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. The greatness-ranking in the kingdom is determined by one's relationship to the commandments: relaxing and teaching relaxation leads to the least designation; doing and teaching leads to greatness. The least in the kingdom is still in the kingdom — the verse is not about exclusion but about the quality of one's kingdom participation. The doing and teaching together communicate that the kingdom requires an integrated life where practice and instruction correspond: the teacher who teaches what they do not do, and the doer who does what they do not teach, are both incomplete.

COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS

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