Gut reaction to the difference between “one word” and “least”:
Yeshua sees “one word” as meaningful (i.e., the most insignificant person as a treasure, the widow’s mite as pivotal, small acts of obedience as evidence of trustworthiness…).
He takes time to note the *worth* of the smallest and least.

In this translation, religious leaders (even today’s) reveal that they see certain commands in Torah as “less important” or “least” in comparison to others they see as more worthy of attention.
They take time to downplay or overlook the value of the smallest or “least” by implying that such commands would otherwise be rightly ignored or dismissed.

This is a difference in how the “least” and smallest words, people, and acts of obedience are to be treated. The Hebrew text reveals YHVH’s perspective of value, while the mistranslation exposes religion’s natural dismissal of the small.

Good morning, Keith and fellow diggers.
For years now, I have been looking at/writing in my journal about the fact that Yeshua is not always the comforting lamb-stroker we’d always like Him to be.
YES, I can see why this one word halted you in your tracks!
You wrote that the consonants could mean “others” …but then “I teach others” doesn’t make any sense.
Is this the main reason “others” can’t be right? Or was there also some kind of Hebrew vowel/ grammar conflict with the word “others”?
(Just digging in over here….)