(NET) Matt 5:19 So anyone who breaks one of the least of these commands
and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of
heaven, but whoever obeys them and teaches others to do so will be
called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness goes beyond that of the experts in the law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
There are some commentators who says it signifies exclusion from the kingdom of heaven, ie. hell; whereas some argue that they remain in kingdom as least, meaning they remain saved in heaven. Which one is accurate? Is Christ giving a provision for small sins here or giving no provision at all?
For example, Daniel Whedon commentary:
Many of the best commentators understand this as signifying that he
shall be excluded. Yet such, surely, is not its exact meaning. Clearly
to be least IN the kingdom of heaven is far less than shall in no
case enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Heinrich Meyer’s Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament mentions:
He is not to be excluded (as Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Calovius,
Wolf, Bengel, and others have misinterpreted the meaning of ἐλάχ.
κληθ.), because his antinomianism is not a principle, not directed
against the law as such, but only against individual precepts of the
law, which in themselves are small, and whose importance as a whole he
does not recognise
Johann Albrecht Bengel’s Gnomon of the New Testament
Mat 5:19. Αύσῃ, shall break) The antithetical word to this is
ποιήσῃ, shall do, which occurs further on in this verse. The Scribes,
who thought themselves “great,” were in the habit of breaking them.
The same verb, λύω, occurs in Joh 7:23; Joh 10:35.—τούτων, of these)
those, namely, which follow in Mat 5:22; Mat 5:28, etc.—τῶν ἐλαχίστων,
of the least) These precepts, “Thou shalt not kill,” etc., are not
essentially the least, for in them the whole law is contained. But
they are so only inasmuch as, when rightly explained, they regulate
even the most subtile affections and emotions of the soul, and the
slightest movements of the tongue, and thus, when compared with other
precepts, appear to men to be the least.—ἐλάχιστος, least) Referring
to the preceding ἐλαχίστων. An instance of Ploce.[191] As we treat the
Word of God, so does God treat us; see Joh 17:6; Joh 17:11; Rev 3:10.
“A little” signifies “almost nothing,” whence “the least” comes to
mean “none at all” (for they considered anger, for instance, as of no
consequence whatever); cf. in Mat 5:20, “ye shall not enter.”
ἐλάχιστος; has a different force in this passage from that which ὁ
μικρότερος (the least) “in the kingdom of heaven” has in ch. Mat
11:11.—ἐν τῂ βασιλείᾳ τὼν οὐρανῶν, in the kingdom of heaven) which
cannot endure the presence of the unrighteous.—ποιήσῃ καὶ διδάξῃ,
shall do and teach) The same order of words occurs in Act 1:1.—ποιήσῃ,
shall do them, sc. all; for it is not lawful to break or neglect even
one of them.—οὗτος, this man, he) A pronoun used emphatically. Comp.
with this use of οὗτος, ch. Mat 7:21 (Latin Version[192]); Luk 9:24;
Joh 7:18.—μέγας, great) All the commandments are of great account to
him, especially in their full compass[193] (see Mat 5:18); therefore
he shall be called great.
Roger Griffith
Terry R Green, Is it any wonder that ministers are no longer trusted after the way men like Finis Dake and Jimmy Swaggart have acted?
Roger Griffith
Finis Dake (author of the Dake Study Bible) took a 16 year old girl from the youth group at the church he pastored and drove to three different motels on a trip across state lines. Dake referred to her as his “wife” at each motel they checked into. He was found guilty of violating the Mann Act, but Dake blamed his “error” on the devil and complained that the local authorities were against him. Indeed, the local authorities were very upset with him and adamantly against him when they discovered him using his position as a pastor and spiritual leader to take advantage of a member of his own church youth group.
Roger Griffith
The Mann Act is also known as the White Slave Traffic Act and Finis Dake went to Federal Prison for breaking it.
Roger Griffith
Dake was already in the ministry, had already written the OT notes for his study Bible, and was pastoring a church when he took off with that 16 year old girl from his church youth group pretending that she was his wife. He was booted from the A/G because of his crime. So, how is it that some in the A/G today treat Dake like a hero? He had his credentials taken from him by the A/G, yet some A/G ministers today still recommend him. They would be in trouble if they allowed a man with revoked credentials to speak in their churches, so why is it okay to recommend his Study Bible and his other books in their churches?
Roger Griffith
The same goes for Jimmy Swaggart. He has hurt our cause, but people keep letting him back in the door.
Ken Manley
Those ministers that have been caught in very public scandals (financial or sexual) and those televangelists that are all about money and popularity, living lavish lifestyles, are giving a bad name to the many preachers that live exemplary lives.
1.”BUT there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; BY REASON OF WHOM THE WAY OF TRUTH SHALL BE EVIL SPOKEN OF.
3 And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” (II Peter 2:1-3)
Roger Griffith
It is no wonder that ministers (especially Pentecostal ministers) are losing our credibility when we turn a blind eye to such things.
Varnel Watson
CLERGY only 58% honest – do what?
Daniel J Hesse
Concerned.
Varnel Watson
58% concerned?