--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Those who teach by their doctrine must…" description: "\"Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their life, or else they pull down with one hand what they build up with the other.\" — Matthew Henry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/matthew-henry-903_discipleship_those-who-teach-by-their-doctrine-must-t_1322937.jpg" --- # Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their… ![“Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their life, or else they pull down with one hand what they build up with the other.” quote by Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/matthew-henry-903_discipleship_those-who-teach-by-their-doctrine-must-t_1322937.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/matthew-henry-903_discipleship_those-who-teach-by-their-doctrine-must-t_1322937.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/matthew-henry-903_discipleship_those-who-teach-by-their-doctrine-must-t_1322937.jpg) > “Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their life, or else they pull down with one hand what they build up with the other.” [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Teaching must align with personal conduct; hypocrisy undermines credibility and impact. **In simple terms:** Teach by living; avoid hypocrisy. Key Takeaway Align actions with teachings for integrity. Themes ethics leadership integrity Mood thoughtful serious Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - pastoral work - education - public speaking - community service Key Concepts theology philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure consistency? - What steps reinforce integrity? A Different Perspective People may doubt sincerity despite good intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Discipleship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Education](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/education/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) ## Related quotes > [Once sure that the doctrine we teach is God's Word, once certain of this, we may build thereupon, and know that this cause shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/once-sure-that-the-doctrine-we-teach-is-god-s-word-once-certain-of/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) > [Sometimes the most powerful way to teach our children to understand a doctrine is to teach in the context of what they are experiencing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cheryl-a-esplin/sometimes-the-most-powerful-way-to-teach-our-children-to-understand-a/) [Cheryl A. Esplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cheryl-a-esplin/) > [I always try to put a seed of hope into people's hearts. I'm not there to teach them doctrine necessarily, but to let them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/i-always-try-to-put-a-seed-of-hope-into-people-s-hearts-i-m-not-there/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [No member of a society has a right to teach any doctrine contrary to what the society holds to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/no-member-of-a-society-has-a-right-to-teach-any-doctrine-contrary-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [No member of society has the right to teach any doctrine contrary to what society holds to be true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/no-member-of-society-has-the-right-to-teach-any-doctrine-contrary-to/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [We don't teach from Books of the Bible because it gets in the way of evangelism. We don't offer different kinds of Bible studies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-furtick/we-don-t-teach-from-books-of-the-bible-because-it-gets-in-the-way-of/) [Steven Furtick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-furtick/) > [Genuine Christianity is more than a relationship with Jesus, as expressed in personal piety, church attendance, Bible study, and works of charity. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-colson/genuine-christianity-is-more-than-a-relationship-with-jesus-as/) [Charles Colson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-colson/) > [No matter who tries to teach you about life.You won't understand it until you have to go through it,They say experience is the best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vboo/no-matter-who-tries-to-teach-you-about-life-you-won-t-understand-it/) [VBOo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vboo/) > [There may be no single thing that can teach us more about life than death.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/there-may-be-no-single-thing-that-can-teach-us-more-about-life-than/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [poetry had everything to teach me about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-ackerman/poetry-had-everything-to-teach-me-about-life/) [Diane Ackerman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-ackerman/) > [I love being a dad, and I'm good at it. Kids teach you about life, like how not to focus on yourself so much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-quaid/i-love-being-a-dad-and-i-m-good-at-it-kids-teach-you-about-life-like/) [Dennis Quaid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-quaid/) > [Let your dog teach you how to get the most out of life! If we could all be more like our dogs when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-millan/let-your-dog-teach-you-how-to-get-the-most-out-of-life-if-we-could/) [Cesar Millan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-millan/) > [Whether you like it or not the millions are here, and here they will remain. If you do not lift them up, they will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-e-b-du-bois/whether-you-like-it-or-not-the-millions-are-here-and-here-they-will/) [W. E. B. Du Bois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-e-b-du-bois/) > [Life itself will teach you what life really is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anas/life-itself-will-teach-you-what-life-really-is/) [Anas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anas/) > [Every writing teacher gives the subliminal message, every time they teach: 'Your life counts for something.' In no other subject that I know of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-rosenblatt/every-writing-teacher-gives-the-subliminal-message-every-time-they/) [Roger Rosenblatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-rosenblatt/) ## More by Matthew Henry > [Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/our-duty-as-christians-is-always-to-keep-heaven-in-our-eye-and-earth/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Christ is our temple, in whom by faith all believers meet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/christ-is-our-temple-in-whom-by-faith-all-believers-meet/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Those that truly love God will make it their constant care and endeavour to keep his commandments, particularly those that relate to his worship.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-that-truly-love-god-will-make-it-their-constant-care-and/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [In order to the attaining of all useful knowledge this is most necessary, that we fear God; we are not qualified to profit by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/in-order-to-the-attaining-of-all-useful-knowledge-this-is-most/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“When men drive God's word from them he justly permits their delusions, and answers them according to the multitude of their idols.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/when-men-drive-god-s-word-from-them-he-justly-permits-their-delusions/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Christ died. He left a will in which He gave His soul to His Father, His body to Joseph of Arimathea, His clothes to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/christ-died-he-left-a-will-in-which-he-gave-his-soul-to-his-father/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“God's word will stand, and we shall get nothing by disputing it, or delaying to submit to it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/god-s-word-will-stand-and-we-shall-get-nothing-by-disputing-it-or/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [We must believe that He is able to do what He will, wise to do what is best, and good, according to His promise,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/we-must-believe-that-he-is-able-to-do-what-he-will-wise-to-do-what-is/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“When God gives law to us, we must give honour to him; when he speaks, we must bow our heads and worship.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/when-god-gives-law-to-us-we-must-give-honour-to-him-when-he-speaks-we/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“The first that dies is a martyr, and dies for his religion; and of such it may more truly be said than of soldiers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/the-first-that-dies-is-a-martyr-and-dies-for-his-religion-and-of-such/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [They that pray in the family do well; they that pray and read the Scriptures do better; but they that pray, and read, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/they-that-pray-in-the-family-do-well-they-that-pray-and-read-the/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Let no man go beyond or defraud his brother, for, though it be hidden from man, it will be found that God is the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/let-no-man-go-beyond-or-defraud-his-brother-for-though-it-be-hidden/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [“Those who are unconcerned in the affairs of their brethren, and take no care, when they have opportunity, to prevent their hurt in their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-who-are-unconcerned-in-the-affairs-of-their-brethren-and-take/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Some people do not like to hear much of repentance; but I think it is so necessary that if I should die in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/some-people-do-not-like-to-hear-much-of-repentance-but-i-think-it-is/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Love is the root; obedience is the fruit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/love-is-the-root-obedience-is-the-fruit/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) [Explore all 332 Matthew Henry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) ## More Discipleship quotes > [“every church can treat each discipleship class and each worship service as an opportunity for continual rehearsal of what the words, stories, symbols, rituals,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-arthur/every-church-can-treat-each-discipleship-class-and-each-worship/) [Sarah Arthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-arthur/) > [“It is one thing being disciplined to plan and it is another thing being a disciple of great work. Be your own disciplinarian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-one-thing-being-disciplined-to-plan-and-it-is-another-thing/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [I have no disciples, being myself an aspirant after discipleship and in search of a guru.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-have-no-disciples-being-myself-an-aspirant-after-discipleship-and/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [Most neuroses and some psychoses can be traced to the unnecessary and unhealthy habit of daily wallowing in the troubles and sins of five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-heinlein/most-neuroses-and-some-psychoses-can-be-traced-to-the-unnecessary-and/) [Robert A. Heinlein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-heinlein/) > [“There are two choices: to be human, made in the image of God, with Jesus; warp to be in human, consumed with greed and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-mckenna/there-are-two-choices-to-be-human-made-in-the-image-of-god-with-jesus/) [Megan McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-mckenna/) > [“There is no shortcut for hard work that leads to effectiveness. You must stay disciplined because most of the work is behind the scenes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/there-is-no-shortcut-for-hard-work-that-leads-to-effectiveness-you/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [“Christian discipleship is a decision to walk in his ways, steadily and firmly, and then finding that the way integrates all our interests, passions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-peterson/christian-discipleship-is-a-decision-to-walk-in-his-ways-steadily-and/) [Eugene Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-peterson/) > [“(Bonhoeffer's) change was not an ungainly, embarrassing leap from which he would have to retreat slightly when he gained more maturity and perspective. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-metaxas/bonhoeffer-s-change-was-not-an-ungainly-embarrassing-leap-from-which/) [Eric Metaxas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-metaxas/) > [“The evangelical wing of the Church spends a lot of energy on being "born again" but little time on "growing up" again. There is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stockman/the-evangelical-wing-of-the-church-spends-a-lot-of-energy-on-being/) [Steve Stockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stockman/) > [Jesus never discipled one-on-one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/jesus-never-discipled-one-on-one/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [We even talked like Hemingway characters, though in travesty, as if to deny our discipleship: That is your bed, and it is a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tobias-wolff/we-even-talked-like-hemingway-characters-though-in-travesty-as-if-to/) [Tobias Wolff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tobias-wolff/) > [You cannot impart what you do not possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/you-cannot-impart-what-you-do-not-possess/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [Your strengths develop your confidence; your weaknesses develop your faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/your-strengths-develop-your-confidence-your-weaknesses-develop-your/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [Discipleship' as a term has lost its content, and this is one reason why it has been moved aside. I've tried to redeem the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallas-willard/discipleship-as-a-term-has-lost-its-content-and-this-is-one-reason/) [Dallas Willard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallas-willard/) > [“Being saved by discipleship is not a human possibility, but for God all things are possible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-combs/being-saved-by-discipleship-is-not-a-human-possibility-but-for-god/) Rodney Combs [Browse all 545 Discipleship quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipleship/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their life, or else they pull down with one hand what they build up with the other.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Matthew Henry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-who-teach-by-their-doctrine-must-teach-by-their-life-or-else/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Discipleship" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-who-teach-by-their-doctrine-must-teach-by-their-life-or-else/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/matthew-henry-903_discipleship_those-who-teach-by-their-doctrine-must-t_1322937.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/matthew-henry-903_discipleship_those-who-teach-by-their-doctrine-must-t_1322937.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98c/matthew-henry-903_discipleship_those-who-teach-by-their-doctrine-must-t_1322937.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Those who teach by their doctrine must teach by their life, or else they pull down with one hand what they…” — Matthew Henry", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Matthew Henry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Those who teach by their doctrine...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-who-teach-by-their-doctrine-must-teach-by-their-life-or-else/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/those-who-teach-by-their-doctrine-must-teach-by-their-life-or-else/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```