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OET (OET-LV) Therefore if whoever may_break the least one of_these of_the commands, and may_teach the people thus, will_be_being_called least in the kingdom of_the heavens, but whoever wishfully may_practice and may_teach, this one will_be_being_called great in the kingdom of_the heavens.
OET (OET-RV) Therefore anyone who breaks even a minor command, and teaches others to do the same, will be seen as one of the least in the heavenly kingdom, but anyone who practices and teaches those instructions will be considered outstanding in the kingdom.
For many years, English versions and Christians have commonly referred to Matthew 5–7 as “The Sermon on the Mount.” In some translations, it may be helpful to include a heading for chapters 5–7 that is on a level above the section heading for 5:1–12.
Here are some other possible headings for this section:
The Sermon on the Mountain
The sermon that Jesus preached on a mountain
Jesus taught people on the side of a mountain/hill
So then, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments
Therefore, every person who does not obey one of those less important commands
So if you(sing) do/follow all except one of the smallest/lightest of God’s commands,
So then: The Greek conjunction that the BSB translates as So then introduces the conclusion to 5:17–18. Some English versions do not translate this Greek word. But in some languages, it may be more natural to use a word or phrase to indicate that this is the conclusion. For example:
Therefore (NJB)
So (NLT)
then (RSV)
Consequently
whoever: The Greek words that the BSB translates as whoever introduces something that is true of everyone.
Here are some other ways to translate this:
every person who
if you (NLT)
breaks: The Greek word that the BSB translates as breaks in this context means “disobeys a law.” The person may disobey a law even though he recognizes that it is still valid, or he may disobey a law because he thinks that it is no longer valid. In either case, he does not do what the law says.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
disobeys (GNT)
refuses to obey (NCV)
does not do
ignore (NLT)
one of the least of these commandments: The words these commandments refer to the law of Moses in the Old Testament (5:18).
The word least is used in regard to importance. The Jews considered some laws to be more important (or heavier) than others.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
the least important command in the Law (CEV)
the smallest commandment (NLT96)
the lightest of the laws of God
and teaches others to do likewise
and teaches others to not obey it,
and you(sing) teach/tell other people that it’s all right if they also do not do/follow it,
teaches others to do likewise: The clause teaches others to do likewise refers to teaching other people to also disobey one of the least of these commandments (in 5:19a).
Here are some other ways to translate this clause:
teaches other people not to obey that command (NCV)
teaches other people that it is all right if they do not obey/follow that law
will be called least in the kingdom of heaven;
he will be considered/counted as the least important person in the kingdom of God.
then you(sing) will be one of the smallest/lowest of the people/citizens whom God rules.
will be called least: In this context, the verb called means “referred to as,” “spoken of as,” or “acknowledged as.” The word least is used in regard to importance (as in 5:19a).
The verb is passive. God will say that such a person is least or “less important.”
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
will be the least important (NCV)
will be unimportant (GW)
God will consider him/that person to be the smallest/lowest person
the kingdom of heaven: This same phrase occurs in 5:3b. Translate it here as you did there.
but whoever practices and teaches them
But whoever obeys these commands and teaches others to obey them
But if you(sing) keep these laws and teach others to keep them as well,
but whoever practices: The Greek word that the BSB translates as practices means “obeys” in this context.
Here are some other ways to translate this word:
obeys (GNT)
keeps (NASB)
and teaches: In some languages, it may be natural to say who is taught. For example:
and teaches other people
and teaches other people to obey
them: The word them does not occur in the Greek. The BSB has supplied this word because it is implied from 5:19a. It refers to “these commands.”
Here are some other ways to make this information explicit:
these commands (NIV)
the Law (GNT)
God’s laws (NLT)
what the commands say (GW)
By practicing and teaching the least of those commands, it is implied that this person also practices and teaches all the other commands.
will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
will be considered by God as very important in the kingdom of the one who lives in heaven.
then you(sing) will be one of the biggest/highest of the people/citizens whom God rules.
will be called great: This expression means that this person will have a higher position of honor.
Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:
will have an important place (CEV)
will rank high (REB)
God will highly honor
God will consider that person to be one of the biggest/highest people
Note 1 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ὃς ἐὰν & λύσῃ μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων, καὶ διδάξῃ οὕτως τοὺς ἀνθρώπους, ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ Βασιλεία τῶν Οὐρανῶν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς ἐάν Οὖν λύσῃ μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων καί διδάξῃ οὕτως τούς ἀνθρώπους Ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ Βασιλείᾳ τῶν Οὐρανῶν ὅς δʼ ἄν ποιήσῃ καί διδάξῃ οὗτος Μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ Βασιλείᾳ τῶν Οὐρανῶν)
If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, it is clear from the context that it was God. You may also need to rearrange the elements in the sentence. Alternate translation: [God will call least in the kingdom of the heavens anyone who annuls one of the least of these commandments and teaches men to do so]
Note 2 topic: figures-of-speech / explicit
τῶν ἐλαχίστων & ἐλάχιστος
˱of˲_the the least & (Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς ἐάν Οὖν λύσῃ μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων καί διδάξῃ οὕτως τούς ἀνθρώπους Ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ Βασιλείᾳ τῶν Οὐρανῶν ὅς δʼ ἄν ποιήσῃ καί διδάξῃ οὗτος Μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ Βασιλείᾳ τῶν Οὐρανῶν)
Here, the word least identifies something that is not very important. You could include this information if that would be helpful to your readers. Alternate translation: [of the least important … least important]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / gendernotations
τοὺς ἀνθρώπους
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς ἐάν Οὖν λύσῃ μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων καί διδάξῃ οὕτως τούς ἀνθρώπους Ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ Βασιλείᾳ τῶν Οὐρανῶν ὅς δʼ ἄν ποιήσῃ καί διδάξῃ οὗτος Μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ Βασιλείᾳ τῶν Οὐρανῶν)
Although the term men is masculine, Jesus is using the word in a generic sense that includes both men and women. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use a phrase that makes this clear. Alternate translation: [men and women] or [others]
Note 4 topic: figures-of-speech / activepassive
ὃς δ’ ἂν ποιήσῃ καὶ διδάξῃ, οὗτος μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ Βασιλεία τῶν Οὐρανῶν
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: ὅς ἐάν Οὖν λύσῃ μίαν τῶν ἐντολῶν τούτων τῶν ἐλαχίστων καί διδάξῃ οὕτως τούς ἀνθρώπους Ἐλάχιστος κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ Βασιλείᾳ τῶν Οὐρανῶν ὅς δʼ ἄν ποιήσῃ καί διδάξῃ οὗτος Μέγας κληθήσεται ἐν τῇ Βασιλείᾳ τῶν Οὐρανῶν)
If your language does not use this passive form, you could express the idea in active form or in another way that is natural in your language. If you need to say who did the action, it is clear from the context that it was God. You may also need to rearrange the elements in the sentence. Alternate translation: [But God will call great in the kingdom of the heavens anyone who does and teaches them]
5:19 The realization of the law in Christ means that obedience to all of his commands (see 28:20) is the only acceptable response for his disciples.
• Commandment refers to the Old Testament commands (5:18) as now fulfilled in Christ’s teaching (see 5:21-48).
• the least in the Kingdom of Heaven: Jesus may mean that such an individual will enter the Kingdom, but only barely and with low status; alternatively, some Jewish evidence suggests that he is referring to damnation (cp. 8:12, where “those for whom the Kingdom was prepared” are eternally excluded).
OET (OET-LV) Therefore if whoever may_break the least one of_these of_the commands, and may_teach the people thus, will_be_being_called least in the kingdom of_the heavens, but whoever wishfully may_practice and may_teach, this one will_be_being_called great in the kingdom of_the heavens.
OET (OET-RV) Therefore anyone who breaks even a minor command, and teaches others to do the same, will be seen as one of the least in the heavenly kingdom, but anyone who practices and teaches those instructions will be considered outstanding in the kingdom.
Note: The OET-RV is still only a first draft, and so far only a few words have been (mostly automatically) matched to the Hebrew or Greek words that they’re translated from.
Acknowledgements: The SR Greek text, lemmas, morphology, and VLT gloss are all thanks to the CNTR.