Text: Matthew 5:19 – “Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
We are in a study about Jesus and His relationship to the Law.
Today, let us consider the Redeemed and the Law.
We saw yesterday that Jesus didn’t come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it. Jesus Himself states that He did not come to make the Law useless or to remove it – in other words – it is still in effect. He says He came to complete the Law, to carry it to completion. What is that completion? It is that the Judgment of God for sin was death (Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 6:23). So, the basis of the Gospel is that you and I are sinners who are destined for an eternal Hell separated from God.
But God (I love that phrase in the Bible), had a plan to purchase our Redemption – and that was the Death of Jesus on the Cross. He completed our sentence of death – that we might live.
Those who obey the message of the Law and teach them to others
will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Interesting to note that those who are liberal in their approach to
the Bible can be in the Kingdom. It is
just that they will be considered as the least – just getting in.
Those who teach the Bible as truth will be considered great (Greek word “megas”) in the Kingdom.
Every one of us needs to read our Bible. We need to study it. As I have heard it said – we need to read it, heed it, and repeat it to others.
It’s easy to say, I believe it from cover to cover, from Genesis to Concordance…and I even believe the maps! But it doesn’t matter that you believe it if you don’t read it!
Let me share a short story about a believer's son who was heading off to a liberal college
This father was afraid that his son’s faith would be shaken by the liberal professors. He said to his son, “They’re gonna question the Bible, and tell you it’s all fairy tales…don’t let ‘em take Jonah out of your Bible.” He figured they’d attack that account as so many do arguing about the Big Whale (but that’s a lesson for another time.)
The son was gone for 2 years and then he came back home. Dad questioned him, “They didn’t ruin you did they?” The son replied, “I hope not, dad.”
“They didn’t take Jonah out of the Bible did they?”
The son replied, “Aw, dad, Jonah’s not even in your Bible.”
The father looked to show him… but it wasn’t there.
The son had torn it out two years before and his dad had never even noticed. So, the son asked, “What’s the difference between a liberal professor denying it’s true and a Christian failing to read it?”
There are two things that you need to make a daily priority in your life – READ YOUR BIBLE, AND PRAY.
Tomorrow, let us conclude with a study on the Religious Leaders and
the Law.
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