6:40

The teaching in 6:40 is about the relationship between a student and his teacher. It reinforces the warning in 6:39b–c. Jesus told his disciples that it is important to choose the right teacher because a well-trained disciple becomes like his teacher. It is also important to be a good teacher because your students will be like you.

6:40a

A disciple is not above his teacher: This was probably another common proverb. Jesus used this proverb to emphasize the relationship between a disciple and his teacher. Some other ways to translate this are:

A student is not better than the teacher (New Century Version)
-or-
Students are not greater than their teacher. (New Living Translation (2004))

In some languages, a rhetorical question will show this emphasis. For example:

Are students better than their teacher? (Contemporary English Version)

disciple: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as disciple means someone who commits himself to a master. He does this in order to learn and live according to the master’s teaching.

Some ways to translate this could be:

student/learner
-or-
follower
-or-
apprentice

In the context, the term is general and does not refer specifically to disciples of Jesus. In some languages, it may be more natural to use a plural form (“disciples”) for a general truth:

Disciples are not above their teachers/masters.

See disciple in the Glossary, and see how you translated this term at 5:30a.

above: In this context above means “superior to.” Some other ways to translate this are:

is not greater/better than
-or-
does not surpass/exceed

6:40b

but: There is a contrast in the form of the clauses in 6:40a and 6:40b. The meaning is similar. The contrast is between the phrase “is not above” in 6:40a and the phrase “will be like” in 6:40b. The student is not above his teacher, but he will be like his teacher.

Some other ways to connect this clause are:

However
-or-
And

In some languages, no conjunction is necessary here.

everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher: Jesus stated that the student will become like his teacher. It means that the disciples must choose their teacher carefully because they will become like that teacher.

everyone: The word everyone here refers to all students or disciples. For example:

all pupils (Good News Translation)

fully trained: The phrase fully trained refers to a disciple who has been thoroughly taught by his teacher. It is passive. If your language would prefer to use an active form here, you should supply “teacher” as the subject:

whom ⌊the teacher⌋ has fully trained/taught

Here is another way to avoid a passive form:

all pupils, when they have completed their training, will be like their teacher (Good News Translation)

General Comment on 6:40a–b

In some languages, it may be more natural to change the order of the clauses in 6:40a–b. For example:

40bWhen a student is fully trained, he will be like his teacher. 40aHe will never be above his teacher.

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