Mat 10:24 The disciple is not above [his] master, nor the servant above his lord.

"Disciple" is mathetes, which means "learner," "pupil," "student," and "apprentice."

"Above" is huper, which means "over," "more than," and "above."

"Master" is didaskalos, which means "teacher," "master," and "trainer."

"Servant" is doulos, which means "a born slave," or "a bondsman." (People who are made into slave by war are described differently as andrapoda.)

"Lord" is kurios, which means "owner," "one in authority," and "one who has power."

Christ contrasts two ideas here. The difference in knowledge between one who learns one who teaches and the difference in authority between a slave and his owner. He makes it clear that those with knowledge are superior to those who are learning and those with authority are superior to those who are under their command.

While Christ was often very critical of society's judgments, Christ recognized that there was a legitimate hierarchy describing the differences among people. He was not a egalitarian in the sense that he thought such differences were trivial or meaningless.