Matthew 5:19

So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do likewise will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever practices and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples (and the crowds) at the foot of the Sermon on the Mount, bracketing the verse between the Law's permanence (5:18) and the demand for surpassing righteousness (5:20).

The words — λῦσαι (lyō), "to loose, untie," is the verb for breaking a commandment; it carries the image of untying a binding rather than merely ignoring it. ἐντολή (entolē), "commandment," is the standing order or instruction, not a one-time directive.

The thread — Deuteronomy 12:32 forbids adding to or subtracting from the commanded practice; James 2:10 equates stumbling at one point with breaking the whole; Matthew 28:20 pairs "teaching" with "obeying all that I have commanded," the same two verbs Jesus uses here.

Why it lands — The verse makes teaching a public act: you cannot quietly set aside a commandment while others look to you, because the measure of your rank in the kingdom is set by what you both do and tell others to do.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Greek words

ὋςHosWho[ever]ἐὰνeanif οὖνounthen λύσῃlusēshall break μίανmianone τῶνtōnof the ἐντολῶνentolōncommandments τούτωνtoutōnof these τῶνtōnthe ἐλαχίστωνelachistōnleast καὶkaiand διδάξῃdidaxēshall teach οὕτωςhoutōsso τοὺςtousthe ἀνθρώπους,anthrōpousothers,ἐλάχιστοςelachistosleast κληθήσεταιklēthēsetaihe will be called ἐνenin τῇtēathe βασιλείᾳbasileiakingdom τῶνtōnof the οὐρανῶν.ouranōnheavens.ὃςhoswho[ever]δ᾽d᾽now ἂνanmaybe ποιήσῃpoiēsēmay keep καὶkaiand διδάξῃ,didaxēmay teach [them],οὗτοςhoutosthis [one]μέγαςmegasgreat κληθήσεταιklēthēsetaiwill be called ἐνenin τῇtēathe βασιλείᾳbasileiakingdom τῶνtōnof the οὐρανῶν.ouranōnheavens.

King James Version

Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 12:32 See that you do everything I command you; do not add to it or subtract from it.
James 2:10 Whoever keeps the whole law but stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.
Matthew 28:20 and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Romans 13:8 Be indebted to no one, except to one another in love. For he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.
Matthew 11:11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
Daniel 12:3 Then the wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever and ever.
1 Timothy 6:3 If anyone teaches another doctrine and disagrees with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and with godly teaching,
Psalms 119:6 Then I would not be ashamed when I consider all Your commandments.
1 Thessalonians 4:1 Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.
1 Timothy 4:11 Command and teach these things.