A Call to Greatness
“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. 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. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:18-20)
The Law is often divided into Civil, Ceremonial, and Moral. Jesus fulfilled the first two, but the final (known as the Ten Commandments) is a representation of God’s character, of the image to which we were originally created. As John Duncan says, “God may multiply pardon, but God will not modify His Law!” For Jesus, the call to greatness is a call to law-keeping. Everyone who reads that sentence will feel enticed to turn to Mary Kuhn’s delightful section out of anger or despair, but wait! Let’s pause and see how God lays down the Law.
The Law first serves to remind us of everything we should be, of everything we are not. I do not need to watch 24/7 news coverage of Ukraine to see how far mankind has fallen; I can stare into the mirror of the law. Like a child with muddy feet on white carpet, our sin has tainted everything we touch. But the Law shows us something else – a Savior. The Law shows me what Jesus Christ looks like, and isn’t He beautiful? Jesus was “born under the Law, to redeem those under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons.” (Gal. 4:4-5). He loved us and gave himself for us. This is what we call grace. And grace makes obedience possible. Therefore, the Law serves a third function - a guide for Christian living, the household rules for sons. What does it look like to be a “son”? It looks like faith in Christ and love of His Law. This is “the righteousness that exceeds the Pharisees.” This is greatness.
Do you want to be great in the kingdom of heaven? Do you want to do great things for God on earth? Greatness is a call to law-keeping. First, let the Law show you your weakness. Second, let the Law show you Christ’s greatness. Finally, let the Law guide you in following after Christ’s greatness.
