God gives not one whit for ritual. Religions have their sacraments, with supposed effect regardless of the participants’ comprehension. Even God’s people sometimes view some commandments as rituals, be it baptism or Sunday morning attendance. There is no term more disgusting than “church-goers.” Some preachers harp more on being at meetings than any other commandment. The religion industry is strong among us.
God wants the whole person. The cross is daily. He wants, not one thing or another, but complete obedience. Do these, while not neglecting those.
Matthew 5.19 is not just directed at Jewish scribes, but at saints of every stripe. (Remember that the Sermon on the Mount reveals Kingdom-Now Life.) Forget “least” and “greatest”. Jesus uses rabbi talk. Least means zero chance if you leave anything off. As Mace translated it, such a practitioner and teacher “shall not have the least admittance into the kingdom of the Messias.” The Living Oracles reflects this rabbinic language well, saying that such a one “shall be in no esteem in the Reign of Heaven.”
God wants us to put it all together. In Scripture he has given multiple summaries and over-arching principles to help us fit the pieces where they belong. But all the pieces are necessary. The greatest commandments and the least. The inner person and the outer conduct. Holiness and mercy, truth and love.
God wants perfection. Not the sinlessness we think of by the word, but the maturity, fullness, and completeness in Christ that he offers from Day 1. Room for growth, yes. Process and progress, absolutely. But the sureness of forgiveness, the peace beyond all understanding, joy constant in suffering. Access to all spiritual blessings opens up a vast vista of opportunity and service, new possibilities of spiritual fruit and action, freedom from worldly habits and harm.
God wants our salvation and, amazingly, our friendship. Not by religion, but by redemption. Not by ritual, but by remission of sins through the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. God wants our best interest. He works continuously and tirelessly to bring us to himself.
What matters is not what man wants, but what God wants. When we concentrate on him and his desire, we’ll be much better off for it.
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