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.

Matthew 5:19

When memorizing this verse, we are moving away from the blessed, and now focusing on the negative or bad first and then the positive second. “Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments” which means all of us, and if we are honest with ourselves, we have to realize we have all broken God’s law, even the “least commandments”. What are the least commandments? The answer is: they are all important. But Jesus continues…

“and shall teach men so,” This means not only are you breaking God’s commandments, but you are instructing your fellow man how to do this also. So this is the first teacher, the one who teaches people how to “See the gray” in the law, rather than seeing the law is black and white. The antinomian, who says “God’s Law doesn’t apply to us today because we live in God’s Grace”. That is partially true, except in the last two verses Jesus has said he has come to fulfill the law, and the law would never be destroyed

The law is essential to sanctification, as we grow with God, but it’s the law that helps us to know God. If we were to say, we would like to become a great athlete like Tiger Woods, but refuse to play golf, we are not conforming to Tiger. The problem is, Tiger is all golf. The game of Golf has defined who Tiger Woods is, and there are not many players who have played the game like Tiger. Tiger has been playing golf since he was a very young child, and Tiger has grown up, blead, sweated, and bleeds golf. To want to be like Tiger, but not play golf is ridiculous, you have no desire to be like Tiger, you have no desire to know Tiger.

When God gave Moses the law, he was expressing an intimate act of showing Moses who He is. Just like when God passed by Moses, the Law is a perfect reflection of God’s Justice, Righteousness, holiness, and perfect morality. When we read the ten commandments, we learn there are 10 things God hates. So when we teach men, how to break God’s law, rather than keep God’s law, we don’t love God, and we don’t Love his Law. “he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven”.

Jesus also gives us another teacher, the “shall do and teach them” teacher, the one who is constantly looking at his or her life and testing it to the law, and also teaching others to do the same. This is the teacher who is blessed, and they shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Honestly, this is the teacher I want to be. I want to influence men to live for Christ, and to love God, and keep His perfect law. We can’t get discouraged, though sometimes we fall down and sin. By keeping the law on our heart, we are finding the true intent of the law, not trying to find loopholes to break the law.

Memorizing Matthew five over the past week, has been an honor, I am constantly reminding myself to test my knowledge of scripture, but it’s really becoming part of who I am. As I conduct my “M&M” each morning (Memorizing and Meditation of scripture), I’m starting to build a pattern of truth and a desire to follow Gods righteous path, rather than my “self righteous” path that leads to destruction.

I know now a lot of things that have happened in my life are because I’ve neglected to put God first in my life. I had other things that were propped up taking His place, and he wasn’t first, or second, or even third. I’ve broken this first commandment. Now I can say without much hesitation, a devotion of time each and every morning, of no less than one hour, is what I need to focus on the things God wants to do in my life. Each day God is pointing out sins I’ve overlooked, and each day I confess those to Him.

Lord, you know my heart and you’ve lead me to follow you and your ways. Your law should be precious, as I look into it, I should see my flaws that I might be forgiven, but that I might live for you. Conform me into the person you want me to be. I know that all things works together for your perfect plans.

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