21 Bible Verses about Leaders, Spiritual

And no man assumes to himself this honour, but he who is called of God, even as Aaron was.

FOR, every high-priest taken from among men, is constituted on behalf of men for those services which relate to God, that he should offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:

For every high-priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is necessary that this person also have somewhat to offer.

For prophecy in old time came not by the will of man: but the holy men of God spake under the impulse of the Holy Ghost.

And assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he enquired of them, where the Messiah should be born.

AND the Pharisees and the Sadducees came to him, and, to make trial of him, desired him to shew them a sign from heaven.

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

saying, The scribes and Pharisees are seated on the chair of Moses;

Now the chief priests and elders and the whole sanhedrim, sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

For they bind burdens grievous, and difficultly borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they will not move them with a finger of their own. And all their works they do to be seen of men: they make their phylacteries broad, and deepen the fringes of their garments, and love the principal couch at suppers, and the chief seats in the synagogues,read more.
and salutations in the places of public concourse, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But be not ye called Rabbi, for one is your leader, the Messiah; and ye all are brethren. And call no man your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is in heaven. And be not called leaders; for one is your leader, the Messiah. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and whosoever abaseth himself shall be exalted. Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut up the kingdom of heaven from men; for ye yourselves enter not in, and those who were coming in, ye suffer not to enter. Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: wherefore ye shall receive greater condemnation. Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he is gained, ye make him doubly more the child of hell than yourselves.

But Jesus called them, and said to them, Ye know that they who appear to rule over the Gentiles, lord it over them; and their great men exercise dominion over them. But it shall not be so with you: but whosoever will be great among you let him be your servant: and whosoever will be first, let him be the servant of all.read more.
For the Son of man came not to be waited upon, but to be a servant, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Neither was there any person in want among them: for as many as were possessors of fields or houses disposed of them, and brought the prices of the things sold, and laid them at the apostles' feet: and a distribution was made to every one according as he had need.

Then the twelve assembling the multitude of the disciples, said, It is not fit that we should leave the word of God, to make distribution to the tables. Therefore, brethren, do ye look out for seven men from among yourselves, the best approved, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint to superintend this business.

Then appointing them presbyters in every city, by prayer with fastings they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

For this purpose I left thee behind me at Crete, that thou mightest direct the regulations which remained to be executed, and that thou shouldest appoint presbyters in every city, as I charged thee to do:

IT is a true saying, If a man seeks the office of a bishop, he desireth a laudable employment. A bishop then must be irreprehensible, the husband of one wife, temperate, sagacious, respectable, hospitable, well qualified for teaching; not addicted to wine, not using hard words or blows, not greedy of base gain; but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money;read more.
presiding over his own family with propriety, having his children under subjection with all gravity of behaviour: for if a man knoweth not how to order his own family, how shall he take proper care of the church of God? Not a new convert, lest he be puffed up, and fall into the devil's crime. He must also have a fair character from those who are without, that he may not fall into reproach, and into the snare of the devil. The deacons also in like manner must be grave, not doubletongued, not addicting themselves to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.

if there be a man blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, not under an accusation or debauchery, or disorderly conduct. For a bishop ought to be irreproachable, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not irritable, not addicted to wine, not quarrelsome, not greedy of filthy lucre; but the stranger's host, the good man's friend, grave, just, holy, temperate;read more.
firmly attached to the faithful word, according to the doctrine delivered, that he may be able to exhort with sound instruction and to confute the opposers.

Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Ghost hath made you bishops, to feed as shepherds the church of God, which he purchased with his own blood.

Therefore watch, remembering that for three years, by night and by day, I have never ceased with tears to admonish every individual.

Let the elders who preside properly be counted worthy of double honour, especially those who are laborious in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture saith, "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox while he treadeth out the corn." And again, "The labourer is worthy of his hire." Against a presbyter receive not an accusation, except it be from two or three witnesses.read more.
Those who sin rebuke before all, that the rest also may tremble.

feed the flock of God which is among you, exercising your pastoral office not of necessity, but of choice, not for base gain, but with alacrity of mind; not as domineering over your allotted congregations, but as being examples of the flock.