This morning we will focus attention on Matthew 5.19, which is an interesting passage in the Bible because it does not deal with humility or meekness. Rather surprisingly, it deals with greatness. We need therefore to see this verse in its context before we take it up in its own right.

We can orient to the context in three steps. First, the Beatitudes (Mat. 5.1-12) describe a Christian as he is within himself and in relation to the non-Christian world. What we have called the righteousness spiral is part of the background here. Second, Matthew 5.13-16 teaches us that good works radiate from the Christian’s life like light and they spread a seasoning that makes life tasty, spicy, and enjoyable for others. Third, verses 17-18 show us that the Law defines good works as a continuing standard of right and wrong. Jesus informs us that the Law in its entirety has an abiding validity in its fulfillment form. For example, the Passover continues in communion; we now have the Christian Passover feast at the Lord’s Table. Likewise, the Sabbath continues in Sunday worship. We now have the Christian Sabbath in the Lord’s Day Sunday. These examples follow in train with thinking continuation rather than abrogation regarding Jesus’ relation to the Law. Consequently, the Christian is to look to God’s Law for guidance on how to live even with all the changes brought by fulfillment.

Now we can summarize the context of verse 19: the Beatitudes describe a Christian inside and out, his life radiates good works, and the Law of God that outlasts the physical universe defines these works. In this context, Jesus directs us to the vital connection that exists between the Law and the kingdom. In a word, Jesus says that greatness in the kingdom of heaven derives from the Christian’s use of the Law. Our theme therefore is "Greatness in the Kingdom." Simply put, one’s practice and one’s doctrine determine his greatness in the kingdom (hence the outline: practice determines greatness and doctrine determines greatness).

1A. A Christian’s Practice Determines His Greatness

This comes out in the contrast between annuls and keeps (relaxes and does, ESV) in relation to "these commandments" (v. 19). We need to define "these commandments" and then we can work on the contrast.

1B. The meaning of "commandments"

The meaning of "commandments" is where we begin to clarify the dimensions of Christian conduct and practice. The commandments in view must refer to the entire OT (v. 17, Law and Prophets; v. 18, smallest details of jot and tittle). They must relate to the OT in its fulfillment form (17b). Therefore, they must include the Ten Commandments because Jesus expounds on some of them later in the Sermon on the Mount (5.21, 6^th; 5.27, 7^th; 5.32, 9^th). Furthermore, all the OT laws were moral laws in that they all bound man to moral obligations before God, but surely it is easy to see that the Ten Commandments stood out as a distinct summary of man’s duty of love to God and his neighbor. Thus, when we think continuation, continuity, and fulfillment regarding the OT, we look for the relevance of the Law in all its parts down to the smallest detail, without losing sight of its major details such as the Ten Words.

2B. The contrast of "annuls" (relaxes, ESV) with "keeps" (does, ESV)

1C. Annuls (relaxes)

Annul is a different word than abolish in verse 17. It literally means "to undo" or "to break." Regarding those who break the NT fulfillment forms of these commands, the Lord places them in the category of "least in the kingdom of heaven. All the Law and Prophets are relevant to Christian conduct to the end of the age. In other words, Christian practice is specifically obedience or disobedience to God’s commandments. Those who disobey the least of the commandments are least in the kingdom of heaven. They will be called least; that will be their title; that is the category to which they belong.

This is even more interesting when we remember that Jesus said this in the context of the great fulfillment of the OT and in light of all the changes that fulfillment brings. The changes that are evident in the various new wineskins of the new covenant must all be viewed from a perspective of continuity between OT and NT and thus from the perspective of the affirmed and emphasized relevance of the Law given in verse 18. Furthermore, Jesus focuses on the apparently insignificant laws. Christians who break the least important laws will find themselves least in the kingdom.

2C. Keeps

The contrary of "annuls" in this passage is "keeps." Keeping simply means obeying or doing. Keeping even God’s most insignificant laws (looking to them all for guidance), keeping the laws that are least in relative importance will issue in true and ultimate greatness, which is greatness in the kingdom of God. You will be called great, have the title of greatness, and find yourself within the category of those who are great among the saints (surely both now and in glory).

The contrast of Matthew 5.19 therefore focuses particularly on the details of the Law. It focuses on small points, and minor aspects, lesser laws versus the weightier matters of the Law. Jesus spoke of the Pharisees as people who neglected the weightier matters but who should not have neglected either the lesser or the weightier ("Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others, Mat. 23.23). In this context in Matthew 5, law breaking is not a blatant practice of obvious and overt breeches of the Law of God in its central concerns (i.e., idolatry, murder, theft). Law breaking refers to the violation of the small points of the Law. In these words, Jesus calls us to attention regarding minor details, to the small stuff of life, and in that way to Christian conduct in a comprehensive sense. The small stuff determines greatness in the kingdom.

2A. A Christian’s doctrine determines his greatness

The second major thought this morning centers on Christian doctrine and the bearing it has on greatness in the kingdom. The doctrine or teaching that is in view relates specifically to the Law. It relates to the Law within the movement from OT promise to NT fulfillment. Teaching that under pins practice is on the table of discussion here. This direction of thought focuses on the foundation of the building of Christian conduct in the coming of the kingdom. Again, the least of the commandments are in view ("teaches others to do the same" and "teaches them," v. 19). He is speaking of doing because of teaching. Moreover, we have the contrast between inculcating disobedience on one hand and encouraging obedience on the other:

Breaking and so teaching others vs. Keeping and so teaching others

Doctrine lies behind all practice. Every practice traces back to belief. Every belief surfaces in a particular practice. Together, beliefs give shape to one’s life. We may not be able to figure out the exact bearing of every belief on practice but we can be sure that it is vitally important to aim high in Christian understanding (or aim deep to get the best kind of foundation for life).

We are back to the importance of how our minds are set, to the matter of mindset (cf. v. 17, do not think that way…but think this way…). How we think, believe, and therefore teach others about the commandments of God determines whether we have greatness in God’s kingdom. To unpack this a little, we have two contrary things: teaching disobedience versus teaching obedience.

1B. Teaching Disobedience

The idea is that the one who has such a view of even one small command as to break it himself and to suggest to others that it may or should be broken will be called least in the kingdom. More than breaking is involved. There is settled belief that it may be broken or that it should be broken. We have a progression in thought from belief to practice to instruction. What we believe, do, and instruct others to believe and do determines the grade that goes on our report card in heaven. If we view His commandments as not binding, even the lesser dimensions of obligation, conduct ourselves accordingly, and if we teach others to do the same, we will be considered least in the kingdom of heaven. Greatness will thereby elude us.

2B. Teaching obedience

In strong contrast, however, the one who has such a view of the commandments down to the smallest details, who obeys them in the righteousness spiral, and who encourages others likewise to obey them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. More than obeying is involved regarding specific commandments. There is settled belief that we ought to obey these commandments. Again, there is belief, practice, and doctrine that define the grade Christians receive both now and in the consummation of the kingdom.

If we view even the least of God’s commandments, down to the details, as binding and so conduct ourselves, and so teach others, then we have a greatness that is true and abiding in contrast to notoriety and fame on the world scene. It is important to note that greatness does not equate with famous ("famous-ness" does not equal greatness). Having many people know who you are leads to the designation of famous (hopefully so, rather than the designation of infamous, fame usually comes to only a few of God’s people in history: not many noble, not many rich, not many famous are called, cf. 1 Cor. 1.26-27). However, to be great in the sight of God is profoundly more important than whatever may occur for us on the world scene.

Concluding Observations

1) In these words, Jesus calls us to attention to the small stuff of life.

The small stuff determines greatness in the kingdom. Consider how insignificant we might view matters of rudeness versus respect and how important it is that children learn how to honor father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, teacher, police officer, and all in authority. It is extremely important that we learn about obedience in details from our parents for life lessons in obedience to governors, employers, teachers, and ultimately to the Lord. Not being rude is central in Christian love (1 Cor. 13). The least of the commandments in reality have an importance all their own. We must recognize that the little things, and the small stuff, carry greatness hidden in their wings.

This should strike us with a particular challenge, which is to attend to the details of godliness and holiness. Little things do mean a lot. Our quest for righteousness with hunger and thirst extends to the vegetables as well as the main dish. We drink of the Law to the last drop. We do not simply sip the rare wine; its not rare wine that we are talking about in this illustration. Righteousness is everyday stuff! In the details of his life, the Christian finds true greatness by applying the details of the Law to the details his life. Our actions in little things are open in the full light of day to the One with whom we have to do. We live out the minutes of history within the vastness of the universe and its innumerable events. Our feet touch small and specific spaces of the earth but we take each little step in front of God, the Almighty, in all His transcendent glory and majestic holiness. In righteous deeds, good works that touch down concretely in every day details of life, we have the determining factors of a greater reward (both now and not yet). Greatness in the kingdom comes by obedience in the little things as well as the big things. Greatness results from a practice that reaches to the small or least things.

2) Thus, there is a serious and sobering warning here for us all

We are and continue to be sinners as we take each step of our travels on this earth. This is a fact. Christians may not only disobey God’s laws in various ways and details, they may have settled beliefs that ground their actions. They think they are correct and they teach these beliefs to others. Therefore, in view here is not simply overt and obvious unbelief and sin but subtle thinking and rationalization with all sincerity. However, sincerity is no excuse. It is good that we "prayed about it" and that we assert to others that our goal is to follow God and not man, but being earnest and telling others that we are earnest does not change the facts whatever they may be.

Especially important in this context is the teaching of the Lord Jesus that we think rightly about the Law in its entirety, that we not think about it in terms of abrogation, and that we not neglect its details as long as history unfolds and the world lasts. The Lord tells us that we should study the shift from the OT to the NT with special care and diligence. How we approach the old and new covenants is critical. This point should not elude us; we must not rationalize here but willingly submit our thoughts to God’s thoughts.

Here is an important implication. Whenever we think that something in Scripture is inapplicable, we should be ready to raise a red flag, stop, look, and ponder our steps very carefully. Be careful when you hear yourself say, "that does not apply today," "that does not apply to me," "that does not…because of this," and "it does not apply today to me… because…" Granted, we need caution on the side of things we think ought to be the case; we are people of extremes. However, the direction of this warning from the Lord Jesus points to the Law and to claims that it is abrogated, inapplicable, or irrelevant.

This warning is important to heed because the mindset we have about the Law and the way we approach it is like the direction of a cut on tree. In the end, the Law may crush us like a tree that falls on the house rather than away from it, because of the angle of the cut. (I am glad that Dave and Dan knew how to cut the tree in front of my house so that it fell into the street. I can well imagine the damage that would have occurred if it had fallen the other way!).

3) Christian liberty comes from the details of the Law

Attendance to particulars of the Law and the application of these particulars to details of our lives is not legalistic. Instead, it is liberating because it frees us from the commandments of men, which is one form of legalism. In addition, in terms of the righteousness spiral with repentance and faith in the risen Lord Jesus, attendance to the Law is not legalism in the sense of earning our salvation. This is liberty in the Law for people who are free already; we do not earn freedom by keeping the Law. Indeed, we keep the Law because we have been set free from the bondage of sin and death.

Conscientious regard for the minutiae of God’s commandments is not constricting and suppressing. Rather, it is liberating and uplifting. Such conscientious regard for detail grounds Christian greatness and therefore human dignity in the highest sense.

4) Finally, Christians are not islands unto themselves

How we view God’s word and what we do with it is not our own private concern (Murray, Principles of Conduct, 154). The least of the commandments bind us and if they bind us, they bind others. Therefore, we must not callously wink at the disobedience we see in others that we oppose in ourselves. Furthermore, we must not wink at disobedience in ourselves that we condemn in others (Murray, Ibid). For this we need much wisdom and true submission to Christ.