| 4. Linguistic Exegesis The sentence begins with the generalizing relative hostis {ὅστις | hóstis} ‘whoever,’ introducing an open condition. The inferential conjunction oun {οὖν | oûn} ‘therefore’ links back to preceding teaching. The future verb tapeinosei {ταπεινώσει | tapeinṓsei} ‘will humble’ governs the reflexive heauton {ἑαυτὸν | heautón} ‘himself,’ emphasizing intentional self-humbling. The comparison particle hos {ὡς | hōs} ‘like’ introduces the example of to paidion touto {τὸ παιδῖον τοῦτο | tò paidíon toûto} ‘this child.’ The demonstrative houtos {οὗτος | hoûtos} ‘this one’ functions as subject of the copula estin {ἐστὶν | estín} ‘is,’ leading to the predicate nominative ho meizon {ὁ μείζων | ho meízōn} ‘the greatest,’ where meizon serves as superlative. The prepositional phrase en te basileia ton ouranon {ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τῶν οὐρανῶν | en tē̂ basileíā tō̂n ouranō̂n} ‘in the kingdom of the heavens’ specifies the divine sphere. The structure preserves the Greek relative and demonstrative emphasis while allowing smooth English flow. |