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 scholar's commentary

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.

Understand every verse, not just this one

This page covers one. BibleKey does all 31,102 — tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and keep reading without leaving the chapter.

Get BibleKey
In the App

What's in the app that isn't here.

Seven translations

NIV, NLT, NKJV, KJV and the Berean — plus the Catholic NLT-CE and Douay-Rheims, with the full deuterocanon in the reading order.

Every verse, as you read

Tap any of the 31,102 for what it means, and any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, without leaving the chapter.

Selah

Start recording at church and put your phone away. You get the transcript, the key moments, and every verse referenced.

Prayer Maker

Say what's sitting on your heart and hear it back as a real prayer, in a warm voice. Keep the ones that land.

Every Word

The whole Bible in a year — five chapters a day, five days a week, weekends off. Built to be finished.

Today's Light

A verse each morning with its meaning, how it lands today, something to sit with, and a prayer to close it.

Understand every verse.

Not just the famous ones. BibleKey is free on iPhone and iPad.

Download on the App Store

Free on iPhone & iPad