40 Bible Verses about Leaders, Spiritual

And no one takes this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.

And cause Aaron, thy brother, to come unto thee with his sons, from among the sons of Israel, that they may be my priests, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons.

for the LORD thy God has chosen him out of all thy tribes to stand to minister unto the name of the LORD, him and his sons all the days.

For every high priest is taken from among men, constituted on behalf of men in things relating to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins,

And Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the pectoral of judgment upon his heart when he goes in unto the sanctuary for a memorial before the LORD continually. And thou shalt put in the pectoral of judgment Urim and Thummim, that they shall be upon Aaron's heart when he goes in before the LORD; and Aaron shall always bear the judgment of the sons of Israel upon his heart before the LORD.

And he shall stand before Eleazar, the priest, whom he shall consult in the judgment of the Urim before the LORD; at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he and all the sons of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices; therefore, it is also necessary that this one have something to offer.

For the priest's lips keep wisdom, and they seek the law at his mouth; for he is an angel of the LORD of the hosts.

and that ye may teach the sons of Israel all the statutes which the LORD has spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.

Thus hath the LORD of the hosts said; Ask now the priests concerning the law, saying, If one bears holy flesh in the skirt of his garment, and with his skirt touches bread or pottage or wine, or oil or any food, shall it be made holy? And the priests answered and said, No. Then Haggai said, If one that is unclean by a dead body touches any of these, shall it be unclean? And the priests answered and said, It shall be unclean.

And it came to pass when he made mention of the ark of God, Eli fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck broke, and he died; for he was an old man and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

And Samuel said, Gather all Israel in Mizpeh, and I will pray for you unto the LORD. And they gathered together in Mizpeh and drew water and poured it out before the LORD and fasted on that day and said there, We have sinned against the LORD. And Samuel judged the sons of Israel in Mizpeh. And when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel were gathered together in Mizpeh, the cardinals of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.read more.
And the sons of Israel said to Samuel, Cease not to cry unto the LORD our God for us that he will save us out of the hand of the Philistines. And Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it for a burnt offering completely unto the LORD, and Samuel cried unto the LORD for Israel, and the LORD heard him.

And when they had finished it, they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, of which they made vessels for the house of the LORD, vessels to minister and to offer with, and spoons and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.

For the prophecy did not come in times past by the will of man, but the holy men of God spoke being inspired by the Holy Spirit.

After this, I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then I answered, Here am I; send me. Then he said, Go and tell this people, Hear indeed, but do not understand; and see indeed, but do not perceive.

Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the Gentiles.

And Samuel spoke unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you and prepare your hearts unto the LORD and serve him only, and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines. Then the sons of Israel did put away the Baalim and Ashtaroth and served the LORD only.

And Samuel said unto the people, Do not fear. Ye have done all this wickedness, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; do not turn aside after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vain. For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake because it has pleased the LORD to make you his people.read more.
Moreover as for me, in no wise should I sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you, but I will teach you the good and the right way. Only fear the LORD and serve him in truth with all your heart, for consider what great things he has done with you.

And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim. Now therefore send and gather to me all Israel unto Mount Carmel, and the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal, and the four hundred prophets of the groves, who eat at Jezebel's table. Then Ahab sent unto all the sons of Israel and gathered the prophets together unto Mount Carmel.read more.
And Elijah came near unto all the people and said, How long shall ye halt between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him. And the people did not answer him a word.

Thus hath the LORD of the hosts said, Consider your ways. Go up to the mountain and bring wood and build the house; and I will place my will in her, and I will be glorified, said the LORD. Ye look for much and find little; and when ye lock it up at home, I shall blow upon it. Why? said the LORD of the hosts. Because my house is deserted, and ye run each one of you unto his own house.

And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he asked them where the Christ should be born.

The Pharisees and the Sadducees came to tempt him; they asked him to show them a sign from the heaven.

And when he was come into the temple, the princes of the priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

saying, The scribes and the Pharisees have sat down in Moses' seat;

Now the princes of the priests and the elders and all the council sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

But they also have erred through wine, and through strong drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink; they are swallowed up of wine, they are out of the way through strong drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment.

For both prophet and priest are feigned; even in my house I have found their wickedness, said the LORD.

And now, O ye priests, this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, said the LORD of the hosts, I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings; yea, I have cursed them already because ye do not lay it to heart.

For they bind burdens that are heavy and grievous to bear and lay them on men's shoulders, but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But they do all their works that they may be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments and love the first place at feasts and the chief seats in the synagoguesread more.
and greetings in the markets and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But, as for you, desire not to be called Rabbi, for one is your Master, the Christ; and you are all brothers. And call no one your father upon the earth, for one is your Father, who is in the heavens. Neither be ye called masters, for one is your Master, the Christ. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled, and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of the heavens in front of men, for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye those that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses and for a pretence make long prayer; therefore, ye shall receive the greater judgment. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more a son of hell than yourselves.

But Jesus, calling unto them, said unto them, Ye know that those who are seen to be princes among the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those that are great among them wield power over them. But it shall not be like this among you, for whosoever desires to make himself great among you shall be your servant; and whosoever of you that desires to be first shall be slave of all.read more.
For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to serve and to give his life in ransom for many.

Neither was there any among them that lacked, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them and brought the prices of the things that were sold and laid them down at the apostles' feet; and distribution was made unto each one according to their need.

Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them and said, It is not right that we should leave the word of God and serve tables; therefore, brethren, seek out among you seven men of whom you bear witness, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.

And having ordained elders for them in every congregation and having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed.

For this cause I left thee in Crete, that thou should correct that which is lacking and set in place elders in every city, as I had commanded thee:

The Word is faithful, If anyone desires the office of a bishop, , he desires a difficult ministry. It is expedient, therefore, that the bishop be blameless, the husband of only one wife, vigilant, temperate, of worldly affections mortified, given to hospitality, apt to teach; not given to wine, not hurtful, not greedy of dishonest gain, but gentle, not contentious, not covetous;read more.
one that rules well his own house, having his children in subjection with all integrity; (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the congregation of God?) not a novice, lest being puffed up, he fall into judgment of the devil. Moreover he must have a good report of those who are outside lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. Likewise the deacons must be honest, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of dishonest gain; holding the mystery of the faith together with a pure conscience.

He who is blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children who can not be accused of dissoluteness, nor insubordinate. For the bishop must be blameless, as a steward of God; not arrogant, not quick to anger, not given to wine, not hurtful, not greedy of dishonest gain, but a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, temperate, just, holy, gentle,read more.
holding fast the doctrine according to the faithful word, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Take heed therefore unto yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has placed you as bishops to feed the congregation of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.

Therefore watch and remember that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

Let the elders that govern well be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treads out the grain. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder do not receive an accusation, unless there are two or three witnesses.read more.
Those that persist in sin rebuke before all, that the others may also fear.

Feed the flock of God which is among you, caring for her, not by force, but willingly; not for shameful lucre, but with willing desire; and not as having lordship over the heritage of the Lord, but in such a manner as to be examples of the flock.