Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven; but whoever shall do and teach them shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 19. He shall be called; that is (by a frequent Hebrew idiom) he shall be the least in the kingdom of heaven; that is, according to Saint Augustine he shall not be there at all; for none but the great in sanctity and virtue shall find admittance into heaven. Witham.—Do not then imitate the Scribes and Pharisees, who content themselves with instructing other in the precepts of the law, without practising them themselves, or if they observe the letter, neglect the spirit of the law, performing what it ordains, not to please God, but to satisfy their vanity. Calmet.