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What did Jesus mean when he said, "Anyone who breaks one of the least of the commandments and shall teach others to break them, shall be called 'least' in the kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who does them and teaches them shall be called 'great' in the kingdom of Heaven."? (Matthew 5:19) In the first century of the common era, during the time of Rabbi Joshua of Nazaret (who we know today as "Jesus of Nazareth), the rabbis taught that of the 613 mitzvot* (commandments) of the Torah (the first five books of the Bible), the least of the mitzvot was the one found in Deuteronomy 22:6-7. Rabbi Joshua taught that there were three categories of mitzvot. The greatest mitzvah was expressed by the "Shema," a prayer that is recited three times each day by observant Jews. Rabbi Joshua (Jesus) quoted a portion of this prayer in Mark 12:29-30. "....Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength..." This mitzvah summarizes the first and most important category of mitzvot. The greatest of the mitzvot deals with man's relationship with his Creator. The second category of mitzvah is summarized by: "...you shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:31) This category deals with man's relationship with his fellow man. The third category of mitzvah deals with man's relationship with his environment and with animals. Whereas the violation of the first two categories carried the death penalty, this category did not. (1 John 5:16-17) Rabbi Joshua (Jesus) taught that to have eternal life, one must keep the mitzvot (Matthew 19:16-17). He also taught that greater righteousness (the observance of the Torah) receives the greater reward. (Matthew 5:19; 16:27; 25:21; Revelation 22:12) Add to all of this the fact that God says that if you do not obey the Torah even your prayer is an abomination (Proverbs 28:9). [Note: mitzvot is the plural of mitzvah]
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