But Whoever Does and Teaches This One Shall Be Called Great in the Kingdom of Heaven
But Whoever Does and Teaches—
This One Shall Be Called Great in the Kingdom of Heaven
“But whoever does and teaches, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:19).
Whoever does:
The Sermon on the Mount—from beginning to end—is a discourse about deeds.
At its beginning the Lord says: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16).
And at its end He says: “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt 7:21).
He also says: “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt 7:24).
And again: “By their fruits you will know them” (Matt 7:20). The word fruits undoubtedly means deeds. And in order to act, one must first know the commandment in order to practice it.
Thus, the spiritual life is connected with three things: to learn, to do, and to teach.
To learn—that is, to read the Scripture and know God’s commandments in their spirit; then to do—to test these commandments practically in one’s life: how to implement them, what obstacles are encountered, and how to overcome them; and after that, to teach—from experience and by example.
The Lord Jesus Christ Himself also did and taught.
He fulfilled every commandment “to fulfill all righteousness” (Matt 3:15), and thus was able to challenge His generation, saying: “Which of you convicts Me of sin?” (John 8:46). It was also said of Him that He is “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens” (Heb 7:26).
By doing and teaching, He left us an example, so that “as He walked, so we also should walk” (John 13:15; 1 John 2:6).
The fault of the scribes and Pharisees was that they taught but did not do.
Thus the Lord said about them: “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat. Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do” (Matt 23:2–3). Because they had not experienced the spiritual life practically, they became blind guides, binding heavy burdens and laying them on people’s shoulders, while they themselves were unwilling to move them with one of their fingers (Matt 23:4, 16). They were the most exacting and restrictive of people.
Our mother Eve—may God have mercy on her—knew but did not do.
When the serpent said to her, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” she answered with great precision: “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die’” (Gen 3:1–3). Despite the precision—even adding “nor shall you touch it”—she took, ate, and gave to Adam.
Whoever teaches:
True knowledge is not merely theoretical, but experiential.
The true teacher is one who walks the spiritual path before teaching it to others. Mere knowledge of the commandment is not enough; even this knowledge must be deep—knowledge of the spirit, not the letter, “for the letter kills” (2 Cor 3:6)—and knowledge through experience.
How many speak about meekness and its importance in the spiritual life without knowing what meekness is or how it is practiced! How many speak about ideals without practicing any of them, and may even judge others by those ideals while being enemies of what they do not understand.
Therefore, not everyone is fit to be a spiritual guide for others. Only the one who has first practiced, and has known the reality of the spiritual path—its struggles, its wars, and the enemy’s schemes and deceit. As Saint Paul the Apostle said: “For we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor 2:11).
The one who teaches and is called great in the kingdom of heaven must be compassionate, long-suffering, and knowledgeable of the human soul.
Thus God the Teacher, when we fell, had compassion on us and taught us the ways of salvation. Of the compassion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Good Teacher, it was said: “When He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matt 9:36).
Saint Paul spoke of such compassion, saying: “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Gal 6:1). And also: “Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also” (Heb 13:3).
Among the reasons for compassion are knowing the strength of the enemy and the weakness of human nature.
In this regard Saint Peter the Apostle said: “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith” (1 Pet 5:8–9). And it is said of sin in Proverbs: “She has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men” (Prov 7:26).
Therefore, the compassionate teacher encourages in order to raise up the fallen and grant them strength to rise again, keeping before him the words: “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; when I fall, I will arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me” (Micah 7:8), and also: “For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again” (Prov 24:16).
The true teacher presents teaching gradually, according to what people can bear.
As Saint Paul said to the Corinthians: “I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it” (1 Cor 3:2). Thus Christ rebuked the scribes and Pharisees for laying heavy burdens on people’s shoulders (Matt 23:4), whereas He, on the contrary, said: “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt 11:28).
It is also required of the teacher to present sound doctrine.
As Saint Paul said to Titus, bishop of Crete: “Speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine” (Titus 2:1). He required that a bishop be “able to teach” (1 Tim 3:2), “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict” (Titus 1:9). And to Timothy he said: “The things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2).
It is good for a person to do and teach—provided that he teaches soundly—otherwise he falls under judgment if he errs in teaching.
Concerning this, Saint James said: “Let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment” (James 3:1–2). And Saint John said: “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him” (2 John 10–11). Therefore he also said: “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God” (1 John 4:1).
Thus, despite the greatness of teaching, not everyone has authority to teach.
As the Apostle said: “How shall they preach unless they are sent?” (Rom 10:15).
The Lord of glory sent His disciples to make disciples of all nations and teach them (Matt 28:19–20). “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers” (Eph 4:11). And concerning the gifts of the Holy Spirit: “To one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge” (1 Cor 12:8), and he asked in wonder: “Are all teachers?” (1 Cor 12:29).
The Church has entrusted the authority of teaching to faithful and capable people (2 Tim 2:2), especially the purity of teaching—handing down the teaching of the Church to her children, not personal opinions. Those who deviated and presented false teaching, the Church took a stand against them—such as the heretics—and prevented them from teaching. Faithful teachers were granted ecclesiastical ranks permitting them to teach, distinguishing them from those who appoint themselves teachers without authorization from the Church and thus may go astray and lead others astray.
The Lord pronounced blessedness upon whoever does and teaches. Yet doing the commandment is for all, while teaching is not for everyone.
Thus Saint Paul said: “Necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!” (1 Cor 9:16). And when asked about this necessity, he answers: “A stewardship has been entrusted to me” (1 Cor 9:17).
And he says to Bishop Timothy: “Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Tim 4:16). Explaining “continue in them,” he commands him in his second epistle: “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching” (2 Tim 4:2).
Parents also, with regard to their children, have been entrusted with a stewardship to teach them the way of the Lord, as commanded from ancient times (Deut 6:7):
“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house.”
