Not Only Do, But Teach

The Bible strongly states we should not be concerned about what others think or what we think is right or wrong. What matters is what God says in His Word, and we are called by God to not only live out His commands, but teach them as well.

"Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.

I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

For assuredly, I say to you,

til heaven and earth pass away,

one jot or one title will by no means pass from the law

til all is fulfilled.

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments,

and teaches men so,

shall be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven;

but whoever does and teaches them,

he shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven.

For I say to you, that unless your righteousness 

exceeds the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees,

you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Matthew 5:17-20 (NLT)

Detrimentally, God's commandments are very seldom taught today. (The last time I remember being taught God's commandments is in Sunday School.) As a result, many professing Christians are breaking them and teaching others to do the same. And the few who do obey God's commandments are too afraid to teach them to others for fear of being labeled a "Scribe" or "Pharisee" because their relationship with God was nothing more than a set of legalistic rules and rituals.

However, the Bible says the one who does and teaches His commandments will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven, and the one who breaks one of the least of God's commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven.

The Scribes and the Pharisees actually disregarded God's commandments. They lived by their own rules, contrived not by their love for God, but by their love for themselves. When God walked among them through His Son Jesus Christ, their hearts were so depraved, they couldn't even recognize Him. They thought God was the enemy, when in fact they were the enemies of God.

Today, there are many rules, traditions, and services in our churches that make professing Christians look righteous from the outside, but in the inside, many of the people's hearts are as far from God. His commandments are being broken continually, His people are being hurt and neglected, and the unsaved are not being reached in a world of fear and confusion.

Loving God means loving His commandments, and teaching others to do the same.