What does it mean to be least in the kingdom of heaven?

Response

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus emphasizes the significance and worth of the Law: “Truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished” «For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. », (Matthew 5:18). The fulfillment of the Law was achieved in Jesus Himself, who came to complete the Law (verse 17). In verse 19, Jesus states, “Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

In essence, the Law is flawless and sacred, and every command given by God holds equal importance. Jesus emphasized the significance of the commandments to the extent that disregarding even what may seem like “one of the least” would result in being labeled as “least in the kingdom of heaven.” Conversely, those who teach and adhere to the entire Law—will be recognized as “great” in the kingdom.

It is crucial to consider the audience of Jesus during the Sermon on the Mount, specifically the Jewish community in Israel who were still bound by the Law. During Jesus’ address to the crowds in Matthew 5, the Law was fully in force; the temple stood, sacrifices were offered, and the veil remained intact. When we apply Jesus’ teachings to the present-day church, we must differentiate between the moral laws from God and the ceremonial and civil laws. When Jesus declared, “It is finished!” on the cross, certain laws, such as those governing sacrifice and worship, were evidently fulfilled because CChrist Jesus was the ultimate and complete sacrifice. Other commands, like the prohibition against murder or lying, remain just as relevant now as always. To dispel any doubts, the moral laws are reiterated in the New Testament epistles, while the ceremonial laws (related to food, observance of days, etc.) are not restated for the church.

One day, Jesus will come back to the earth to establish His kingdom (Daniel 2:44;Revelation 11:15). Jesus’ mention of the “least in the kingdom of heaven” in Matthew 5:19 implies that there will be varying levels of honor in the kingdom. The criteria for bestowing honor appear to be linked to the handling of God’s Word. Those who accepted God’s Word and carried out their duties in God’s eyes will be deemed “great,” while those who disregarded parts of God’s Word and neglected their responsibilities will be called “least.” This aligns with believers facing the judgment seat of Christ one day, where we will be recompensed based on how faithfully we served Christ «For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. », (2 Corinthians 5:10). Some of us will “suffer loss” when our work “will be shown for what it is” and its quality does not pass the test (see 1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

Right after mentioning those who are least in the kingdom of heaven, the Lord Jesus indirectly criticizes the Pharisees and religious teachers for their misbehavior regarding the Law: “For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” «For I say unto you, That except your rightRighteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall by no means enter into the kingdom of heaven.” , (Matthew 5:20). The Pharisees, then, were examples of those who “set aside” some of the commandments, and they would suffer shame for it (see also Mark 7:1-13). Not only did their actions diminish some parts of the Law, but they had no true righteousness—because they rejected Christ.

In summary, Jesus taught that the Law is good (Matthew 5:18-19), and the righteousness of the Law is fulfilled in Himself (verse 17). His message was not contrary to the Law; rather, His words confirmed the Law and His works accomplished the Law. Those who lightly esteem God’s Word will themselves be lightly esteemed. Greatness in the kingdom of heaven will not be based on one’s gifts but upon how one handles the Word of God «Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. », (see 2 Timothy 2:15).