King James Bible
"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."
Jesus warns against dismissing even seemingly minor commands from God's law and leading others to do likewise. The "therefore" connects to his previous statement about not abolishing the law, emphasizing that all commandments matter regardless of perceived importance. Those who minimize God's commands won't be excluded from the kingdom but will hold the lowest status within it. This suggests a hierarchy of honor based on one's attitude toward and practice of God's full counsel. The contrast highlights the dual responsibility of both personal obedience and faithful instruction of others. Integrity requires alignment between one's practice and teaching, demonstrating the commandments' value through lived example. Greatness in God's kingdom is measured by comprehensive faithfulness to all of God's commands, not selective obedience. This reverses worldly values where greatness often comes from breaking rules, instead honoring those who preserve and transmit God's complete will.