• Matthew 5:19 “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
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The title for this article is a quote often used throughout Christianity, but is it a Bible verse? No. However it is very popular since it allows for so much. It allows for each individual to do that which is right in their own eyes (Deut. 12:8, Judges 17:6, 21:25); to define what is “essential” and what is “non-essential”. It is a very tempting idea that carnal man quickly latches onto as was seen in 2020’s “plandemic” when the governments of the world incorrectly defined everything as either “essential” and “non-essential”. Since what is “essential” and “non-essential” differs from individual to individual and since such terms give mankind a “god-like” complex (Gen. 3:5), the governments of the world decided certain items, places, and people were important and others were not important. Physical church attendance and even hymn singing was deemed not important by many saved and lost alike. Certain medicines, necessities, etc… that were important for some were deemed not important by others. The “plandemic” was a mess of confusion, greed, and death…, but also an example of why the above quote does not work.

The modern backslidden believer so desperately wants to follow the world and wallow in their sin. In order to accomplish this, exceptions and excuses must be made. (See previous “Myth #1 ‘Where God’s Word Is Silent’” and “Myth 2 ‘There are ‘gray areas’.’”) The Bible must be wrested from its true interpretation and mooring (II Pt. 3:16) in order for the corruption to be falsely ordained and accepted. And yet, Jesus promises in our text, Mt. 5:19, that “ Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.” I have dealt repeatedly with this oft skipped over passage in “Least Commandments” and “Is It Semantics?”, and there really isn’t much that I can add here other than to repeat the simple truth (II Pt. 1:12-15): God’s “least commandments” are just as important to God (and therefore, to His people) as His “greatest commandments”. As a matter of fact, the greatest commandments that “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” and “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” cannot be divorced from all the other commandments, even the “least commandments,” since “on these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Mt. 22:36-40)

Dear reader, “unity” and “liberty” are not accomplished by everyone doing that which is right in his own eyes. No, the end of that path is always death (Pro. 14:12, 16:25) which is why the average modern church and average modern believer is dead. “Non-essentials” is code for corruption which brings bondage not liberty (II Pt. 2:19) and strife not unity (Gal. 5:19-21). The “unity of the Spirit” (Eph. 4:3) which brings “liberty” (II Cor. 3:17) will only come when “we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13). “Unity” and “liberty” does not come from “you do your thing and I’ll do my thing,” but rather, when we all are united in true faith which always comes from specific passages of God’s Word (Rom. 10:17), and when our “measure” or principle is not “he said, she said,” but rather, “the stature of the fulness of Christ.”

It has been a long time, but Christ’s church has experienced glorious revivals in the past where even various denominations joined together. But those true revivals always pursued true holiness, separation from the world and its practices, and unadulterated doctrine. In those revivals, even “the least commandments” were important. It is time we get back to that. Unless you are a corrupt government or wicked believer, there are no “non-essentials”. Every commandment is essential (Deut. 5:29). Every word, thought, action, etc… is indeed judged at the end of time (Ecc. 12:14, Mt. 12:36, Rom. 2:16, 14:10, 12; I Cor. 4:5; II Cor. 5:10). Everything is important (Pro. 14:23, S. of S. 2:15, Zech. 4:10, I Cor. 5:6, Gal. 5:9).

(This article is from the “Are You ‘More Noble’?” series.)