Narcissistic Leadership and the Pharisees

December 3, 2025

Narcissistic Leadership and the Pharisees’ Use of Leader-Member Exchange: A Sociorhetorical Study of Matthew 23

Kourtney M. Williams | 2023

Abstract The research examined the role of the narcissistic leadership, leader–member exchange theory, and collective narcissism in the context of the leadership of the Pharisees in Matthew 23. The study utilized sociorhetorical analysis on the content to observe the relationship between the Pharisees’ leadership style and narcissistic leadership theory. The research revealed positive convergence of the constructs. Specifically, the results demonstrated six themes for the Pharisees’ leadership: impression management, recruitment, imposition of societal rules, abusive supervision, impression management, and follower inhibition. These themes produced five principles for biblical leaders to implement in their organizations. Limitations and future research are discussed.

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