Luke 6:40

40 The disciple is not above his master. Every ma shalbe perfecte even as his master is.

Luke 6:40 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 6:40

The disciple is not above his master
Or "more excellent", as the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions render it; that is, in learning and knowledge; if the master is ignorant, the scholar will be so too; and thus it is with teachers, and their people under their care; if the leaders are blind and ignorant, those under their instructions will remain so likewise. These words are an illustration of the preceding parable, and are used to another purpose here than in ( Matthew 10:24 ) . (See Gill on Matthew 10:24)

but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
The Vulgate Latin reads it, "every one shall be perfect if he is as his master"; that is, if his master is a man of general learning, and a complete scholar, if he is like him, he will be so too: the Persic version renders it, "every disciple that desires perfection shall be as his master": whoever is ambitious of being a thorough scholar, and is diligent and industrious, by all ways and means, to obtain such a character, shall be even as good an one as his master, under whom he learns, and better he cannot well expect to be; and this is sufficient; and so the Ethiopic version renders it, "is it not enough that every one be as his master?" agreeably to ( Matthew 10:25 ) (See Gill on Matthew 10:25)

Maimonides F9 has an expression much like this:

``he that learns, shall not be greater than he of whom he learns, but shall be, (wtwmk) , "as he".''

Christ, in this last clause, seems to design his own disciples, who, when perfect in knowledge, which is not to be expected in this state, unless in a comparative sense, will be like himself.


FOOTNOTES:

F9 Misn. Bava Kama, c. 2. sect. 5.

Luke 6:40 In-Context

38 Geve and yt shalbe geven vnto you: good measure pressed doune shaken to geder and runnynge over shall men geve into youre bosomes. For with what measure ye mete with ye same shall men mete to you agayne.
39 And he put forthe a similitude vnto the: Can the blynde leade ye blynde? Do they not both then fall into ye dyche?
40 The disciple is not above his master. Every ma shalbe perfecte even as his master is.
41 Why seyst thou a moote in thy brothers eye considerest not ye beame yt is in thyne awne eye?
42 Ether how canest thou saye to thy brother: Brother let me pull out ye moote that is in thyne eye: when thou perceavest not the beame that is in thyne awne eye? Ypocrite cast out ye beame out of thyne awne eye fyrst and then shalt thou se perfectly to pull out the moote out of thy brothers eye.
The Tyndale Bible is in the public domain.