Matthew 10:24
A disciple¹ is not above [his] master²,
nor the servant³ above his lord⁴.
¹) Pupil
²) Teacher, instructor
³) δοῦλος (doulos) – A (male) slave
⁴) Lord, master
Study
Other translations
New International Version
“The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.
New Living Translation
“Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master.
English Standard Version and Berean Study Bible
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.
Berean Literal Bible
A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.
New King James Version
A disciple is not above [his] teacher, nor a servant above his master.
New American Standard Bible
A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master.
Amplified Bible
“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor is a bond-servant above his master.
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This verse points to another source of consolation, namely companionship with the Master in tribulation.
This is a hard lot, but it is mine, as well as yours.
You should not expect to be better off, than our Master and Lord.
The disciple is not above his master.
The proverb was probably a common one, and is used by our Lord (as in Luke 6:40; John 13:16; 15:20) with more than one application.
Here the thought is:
- Be not amazed or cast down when evil days come to you.
- In all your sufferings you will be following in His footsteps.
- What they have said to Jesus, they will also say to you.
- What they have done to Jesus, they will also do to you.
The disciple is not above his master, that is, you must expect the same treatment which Jesus received.
They have called Him, Beelzebub, the prince of the devils (see Matthew 12:24; Luke 11:15; John 8:48), and you must expect that they will call all of the family by the same name.
“Beelzebub” was a god of the Ekronites (See 2 Kings 1:2).
The word literally means “the god of flies,” so called because this idol was supposed to protect them from the numerous swarms of flies with which that country abounded.
The correct reading here, as in Luke 11:15, 11:18-19; and Mark 3:22, is supposed to be, not “Beelzebub,” but “Beelzebul” (Griesbach, Hahn, Robinson, Lexicon) an Aramean form of the word meaning the “god of dung” or “filth.”
The name, thus altered by the Jews by changing a single letter, was given to Satan to express supreme contempt and aversion.
The Jews seem to have first given to Satan the name of a pagan god, and then, to express their sense of the character of Satan, to have changed that name by altering a single letter so as to express their aversion in the most emphatic manner.
By giving the name to Christ, they poured upon him the greatest possible abuse and contempt.
The disciple is not above his master, no the contrary, he is inferior to him; as in knowledge, so in reputation and character; and cannot expect the same honour to be given him, and the same respect shown to him, as to his master; and therefore if his master is not used with that decency, and in that becoming manner he ought to be, he must not think it any hardship if he is treated in the same way.
Our Lord hereby intends to fortify the minds of his disciples against all the reproach and persecution they were to meet with from the world, by observing to them the treatment he himself met with; wherefore, if he who was their master, a teacher that came from God, and taught as never man did, and was worthy of the utmost deference that could be paid, was maligned and evilly treated by men, it became them who were his disciples, to look for, and patiently bear such indignities; since they could expect no better usage than he himself had: the same doctrine is suggested in the next clause.
Nor the servant above his lord
This is another maxim which our Lord repeats in various connections (Luke 6:40; John 13:16; 15:20).
Both seem to be proverbial expressions.
The Jews have a saying much like unto them (T. Hieros. Maaser Sheni, fol. 55. 1.), “no servant is worthier than his master”; and the Christ might have made use of such common, well known expressions, that He might be the more easily understood, and in the most familiar manner convey what He intended, into the minds of his disciples; as, that since He was their Lord, and they were his servants.
If His superior character and dignity did not secure Him from the insults of men, it could not be thought by them, who were inferior to Him, that they should escape them.
Greek
A disciple ☆ μαθητὴς (mathētēs) ☆ Noun – Nominative Masculine Singular ☆ A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.
Is ☆ ἔστιν (estin) ☆ Verb – Present Indicative Active – 3rd Person Singular ☆ I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.
Not ☆ Οὐκ (Ouk) ☆ Adverb ☆ No, not. Also ouk, and ouch a primary word; the absolute negative adverb; no or not.
Above ☆ ὑπὲρ (hyper) ☆ Preposition ☆ Gen: in behalf of; acc: above.
[his] ☆ τὸν (ton) ☆ Article – Accusative Masculine Singular ☆ The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.
Teacher ☆ διδάσκαλον (didaskalon) ☆ Noun – Accusative Masculine Singular ☆ A teacher, master. From didasko; an instructor.
Nor ☆ οὐδὲ (oude) ☆ Conjunction ☆ Neither, nor, not even, and not. From ou and de; not however, i.e. ☆ Neither, nor, not even.
A servant ☆ δοῦλος (doulos) ☆ Noun – Nominative Masculine Singular ☆ (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.
Above ☆ ὑπὲρ (hyper) ☆ Preposition ☆ Gen: in behalf of; acc: above.
His ☆ αὐτοῦ (autou) ☆ Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular ☆ He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.
Master ☆ κύριον (kyrion) ☆ Noun – Accusative Masculine Singular ☆ Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master
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