What Does the Bible Say About Leadership?
What Does the Bible Say About Leadership? Biblical leadership is servant leadership — modeling Christ who came not to be served but to serve.
Key verse: Matthew 20:26-28 (KJV)
Biblical leadership is servant leadership — modeling Christ who came not to be served but to serve.
Biblical leadership is servant leadership — modeling Christ who came not to be served but to serve.
"Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister... Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister." — Matthew 20:26-28 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
Cross-reference scriptures
The Biblical Answer
Jesus redefined leadership: 'Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister' (Matthew 20:26-28). He demonstrated this by washing His disciples' feet (John 13:1-17). Titus 1:5-9 and 1 Timothy 3:1-7 outline qualifications for church leaders — not political skill but character: blameless, sober, hospitable, able to teach, not greedy. Proverbs 29:2 says, 'When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice.' Hebrews 13:17 calls the flock to submit to leaders who 'watch for your souls, as they that must give account.' Leaders are shepherds, not lords (1 Peter 5:2-3), accountable to the Chief Shepherd for how they care for God's people.
Topic Overview
What Does the Bible Say About Humility?
Biblical teaching on humility, servant leadership, and putting others first.
Key Scripture References
"Whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister... Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister."
"If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. A bishop then must be blameless."
"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
What Does the Bible Say About Stewardship?
Everything belongs to God, and believers are stewards entrusted with managing His resources — time, money, talents, and the earth itself.
What Does the Bible Say About Humility?
God exalts the humble and resists the proud — humility is central to the Christian life and modeled perfectly by Jesus.
What Does the Bible Say About Love?
The Bible defines love not as a feeling but as a sacrificial choice — modeled perfectly by God's gift of His Son.
How Do You Forgive Others According to the Bible?
Biblical forgiveness means releasing bitterness and choosing not to hold someone's offense against them — just as God in Christ forgave us.
What Does the Bible Say About Money?
The Bible doesn't condemn money itself but warns against the love of money and teaches generosity, contentment, and wise stewardship.
Deep Dive Commentary
For a more in-depth study, read our verse-by-verse commentary:
Related Reading
Continue your study with related content from across our library:
What Does the Bible Say About Servant Leadership?
Daily Living
What Does the Bible Say About Servant Leadership?
Daily Living
What Does the Bible Say About Leadership?
Daily Living
1 Corinthians 10:31 Commentary
In-depth study • Living for God's Glory
Practicing Generosity
Scriptures about giving, generosity, and the blessing of open-handed living.
Bible Verses About Leadership
10 curated KJV verses
Read it in context
The answer above sits inside Matthew. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read Matthew on day 284 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
Every verse quoted in “What Does the Bible Say About Leadership?” comes from the King James Version, free to download and print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Keep Going
Continue Exploring Scripture
You've found one resource — here are more ways to go deeper into God's Word.
Today's Verse
Start each day with a hand-picked KJV verse and reflection.
Verses by Topic
Find what the Bible says about love, anxiety, strength, and 500+ more topics.
Bible Miracles
Discover the signs and wonders of God recorded in Scripture.
Angels & Spiritual Warfare
Angels, demons, and the armor of God — what the KJV really teaches about the unseen battle.
Bible Genealogies & Family Trees
Visual KJV family trees — the line of Jesus, the sons of Noah, the twelve tribes, and more.
Women of the Bible
Eve, Sarah, Ruth, Esther, Mary — the matriarchs, prophetesses, queens, and disciples of Scripture.