Relaxes (Good News Translation “disobeys”) literally means “to loose,” “set free,” “untie”; here it probably means “to set aside” (see New English Bible) or “to weaken the authority of” (Barclay). The concept would be related to the rabbinic idea of declaring a certain law no longer valid, and this in fact gives us a good pointer on how to translate. The translation can be “says is not valid” or “decides it does not need to be obeyed anymore.”

The least of these commandments may be a reference to the Law (verse 18) or to the teachings of Jesus which follow. The rendering of Good News Translation: (“the least important of the commandments”) sounds as if the Ten Commandments may be the point of reference, and New English Bible is explicit: “the least of the Law’s demands.” One scholar believes that the saying, as used by Matthew, “probably refers to the commandments taught by Jesus, which follow.”

From a purely grammatical point of view, neither interpretation is completely satisfactory. Some commentators note, for example, that the Greek participle then (Good News Translation “So then”) is normally used to draw an inference from what precedes, which makes it difficult to interpret the commandment of this verse as a reference to the teachings of Jesus that follow. On the other hand, if a reference were to the Law of verse 18, one would normally expect a singular pronoun (“its commands”) in place of the Greek plural pronoun (“these commands”). Although neither interpretation is absolutely satisfactory, it is proposed that one of the two choices mentioned be followed in translation, since both of them have the support of standard commentaries and translations. The other option may be given in a footnote.

Translations that follow the first interpretation will have “these laws God has given” or “these laws that you have had.”

Those translators who follow the second interpretation will have “these commandments I give you” or “these commandments I tell you now.”

Note that if the second interpretation is followed, then cannot really be translated, unless one says “Therefore” or “So I tell you now.”

The text specifies one of the least of these commandments, which is to say “even one of the small est…” or “even one of the most unimportant of the commandments.”

There is an intended contrast between relaxes … teaches and does … teaches. Matthew is not primarily concerned with traditional arguments regarding the importance or lack of importance of a particular command; he is concerned with the practical matter of obedience to the commands of God and the teaching that results from this obedience.

Teaches men so may be “teaches people that it is not valid,” “teaches people not to obey,” or “teaches people not to pay attention to them.”

Shall be called least is represented in Good News Translation by “will be least.” As in 5.9, shall be means “will be.” Both Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch and Bible en français courant have the same form as Good News Bible.

The adjectives least and “little” hold a significant place in Matthew’s Gospel. In 25.40, 45 “the least of these my brethren” is used as a reference to the disciples, while in 10.42; 18.6, 10, 14 “one of these little ones” is used with the same meaning. The contrast is between the world’s evaluation of Jesus’ followers and God’s evaluation of them. Since the temporal reference is the end of the world, Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch translates “in God’s new world,” and Malay common language version “when God establishes his rule.”

The phrase shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven is often difficult for translators. As we pointed out, shall be called least is sometimes translated “will be the least.” But other translations prefer to say “God will call (or, consider) him the least.” To say “least in importance (or, in the lowest position) in the kingdom of heaven (or, of God)” is a good solution for translators that use “kingdom.” For those that use “rule” or “reign,” however, the problem is more acute, since “least in God’s rule” does not make much sense. In these cases translators can say “least important of the people under God’s rule” or “least important of those who are a part of God’s reign.” A translation should not imply they are among those ruling, but rather are subjects ruled over by God.

The verse goes on to speak of the person who does them and teaches them, which is to say “who obeys the commandments and who also teaches people to obey them.” The text speaks of he who, that is, “whoever” or “any person who.” It does not refer only to males.

To be great here means “to be important” or “to have high status.” Shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven should be treated in the same way as shall be called least (but using “great” instead of “least,” of course).

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .