Do you attend a church that follows the “law of leasts?” In other words, answering the question:
What is the least I must do to be saved?
We live in a rushed frenzied world of bottom lines. We often hear, “so let’s cut to the chase” or “at the end of the day.” We tend to want minimal, need to know information because we are busy and often distracted by so many things competing for our time and attention. The world at large has become a force of its own.
But here is something we should not multi-task, nor can we delegate to another. We need to understand Yeshua’s words here very clearly.
We enter the teaching discourse of Yeshua often called the “Sermon on the Mount.” Here, Yeshua is not speaking in parables, but straight and direct to His listeners-
Matthew 5 (ESV) 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
Very clearly, Yeshua draws a distinction between “abolish” and “fulfill.”
For a word study on the Greek word translated as “fulfill,” lets look at the word, “ple-roo” and all its variations not just the simple single word rendering in your Bible. Here, Yeshua makes a clear distinction between the idea of “abolish” and “fulfill” so that we don’t mistake one for the other. Here is a screenshot from blueletterbible.org.
Then, Yeshua’s clarification continues-
19 “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.”
This is where the teaching of Yeshua would confront the “law of leasts.” We can directly interpret this to say, if you want to be least in the kingdom of heaven, just do the bare minimum requirements to be saved. This entry level requirement is here:
Romans 10 (ESV) 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Hallelujah! Confess with your mouth, “Yeshua is Lord” and believe in your heart that He was raised from the dead, you will be saved! This is a simple, bottom line, bare minimum truth. You cannot earn salvation, but it requires a confession from your mouth.
So then, moving on, from the above context in Matthew 5 to the next question that naturally surfaces- “What commandments are Yeshua referring to?” Is He referring to the Beatitudes that He just preached? There are no commands in the Beatitudes. It is a series of blessings for the poor in spirit, those who mourn; the meek, the lovers of righteousness; the merciful; the pure in heart; the peacemakers and the persecuted. Indirectly, Yeshua is telling us to align ourselves with these principles and we will be blessed.
Now let’s examine another passage in Matthew near the end of Yeshua’s ministry. It is a completely different context relating to the Law. It is clear that Yeshua means we should obey all of the commandments, not just the least of them. Yes, this means all of the Old Testament commandments. An expert in Mosaic Law asks Him a question-
Matthew 22 (ESV) 34 But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. 35 And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Can we, from this discussion, make the interpretation that the entire Law of Moses has been suddenly reduced to two laws? I suppose you might be tempted to do so if you are following the “law of leasts.”
It makes me wonder if one who follows the law of leasts is really saved at all.
Closing thoughts-
-Why nullify the Sabbath Day and select another day of our own choosing to call it the Sabbath, and now in our day ignoring the Sabbath altogether?
-Why nullify and ignore biblically prescribed festival seasons that point to our REDEMPTION in Yeshua?
-Why nullify laws that point us to PURITY and holiness?
-Why nullify laws that teach us how to live in HARMONY with fellow man?
-Why nullify laws that point us to the NEED of Yeshua?
-Why nullify laws that activate our need for confession and REPENTANCE?
-Why nullify laws that the Bible says are GOOD?
-Why nullify laws that IDENTIFY us as the people of YAH in a fallen world?
Blessings!
