2. Whosoever shall break one of these least commandments, or one of the least of these commandments—These commandments, we may observe, is a term used by our Lord as equivalent with the law: or the law and the prophets, which is the same thing, seeing the prophets added nothing to the law; but only declared, explained, or inforced it, as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Whosoever shall break one of these least commandments—especially if it be done wilfully or presumptuously: one:—for he that keepeth the whole law and thus offends in one point, is guilty ofall: the wrath of God abideth on him, as surely as if he had broken every one. So that no allowance is made for one darling lust; no reserve for one idol: no excuse for refraining from all besides, and only giving way to one bosom sin. What God demands is, an entire obedience: we are to have an eye to all his commandments: otherwise we lose all the labour we take in keeping some, and our poor souls for ever and ever.
One of these least, or one of the least of these commandments.—Here is another excuse cut off, whereby many, who cannot deceive God, miserably deceive their own souls. “This sin, saith the sinner, is it not a little one? Will not the Lord spare me in this thing? Surely he will not be extreme to mark this, since I do not offend in the greater matters of the law.” Vain hope! Speaking after the manner of men, we may term these great and those little commandments. But in reality, they are not so. If we use propriety of speech, there is no such thing as a little sin: every sin being a transgression of the holy and perfect law, and an affront of the great Majesty of heaven.
3. And shall teach men so—In some sense it may be said, that whosoever openly breaks any commandment, teaches others to do the same: for example speaks, and many times louder than precept. In this sense it is apparent every open drunkard, is a teacher of drunkenness: everysabbath-breaker is constantly teaching his neighbour, to profane the day of the Lord. But this is not all: an habitual breaker of the law, is seldom content to stop here. He generally teaches other men to do so too, by word as well as example: especially when he hardens his neck, and hateth to be reproved. Such a sinner soon commences an advocate for sin: he defends what he is resolved not to forsake. He excuses the sin which he will not leave, and thus directly teaches every sin which he commits.
He shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven: that is, shall have no part therein. He is a stranger to the kingdom of heaven which is on earth; he hath no portion in that inheritance; no share of that righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Nor by consequence can he have any part, in the glory which shall be revealed.
4. But if those who even thus break and teach others to break, one of the least of these commandments, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven, shall have no part in the kingdom of Christ and of God; if even these shall be cast into outer darkness, where is wailing and gnashing of teeth: then where will they appear, whom our Lord chiefly and primarily intends in these words? They who bearing the character of teachers sent from God, do nevertheless themselves break his commandments, yea and openly teachothers so to do: being corrupt both in life and doctrine.
5. *These are of several sorts. Of the first sort are they, who live in some wilful, habitual sin. Now if an ordinary sinner teaches by his example, how much more a sinful minister? Even if he does not attempt to defend, excuse or extenuate his sin. If he does, he is a murderer indeed, yea, the murderer-general of his congregation. He peoples the regions of death. He is the choicest instrument of the prince of darkness. When he goes hence, Hell from beneath is moved to meet him at his coming. Nor can he sink into the bottomless pit, without dragging a multitude after him.
6. *Next to these are the good-natured, good sort of men: who live an easy, harmless life, neither troubling themselves with outward sin, nor with inward holiness: men who are remarkable neither one way nor the other; neither for religion nor irreligion: who are very regular both in public and private; but don’t pretend to be any stricter than their neighbours. A minister of this kind breaks, not one, or a few only of the least commandments of God; but all the great and weighty branches of his law, which relate to the power of godliness: and all that require us to pass the time of our sojourning in fear, to work out our salvation with fear and trembling; to have our loins always girt and our lights burning; to strive or agonize to enterin at the strait gate. And he teaches men so, by the whole form of his life, and the general tenor of his preaching: which uniformly tends to sooth those in their pleasing dream, who imagine themselves Christians and are not; to persuade all who attend upon his ministry, to sleep on and take their rest. No marvel therefore if both he and they that follow him, wake together in everlasting burnings.
7. *But above all these, in the highest rank of the enemies of the gospel of Christ, are they who openly and explicitly judge the law itself, and speak evil of the law: who teach men to break (λῦσαι· to dissolve, to loose, to untie the obligation of) not one only, whether of the least, or of the greatest, but all the commandments at a stroke: who teach, without any cover, in so many words, “What did our Lord do with the law? He abolished it.” “There is but one duty, which is that of believing.” “All commands are unfit for our times.” “From any demand of the law no man is obliged now to go one step, to give away one farthing, to eat or omit one morsel.” This is indeed carrying matters with a high hand. This is withstanding our Lord to the face, and telling him, that he understood not how to deliver the message on which he was sent. O Lord, lay not this sin to their charge! Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do!
8. *The most surprizing of all the circumstances, that attend this strong delusion, is that they who are given up to it really believe, that they honour Christ, by overthrowing his law, and that they are magnifying his office, while they are destroying his doctrine! Yea, they honour him just as Judas did, when he said, Hail, Master, and kissed him. And he may as justly say, to every one of them, Betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss? It is no other than betraying him with a kiss, to talk of his blood and take away his crown: to set light by any part of his law, under pretence of advancing his gospel. Nor indeed can any one escape this charge, who preaches faith in any such manner, as either directly or indirectly tends, to set aside any branch of obedience: who preaches Christ so as to disannul, or weaken in any wise the least of the commandments of God.