The Doorpost: Matthew 5:19
By Ray King · Jul 01, 2014
Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 5:19
Why did the children of Israel who God delivered from Egypt end up dying in the wilderness? What did they do that kept them from entering the Promised Land?
God gives forgiveness and eternal life to those who turn to Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. He also gives us Jesus’ righteousness. Our relationship with Him is not something we can earn by keeping His commandments.
However, being saved by grace through faith does not mean that we can ignore or dismiss His commandments. His standard of righteousness has not changed. He enables us to obey His commandments because of the power of the Holy Spirit living and working in us.
Those who love Jesus Christ keep His commandments (John 14:15). We do not set them aside because they are too hard or culturally unpopular. We will not relax even the least of them.