The Least and the Great
“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
According to Jesus, the way we treat God’s Word matters not just now, but forever. He tells us plainly that one day, God will evaluate our lives based on two things: how we obeyed His commands and how we influenced others to do the same. That’s the measuring stick. It won’t be about your social following, your charisma, or even your earthly accomplishments. It’ll be about your faithfulness to the truth.
Jesus isn’t talking about salvation in this moment. He’s talking about reward. He says there will be those in Heaven who are considered “great” and others who are considered “least.” The difference won’t be based on personality or position; it will come down to how seriously you took His Word. Did you believe it? Did you live by it? Did you share it? Or did you compromise it and teach others to do the same?
In a world that celebrates compromise and encourages people to rewrite truth to fit their lifestyle, this is a sharp warning. Too often, we downplay the importance of obedience, treating some of God’s commands like optional suggestions. But Jesus says even the least of the commands matters. Even the smallest step of disobedience can lead others astray, especially if we model that behavior.
No one gets it right all the time. But if your life is aimed toward honoring God’s Word, and if you're helping others do the same, that matters deeply to God. What you do with Scripture now will echo in eternity. So today, the challenge is simple: Live it. Teach it. Share it. Make it clear that His Word is your standard, not just your suggestion. That’s how you walk the path from the least to the great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
According to Jesus, the way we treat God’s Word matters not just now, but forever. He tells us plainly that one day, God will evaluate our lives based on two things: how we obeyed His commands and how we influenced others to do the same. That’s the measuring stick. It won’t be about your social following, your charisma, or even your earthly accomplishments. It’ll be about your faithfulness to the truth.
Jesus isn’t talking about salvation in this moment. He’s talking about reward. He says there will be those in Heaven who are considered “great” and others who are considered “least.” The difference won’t be based on personality or position; it will come down to how seriously you took His Word. Did you believe it? Did you live by it? Did you share it? Or did you compromise it and teach others to do the same?
In a world that celebrates compromise and encourages people to rewrite truth to fit their lifestyle, this is a sharp warning. Too often, we downplay the importance of obedience, treating some of God’s commands like optional suggestions. But Jesus says even the least of the commands matters. Even the smallest step of disobedience can lead others astray, especially if we model that behavior.
No one gets it right all the time. But if your life is aimed toward honoring God’s Word, and if you're helping others do the same, that matters deeply to God. What you do with Scripture now will echo in eternity. So today, the challenge is simple: Live it. Teach it. Share it. Make it clear that His Word is your standard, not just your suggestion. That’s how you walk the path from the least to the great in the Kingdom of Heaven.
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1 Comment
Thank you for honest solid biblical teaching Pastor.
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n I thank God for delivering me from dishonest rigid religion and a world of hurt and confusion there (and shame blame bully intimidation , esp for we long struggling in dysfunctional home situations- with a rebel parent & siblings too all at odds-we often hiding our troubles in a code of silence world & to avoid vocal shamers put downs & more shame pain - in fear of bullies - & ones from divorce homes had nowhere to hide troubles & to just pretend all was really ok in their family. They felt seen “ at
nbottom” & discouraged more & we cousins , protecting our own folks who were ,” don’t talk about our marriage problems”esp to relatives and friends - they were intimidated by us all too- we always pretending all was a ok with our families - pleasing parents & scared not to-we didn’t mean to hurt them ( cousins from PA we seldom saw, we from MA- they visited once a year with their dad/ beloved of his clan and family reunions were in MA— our folks all stayed together for life- was all our PA cousins knew- seemed family perfect on reunion days too they saw ( there was love and caring & long marriages too but our homes were hiders of dysfunction issues too- one parent bitter to religion but loved sweet pious Nana- in law matriarch & her sweet loyal daughters ( wives) our dads were the problems- conflicted sides & thorny bad tempers- & one home had a depressive mom & her son BJ too- she loved her pious mom & their tribe but not religion too or “ compromise” attitudes either- all proud - her son just withdrew from social life- felt mind & soul bullied at catholic school and in his city he tried public middle school & tall, heavy bookish kid & non violent attitude, he got bullies targeted and ganged up on by city street fighters -not fighting back he became a recluse at 13 in MA) His mom was depressive and disorganized and had low self worth issues and he became like that too and agoraphobic too. She & spouse both socialized outside their small closed home- he with his friends & she with her relatives in town or some friends. Occasionally socialized together - her spouse rarely came to her kin family big reunions - at wealthy in laws home in town & their 3 kids didn’t come or BJ came once as a boy and had no one his age to bond to- mostly older girl cousins in town and he intimidated by the “rich house” too ( pretty and suburban and large yard- he had a small home & tiny yard in the city - he was social awkward, shy & also scared of a couple of elders , with anger & bully difficult sides- males & one miserable sickly single female too with a cutting tongue side. Most weren’t mean were nice & kind people & caring but he never got to know that or them (full of fears and low self worth issues & “ no one needs me” self discouragement. Sadly his mom felt inferior to her social upscale siblings & cousins esp her social hostess sis V in town- reunion party central for the big family group.
nEv’s mom, 9 kids & sis V were super organized people & housekeepers too- V wed an MD and she was very social popular too & outgoing & in affluent area in town. Ev was always trying to win big money to get a pretty home , to hope to make she & son feel better & be able to host family, friends too ( be on top socially too, & not always feel at bottom or can’t measure up to the very social confident ones & social strong) —tv addicts too- scared of bad news in city & near Boston and intimidated by social media’s constant focus on social pride and on top celebrity too & on world fame & fortune too)
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n BJ’s folks are gone on now, his long wed sis Allison is inCO- he inMA & their brother Brian was murdered in VA- in the 90’s- left young son Sean - in his 30’s now I believe and his mom told Allison- aimless and struggles to find positive purpose & joy in life. BJ never met him and was long a recluse before his military brother was killed in a fight with an evil guy with a gun.
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n Please pray for them all. Thank you. We , most of us, didn’t really know Ev’s kids- my sis Janet was only one who got to talk to them a bit. We were then hiding our bully dad home issue & didn’t know what to say- pretending we were ok- all of us not knowing then our social rich cousins in town & mom, our aunt V were hiding a difficult authoritarian workaholic dad / spouse problem - behind a perfect social family front to us all & to all they knew too. . & Our parents were all hiding problems from each other & all their siblings & them also hiding fact from us kids & all else they knewNana & Papa’s marriage was long strained too- he was ulcer ridden & cynical side to religion & their ulcer ridden single daughter at home was mad at religion too but mad at him too (for upsetting her sweet loyal kind heart mom too- difficult sort) I found out near that aunt’s death that they all hid a lot too and pretended all was our family, & couple ideal too when it wasn’t at all- aunt V did that too, played in a perfect couple & I found out , later in life - when my sister was left by unfaithful spouse Tony after 20 years - our mom admitted then her sis V had had serious marriage issues & near divorce more than once.
n All thought they were “encouraging other people “ socially acting A ok us as couples & good family images ( do code of silence about troubles) be good social cheer to all & just show the
n Some People were social- emotional encouraged by illusions of ideal couples ( unless they found out it was 1/2 truths too or not all the story or so ideal at all- there was forgiveness too and also family masquerade walls up too or “be private”— avoid nasty gossips and family shamers too - don’t show others on outside real vulnerability- fear of people run too ( & of in house bullies too- don’t tell on me or I’ll boot you out- to wife & kids - emotional cruelty- we didn’t get physically hit & we were told only physical abuse & need was Real- ours was “ emotional” “”imagined “ hurt - not real ( ?) we were not physically abused and we were taken care of physically
n too & had clothes shelter, edu & medical care- got gifts & vacations -we had physical health—they just wouldn’t admit soul verbal mental abuse was evil& real & damaging- anti religion kind & religious kind too ( we got) Was like religion- clergy pretend they were perfect ones , as devout to religion clergy, esp the pope “unselfish” pious & we were commoners, sinners ( not clergy commit ones & not unselfish pious Madonnas- with lots of kids like Nana or mother Teresa like- “selfish” us we heard & we from dysfunction or broken homes ? go to the back of the bldg or know your place? at their feet ? esp if poor and got big troubles at home too. Are Not one of the best families or able to be most generous to them and “ no trouble” - all they liked & wanted- agreeable robots
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n Wouldn’t admit not true church- always insisted they were & always right & Never to be serious challenged❗️ - ( Silence protestors or go away- unwanted) Also we got guilt , don’t hurt your Madonna Nana ( she bullied by them since a kid & hiding fact she was a bullied wife too & ashamed to admit it - do cover up & forgive ( and to admit that she had had no catholic church wedding too- felt shame)
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nAnyway, we are just sorry young BJ felt alone in his pain and thought we were all alot stronger & happier homes & all happy closer than we all really were-
nat reunions- he saw one-it all seemed so big family close & perfect then- like a wedding can or summer bbq or family holiday celebration- all is social congenial & fun and serious differences & home dysfunction issues don’t seem to exist- ceasefire feel- party over walls went up again- nana’s kids loved each other but all weren’t in solid marriages too & some were upscale advantaged , socially & others weren’t- our uncles had left MA & only visited—we cousins were not close at all- PA ones were far away & we cousins in MA were rich & poor kids & our dads were not comfy with the big career in laws- who were in social elite clubs too & had such types of friends too-our PA cousins didn’t understand our difficult reality issues & us told - don’t upset your mom or anger your dad more❗️Keep quiet about ugly issues.
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n We didn’t know what to say to them, the reunions were to be group congenial too- we all didn’t know the why of the divorce too- daughter Jane was closest with her dad & her 2 brothers were very indulged by their Italian mom & hers in their home in PA. we heard. We kids in MA were led to believe they were affluent kids- had a pretty home with their mom and got big presents from both folks. We didn’t know their pain at thinking we all were just so happy close families in MA- they had no cousins in PA & felt sad- their dad ( our uncle) died young- in 50’s & they stopped visiting us. Her 2 brothers as teens had no male cousins in MA-- Jane felt bad, my sister was kind to her but one aunt fought with her dad ( as a brother) & just favored MA nieces too- Sis V her social fun outlet home in town- they 4 social popular nieces there, dating a lot- slender pretty girls , folks stayed together ( & all hid issues) so did aunt
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n Jane was petite & heavy - like Nana- but nana was matron wed & young Jane got fat mockery by guys or too fat for me- at dances. We young cousins were led to believe she was rich & dad spoiled ( by bitter aunt) & very indulged by him- & we all hid facts our dads were hard on us ( aunt too) or remote a lot( V’s kids & my siblings & me) - we didn’t see Jane’s life or pain, far away in PA too & she didn’t know ours- she knew our folks stayed together & we cousins were all slender in youth and got male attention ( we got broken hearts too & betrayed & got made sad by angry hurtful dads & I got assaulted by 2 teen males at 13) didn’t
ntell or talk about it- taught to not admit pain or vulnerability- felt bad enough my dad was unstable & we were pitied he was- I didn’t want to be openly more family defined by “pity her “ ( damaged goods at 13 and with a “ loser” gypsy like job to job dad too- how socially ground zero-
n Our lives were hard side too-aunt V was just good at social savvy & cheerleader skills and at pretending she lived in ideal couple wonderland -it wasn’t as perfect as it looked- socially. Just sorry PA cousins felt sad on the outside & thought we had it all- just illusions from seeing a big fun family reunion and thinking it was always like that - it was not, for us all- her dad was always well loved by his tribe in MA though one sister was also contentious to him - for a lifetime - most nieces didn’t know that - I was told when older but not why- she was a bully girl and he wouldn’t let her push him around as the others did-( like rigid nun) we nieces didn’t know why or see it or know what to say to Jane- our moms feared divorce and wouldn’t talk about their marriages or hard issues to kids or friends or openly- Jane couldn’t find empathy with us who wouldn’t admit how we home & sibling struggled too- we weren’t fat shamed kids but siblings & I felt dad shamed sad & stressed out too in youth & had skin issues- psoriasis- like dad- rich cousin Lee had eczema & got left by a guy she loved & by a first spouse too-their 2 kids too - blessed to have a good second marriage & he was good to her kids too- her sis Carol stayed wed but he was proud catholic sort - retired now, 4 wed kids- Hope happier - sis Patti is in 3rd marriage now in MD & sis Nancy is twice divorced in MA & recovered alcoholic. 2 children wed to Jewish people in MA. Life wasn’t easy for them, it just looked social family ideal from the outside, when young.
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n Jane reconnected to my wed sis Janet in MA after 40 plus years - by phone first & then visited - she got a boyfriend John online and he seems good to her Janet said. She & single bro Frank worked & lived at home for years caring for their recluse mother- facial cancer surgeries- daughter Jane gave up a high pay buyer career to move back to PA and took a teller job- Frank worked on taxes at home. Now he is a lonely one - no wife or kids or significant other. Please pray- thanks
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n Jane lost a lot of weight had heart valves replaced & got a boyfriend online-then got confidence to reconnect to long wed MA cousin Janet - she in a happy couple too . They all liked each other a lot- Jane has had health issues, emergency bleeding ulcers surgery, later emergency gallbladder surgery- she has re gained a lot of weight and is being treated for skin cancer issues now - on forehead & a spot was found on her cheek- & she most recently had knee replacement surgery too- is doing good now- may need other knee done . Her boyfriend has stood by her through it all and takes care of her at his home after surgeries, She doesn’t live near him & wants to stay near her MD near her apt.too- all I know is John is long divorced & no kids. & Janet says he is good to her. Please pray for them thanks.
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