John 13:16

Is not greater (ouk estin meizwn). Comparative adjective of mega (greater) followed by the ablative case kuriou (contrast between slave, lord) and tou pempsanto (articular participle of pempw, to send, with contrast with apostle, "one sent" (apostolo) from apostellw). Jesus here enforces the dignity of service. In Luke 22:27 Jesus argues this point a bit. In Luke 6:40 the contrast is between the pupil and the teacher, though some pupils consider themselves superior to the teacher. In Matthew 10:24 Jesus uses both forms of the saying (pupil and slave). He clearly repeated this logion often.