A frequent misinterpretation twists this verse to justify rigid hierarchies, blind obedience, or authoritarian control, portraying it as a mere chain-of-command rule that elevates leaders above servants; in reality, it condemns such attitudes by highlighting Jesus' example of voluntary humility, not domination, and calls for mutual service rather than exploitation or superiority.
John 13:16
King James Version (1769)
16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
In the context of Jesus washing his disciples' feet, this verse underscores the core truth of humble servanthood and equality in God's kingdom: no servant is greater than his master, nor messenger superior to the one who sent him, teaching that followers must emulate Christ's self-sacrificial love by serving one another without seeking exaltation or privilege.