¹¹ “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist, yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

²⁸ “I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater than John, yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

⁸ Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ^(A)

¹⁵ (John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’ ”)

¹⁹ Therefore, whoever breaks^[a] 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.^(A)

¹¹ “I baptize you with^[a] water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with^[b] the Holy Spirit and fire.^(A)

⁴⁸ and said to them, “Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for the least among all of you is the greatest.”^(A)

¹⁰ Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace intended for you made careful search and inquiry,^(A)

⁴⁰ since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect.^(A)

⁹ For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.^(A)