive, not more powerful — more like Him. That's what growth looks like.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

The disciple-teacher relationship is defined: ouk estin mathētēs hyper ton didaskalon ("a disciple is not above the teacher"). The fully trained (katērtismenos) disciple becomes like (estai hōs) the teacher — not superior.

Language and setting

This proverb has multiple applications in context: it warns disciples about the limits of their own authority and reminds them that their formation comes from following Jesus, not surpassing Him.

Voice

Jesus states a proverbial truth about the disciple-teacher relationship.

Significance

The goal of discipleship is not to exceed the teacher but to become like the teacher. This establishes Jesus as the ultimate model: the fully formed disciple will resemble Jesus.

In context

Luke 6:38–42

38Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

39Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?

40A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

41Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?

42How can you say, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while you yourself fail to see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Read all of Luke 6 — Blessed are the poor; woe to the rich. Jesus delivers his version of the great sermon and demands a love so radical it includes your enemies.

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