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Matthew 5:19

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.

KJV

ὃς ἐὰν οὖν λύσῃ μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων καὶ διδάξῃ οὕτως τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν· ὃς δ’ ἂν ποιήσῃ καὶ διδάξῃ, οὗτος μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν.

Greek NT

Qui ergo solverit unum de mandatis istis minimis, et docuerit sic homines, minimus vocabitur in regno cælorum : qui autem fecerit et docuerit, hic magnus vocabitur in regno cælorum.

Vulgate

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

ASV

He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Douay-Rheims

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In the original Greek

21 distinct Greek words appear in this verse.

βασιλεία
basileia
noun · 162×
δέ
de
conjunction · 2781×
διδάσκω
didasko
verb · 97×
εἷς
eis
adjective · 336×
καί
kai
conjunction · 8973×
καλέω
kaleo
verb · 148×
λύω
luo
verb · 42×
μέγας
megas
adjective · 244×
οὐρανός
ouranos
noun · 274×
οὕτω
outo
adverb · 208×
οὖν
oun
conjunction · 489×
οὗτος
outos
demonstrative · 1380×
ποιέω
poieo
verb · 569×
ἄν
an
particle · 165×
ἄνθρωπος
anthropos
noun · 549×
ἐάν
ean
conditional · 333×
ἐλάχιστος
elachistos
adjective · 13×
ἐν
en
preposition · 2743×
ἐντολή
entole
noun · 66×
o
article · 19778×
ὅς
os
relative_pronoun · 1404×

Themes

Historic Christian voices

10 passages from patristic writers, Reformers, and church catechisms citing this verse.

§577At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus issued a solemn warning in which he presented God's law, given on Sinai during the first covenant, in light of the grace of the New Covenant: Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets: I have come not to abolish but to fulfil. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one …
§578Jesus, Israel's Messiah and therefore the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, was to fulfil the Law by keeping it in its all embracing detail - according to his own words, down to "the least of these commandments".330 He is in fact the only one who could keep it perfectly.331 On their own admission the Jews were never able to observe the Law in its entirety without violating the…
§1967The Law of the Gospel "fulfills," refines, surpasses, and leads the Old Law to its perfection.21 In the Beatitudes, the New Law fulfills the divine promises by elevating and orienting them toward the "kingdom of heaven." It is addressed to those open to accepting this new hope with faith - the poor, the humble, the afflicted, the pure of heart, those persecuted on account of Ch…
2. They thought that He, thus speaking, did so with a view to the abrogation of the ancient institutions. This suspicion therefore He heals; nor here only does He so, but elsewhere also again. Thus, since they accounted Him no less than an adversary of God, from this sort of reason, namely, His not keeping the sabbath; He, to heal such their suspicion, there also again sets for…
1. A grievous thing, beloved, a grievous thing it is to come to the depths of wickedness; for then the soul becomes hard to be restored. Wherefore we should use every exertion not to be taken at all; since it is easier not to fall in, than having fallen to recover one's self. Observe, for instance, when Judas had thrown himself into sin, how great assistance he enjoyed, yet not…
Chapter 9.—What the Reign of the Saints with Christ for a Thousand Years Is, and How It Differs from the Eternal Kingdom. But while the devil is bound, the saints reign with Christ during the same thousand years, understood in the same way, that is, of the time of His first coming.13541354 Between His first and second coming. For, leaving out of account that kingdom concerning …
1. Relation of the Baptist to Elijah. The Theory of Transmigration Considered. The disciples asked Him, saying, Why then say the scribes that Elijah must first come? Matthew 17:10 The disciples indeed who went up with Jesus remembered the traditions of the scribes concerning Elijah, that before the advent of Christ, Elijah would come and prepare for Him the souls of those who w…
Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. The moral law, contained in the Ten Commandments and enforced by the prophets, Christ did not take away. It was not the design of His coming to revoke any part of this. The moral law stands fast for ever as a faithful witness in heaven. Every part of this law must remain in force upon all mankind and in all ages.

Cross-references

  • 1Sam 2:30 — Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I
  • 1Thess 4:1 — Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
  • 1Tim 4:11 — These things command and teach.
  • 1Tim 6:3 — If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
  • 1Tim 6:11 — But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
  • Dan 12:3 — And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
  • Deut 12:32 — What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it.
  • Deut 27:26 — Cursed be he that confirmeth not all the words of this law to do them. And all the people shall say, Amen.
  • Gal 3:10 — For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
  • Gal 5:14 — For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
  • Gen 26:5 — Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
  • Jas 2:10 — For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
  • Luke 11:42 — But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
  • Matt 3:2 — And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
  • Matt 11:11 — Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
  • Matt 11:11 — Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.
  • Matt 15:3 — But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
  • Matt 19:28 — And Jesus said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That ye which have followed me, in the regeneration when the Son of man shall sit in the throne of his glory, ye also shall sit upon twelve thrones, ju
  • Matt 22:36 — Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
  • Matt 23:23 — Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have do
  • Matt 25:34 — Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
  • Matt 28:20 — Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
  • Phil 4:8 — Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;
  • Phil 4:9 — Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.
  • Ps 119:6 — Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.
  • Ps 119:34 — Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.
  • Ps 119:128 — Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
  • Rev 2:14 — But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed u
  • Rev 2:20 — Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat th
  • Rom 6:1 — What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
  • Rom 6:15 — What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
  • Rom 8:7 — Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
  • Rom 13:8 — Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
  • Titus 2:8 — Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you.
  • Titus 2:12 — Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
  • Titus 3:8 — This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto