What Does the Bible Say About Spiritual Leaders?

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 28 helpful votes

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 19 helpful votes

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Acts 2:42 ESV / 14 helpful votes

And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Luke 22:26 ESV / 13 helpful votes

But not so with you. Rather, let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.

Matthew 23:3 ESV / 12 helpful votes

So do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

Matthew 4:1-25 ESV / 11 helpful votes

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple ...

Malachi 3:6 ESV / 10 helpful votes

“For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.

3 John 1:9-10 ESV / 9 helpful votes

I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority. So if I come, I will bring up what he is doing, talking wicked nonsense against us. And not content with that, he refuses to welcome the brothers, and also stops those who want to and puts them out of the church.

Acts 17:11 ESV / 9 helpful votes

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Galatians 2:12 ESV / 8 helpful votes

For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.

2 Corinthians 11:13 ESV / 8 helpful votes

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ.

Ephesians 4:11-13 ESV / 7 helpful votes

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV / 7 helpful votes

Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

3 John 1:2 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

1 Corinthians 4:15-17 ESV / 6 helpful votes

For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

Matthew 23:1-3 ESV / 6 helpful votes

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses' seat, so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.

Ezekiel 34:1-6 ESV / 6 helpful votes

The word of the Lord came to me: “Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy, and say to them, even to the shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Ah, shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves! Should not shepherds feed the sheep? You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fat ones, but you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd, and they became food for all the wild beasts. My sheep were scattered; ...

Job 7:1-21 ESV / 6 helpful votes

“Has not man a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired hand? Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a hired hand who looks for his wages, so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me. When I lie down I say, ‘When shall I arise?’ But the night is long, and I am full of tossing till the dawn. My flesh is clothed with worms and dirt; my skin hardens, then breaks out afresh. ...

James 5:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

John 14:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Matthew 23:23-24 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!

Matthew 23:13 ESV / 5 helpful votes

“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.

Matthew 23:6-7 ESV / 5 helpful votes

And they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others.

Matthew 16:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes

Then they understood that he did not tell them to beware of the leaven of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Revelation 19:11-21 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ...

Ephesians 5:25-33 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, ...

Galatians 6:12-13 ESV / 4 helpful votes

It is those who want to make a good showing in the flesh who would force you to be circumcised, and only in order that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ. For even those who are circumcised do not themselves keep the law, but they desire to have you circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.

John 3:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Matthew 23:16-17 ESV / 4 helpful votes

“Woe to you, blind guides, who say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’ You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred?

Matthew 23:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

1 Peter 5:1-14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” ...

Galatians 2:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Yet because of false brothers secretly brought in—who slipped in to spy out our freedom that we have in Christ Jesus, so that they might bring us into slavery—

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

John 3:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

Matthew 23:34 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Therefore I send you prophets and wise men and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and persecute from town to town,

Matthew 16:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Jesus said to them, “Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Genesis 1:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

Ezekiel 34:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.

2 Chronicles 6:30 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Then hear from heaven your dwelling place and forgive and render to each whose heart you know, according to all his ways, for you, you only, know the hearts of the children of mankind,

39 Bible Verses about Spiritual Leaders

Hebrews 13:17 ESV / 28 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 3:16 ESV / 19 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 2:42 ESV / 14 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Luke 22:26 ESV / 13 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:3 ESV / 12 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 4:1-25 ESV / 11 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Malachi 3:6 ESV / 10 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

3 John 1:9-10 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 17:11 ESV / 9 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 2:12 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 11:13 ESV / 8 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 4:11-13 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV / 7 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

3 John 1:2 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 4:15-17 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:1-3 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ezekiel 34:1-6 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Job 7:1-21 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 5:16 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:6 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:23-24 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:13 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:6-7 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 16:12 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Revelation 19:11-21 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 5:25-33 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 6:12-13 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:16-17 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:15 ESV / 4 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Peter 5:1-14 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Galatians 2:4 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 9:7 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 23:34 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 16:6 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 1:1 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ezekiel 34:4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Chronicles 6:30 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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