Matthew 5:19 kjv
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.
Matthew 5:19 nkjv
Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:19 niv
Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:19 esv
Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:19 nlt
So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 5:17 | "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." | Jesus came to fulfill, not destroy, the Law. |
| Matt 5:18 | "For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished." | Law's permanence until its ultimate purpose is fulfilled. |
| Deut 4:2 | "You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you." | Do not diminish or alter God's commands. |
| Jas 2:10 | "For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it." | Integrity of the Law; all commands are connected. |
| Lk 16:17 | "But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void." | Emphasis on the Law's enduring validity. |
| Rom 2:13 | "For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified." | Obedience (doing) is key to righteousness. |
| Jas 1:22 | "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." | Active obedience to God's word. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice." | God values obedience above ritual. |
| John 14:15 | "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." | Love for Christ manifested in obedience. |
| 1 John 2:3 | "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments." | Keeping commands is evidence of knowing God. |
| 1 John 5:3 | "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." | God's commands are not a burden to those who love Him. |
| Matt 23:23 | "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness." | Condemnation for valuing minor commands over major. |
| Rom 3:31 | "Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law." | Faith upholds, not abolishes, the law. |
| Gal 5:14 | "For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'" | Love fulfills the spirit of the law. |
| Matt 28:19-20 | "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you..." | Commission to teach obedience to Christ's commands. |
| 2 Tim 3:16-17 | "All Scripture is breathed out by God... that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." | Scripture's role in equipping for obedience. |
| Titus 2:1 | "But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine." | Sound teaching based on God's truth. |
| 1 Cor 3:12-15 | "If anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one's work will become manifest... he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved..." | Future rewards based on faithful service/works. |
| 2 John 1:8 | "Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may receive a full reward." | Warning about losing rewards due to straying. |
| Heb 8:10 | "For this is the covenant that I will make... I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts..." | New Covenant entails internalizing God's laws. |
Matthew 5 verses
Matthew 5 19 Meaning
Matthew 5:19 teaches that a person's relationship to God's commandments, specifically whether they disregard and teach others to do the same, or uphold and teach them, directly impacts their standing and honor within the Kingdom of Heaven. It emphasizes that no commandment, even those perceived as "least," is insignificant in God's eyes, and full adherence coupled with righteous teaching leads to great honor.
Matthew 5 19 Context
This verse is embedded within the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), particularly following Jesus' pronouncements about His relationship to the Law and the Prophets in Matt 5:17-18. Jesus explicitly states He came not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it, emphasizing its enduring validity "until heaven and earth pass away." Matthew 5:19 serves as a crucial practical application and warning: one's attitude and teaching concerning even the smallest divine commandment have profound implications. The historical context involves Jesus addressing a Jewish audience accustomed to nuanced interpretations and debates about the Law, where some might have prioritized certain commandments or distinguished between "light" and "heavy" obligations. Jesus elevates the status of all God's precepts, countering any idea that His teaching offers an easy abrogation of existing divine demands.
Matthew 5 19 Word analysis
- Whoever relaxes (ὃς ἐὰν λύσῃ - hos ean lysē): The Greek verb lyō means "to loose," "untie," "destroy," or "annul." It implies more than simply failing to keep a commandment; it suggests actively undermining its authority, disregarding it, or teaching that it is no longer binding. This can involve selective obedience, dismissal of certain laws, or advocating for a lower standard.
- one of the least (μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τῶν ἐλαχίστων - mian tōn entolōn tōn elachistōn): "Least" ( elachistōn) is the superlative of mikros (small), meaning "the very smallest," "insignificant." In context, this refers to even the seemingly minor or overlooked commandments of the Old Testament Law. Jesus emphasizes the divine authority behind every part of the Law, irrespective of human perception of its "greatness" or "smallness."
- these commandments (τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων - tōn entolōn toutōn): Refers collectively to God's precepts, particularly those contained in the Law and the Prophets as discussed in the preceding verses (Matt 5:17-18).
- and teaches others to do the same (καὶ διδάξῃ οὕτως τοὺς ἀνθρώπους - kai didaxē houtōs tous anthrōpous): This highlights the dual transgression: not only disregarding the command oneself but also leading others into disobedience or disregard. Teaching plays a crucial role in the Kingdom; false teaching has significant negative consequences.
- will be called least (ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται - elachistos klēthēsetai): This refers to one's honor, status, or position in the Kingdom of Heaven. It's not a statement about salvation or exclusion, but rather about diminished privilege, reward, or recognition.
- in the kingdom of heaven (ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν - en tē basileia tōn ouranōn): This phrase, unique to Matthew's Gospel, refers to God's redemptive reign. It encompasses His sovereign rule now and its full consummation in the future. "Being called least or great" pertains to one's honor and standing within this realm, implying the Kingdom includes believers who will have different degrees of honor based on their faithfulness.
- but whoever does them (ὃς δ' ἂν ποιήσῃ - hos d' an poiēsē): The emphasis shifts from intellectual acknowledgement or outward show to practical action and consistent obedience to the commandments. "Does them" implies living out the Law.
- and teaches them (καὶ διδάξῃ - kai didaxē): This refers to faithfully instructing others in God's commandments, encouraging and enabling their obedience. It underscores the responsibility of leaders and all believers to model and impart God's truth.
- will be called great (μέγας κληθήσεται - megas klēthēsetai): This denotes a position of honor, significance, or elevated status within the Kingdom, indicative of God's favor and recognition for faithful obedience and teaching.
Matthew 5 19 Bonus section
This verse highlights the continuity between the Old Testament Law and New Testament life, as seen through the lens of Jesus' perfect fulfillment and spiritual reinterpretation of the Law. While Christ liberates believers from the condemnation of the Law (Gal 3:13, Rom 8:1), He does not abolish its moral principles or divine standard of righteousness. Rather, through the Spirit, He empowers believers to live out the righteous requirements of the Law from the heart (Rom 8:4, Eze 36:27). The "least" commandments in question here are not necessarily ritual laws that have been fulfilled in Christ, but rather moral and ethical precepts that continue to reflect God's unchanging character and will for human flourishing. The concept of "least" and "great" within the Kingdom of Heaven implies a diversity of roles and responsibilities in the coming age, contingent upon faithfulness in this life. It encourages a meticulous and earnest devotion to every aspect of God's revealed truth, knowing that all His words are significant.
Matthew 5 19 Commentary
Matthew 5:19 provides a profound truth about the integral connection between obedience to God's word and one's honor within His Kingdom. Jesus clarifies that He does not abolish the Law, but rather fulfills it, imbuing every commandment with divine authority. This verse stands as a powerful counter to any tendency to diminish or selectively observe God's precepts. It warns against a casual attitude toward any divine command, no matter how "small" it might seem, asserting that active disobedience and, especially, teaching others to disregard it, lead to a "least" status in God's Kingdom. Conversely, wholeheartedly embracing and living by God's commandments, and faithfully teaching others to do likewise, leads to "great" honor. This is not about earning salvation, which is by grace through faith in Christ, but about the true fruit of genuine faith, which always expresses itself in love for God and obedience to His word, leading to varying degrees of reward and honor for stewardship in His eternal reign. It reminds believers that practical adherence to God's revealed will and responsible teaching of His truth are essential aspects of discipleship and vital for Christian living.