I spent over thirty years being taught in church that Jesus loves us so much that all of our sin is forgiven, and that our sin is removed from us as far as the east is from the west…

I absolutely believe in the gospel message.
I absolutely believe that we all have fallen short of the glory of God.
I believe we have earned the wages of sin, which is death.
I believe Messiah died on our behalf, and paid our ransom.
I believe no one comes to the Father except through Yeshua Messiah!!

I am not denying the good news!!
I am saying we need to understand it better.

Hebrews 10:26-31
²⁶ For if we keep on sinning willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but only a terrifying expectation of judgment and a fury of fire about to devour the enemies of God. ²⁸ Anyone who rejected the Torah of Moses dies without compassion on the word of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ How much more severe do you think the punishment will be for the one who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, and has regarded as unholy the blood of the covenant by which he was made holy, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know the One who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “Yehova will judge His people.”  ³¹ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

We are told in Hebrews 10 that if we continue to sin willfully, there no longer remains a sacrifice!
And if there no longer remains a sacrifice, there no longer remains salvation.

Do you understand the significance of this warning?
Do you realize this warning has eternal consequences?

Grace is a good thing.
Insulting the spirit of grace is not a good thing.

“But, what about John 3:16?
That is all I need to know, right?”

John 3:16
 “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Yes, this is a wonderful promise in scripture.
But it does not stand alone.
It must be understood within the context of all scripture.
For example, John 3:36
³⁶ He who trusts in the Son has eternal life. He who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Whoa, wait…
Did you catch that?
We not only must believe in Him, we also must obey Him.

What did He tell us to do?
John 14:15
 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
John 14:21
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.
John 15:10
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

Anyone who has been involved in “religion” at all has probably heard the phrase, “We are all at different places on this path.”

I’ve heard this or similar phrases for years.
Is it true?
Or is it just a way for men to make excuses for their lack of commitment to the path?
I Googled this concept and found many articles talking about how we are all in different places on this religious journey.
Case closed, right?
Nope, not so fast.
What does scripture have to say about it?

We’ve all heard of this direct quote of Messiah regarding the path…
Matthew 7:13-14
¹³ “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. ¹⁴ How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Does Messiah say we are all on the right path, just in different places?
Nope.
He says the path to life is difficult, and few will find it.
Is it acceptable for men to disregard these words of Yeshua?
Is it acceptable for men to ignore this warning, and go about their lives without concern?
Is it acceptable for men to decide these words are about someone else, and not themselves?

Not if we are wise men.
For wise men will listen to their shepherd.
They will know His voice.
They will do the things He says.
I, for one, take the warnings of Messiah very seriously.
I encourage you to do the same.
Psalm 19:8 regarding the wise:
The Torah of Yehova is perfect, restoring the soul. The testimony of Yehova is trustworthy, making the simple wise.

If it is important to be on this narrow path, how do we know when we are on the path, or off the path?
Please consider these verses:

Psalm 119:105-112
¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have sworn and confirmed
to observe Your righteous rulings.
¹⁰⁷ I am severely afflicted.
Keep me alive, Yehova, according to Your word.
¹⁰⁸ Please accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, Yehova,
and teach me Your rulings.
¹⁰⁹ My soul is continually in danger,
yet I have not forgotten Your Torah.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have set a snare for me,
yet I did not stray from Your precepts.
¹¹¹ Your testimonies I have as a heritage
forever, for they are my heart’s joy.
¹¹² I turned my heart to do Your decrees,
forever, to the very end.

Psalm 119:33-35
³³ Teach me the way of Your decrees, Yehova,
and I will follow them to the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding,
that I may keep Your Torah
and observe it with all my heart.
³⁵ Help me walk in the path of Your commandments—
for I delight in it.

Psalm 24:4-5
Show me Your ways, Yehova.
Teach me Your paths.
⁵ Guide me in Your truth, and teach me,
for You are Yehova, my salvation,
for You I wait all day.

Proverbs 2:1-15
2 My son, if you accept my words
    and treasure my commandments within you,
² making your ear attentive to wisdom,
    inclining your heart to discernment,
³ yes, if you call out for insight,
    lifting up your voice for discernment,
⁴ if you seek her as silver
    and search for her as for hidden treasures,
⁵ then you will know the fear of Yehova
and discover the knowledge of God.
⁶ For Yehova gives wisdom.
Out of His mouth comes knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He stores up sound wisdom for the upright.
He is a shield to those who walk in integrity.
⁸ He guards the paths of justice,
and protects the way of His saints.
⁹ Then you will discern what is right
    and just and fair—every good path.
¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
¹¹ Discretion will watch over you
—discernment will guard you—
¹² to deliver you from the way of evil,
    from those speaking perverse things,
¹³ who leave the straight paths
    to walk in ways of darkness,
¹⁴ who rejoice in doing wrong
    and delight in the perversity of evil,
¹⁵ whose paths are crooked
    and are devious in their ways—

Proverbs 3:1-6
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments.
² For length of days and years of life,
and peace they will add to you.
³ Let kindness and truth never leave you—
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
⁴ Then you will gain favor and a good name
in the eyes of Yehova and man.
⁵ Trust in Yehova with all your heart,
lean not on your own understanding.
⁶ In all your ways acknowledge Him,
and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 6:20-23
²⁰ My son, keep your father’s commands,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching.
²¹ Bind them on your heart continually—
tie them around your neck.
²² When you walk, they will guide you.
When you lie down, they will watch over you,
and when you wake up, they will speak to you.
²³ For the commandment is a lamp, Torah a light,
and corrective discipline the way of life,

Proverbs 12:28
²⁸ In the path of righteousness is life—
it is a path to immortality.

Isaiah 2:2-3
It will come to pass in the last days
that the mountain of Yehova’s House
will stand firm as head of the mountains
and will be exalted above the hills.
So all nations will flow to it.
³ Then many peoples will go and say:
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yehova,
    to the House of the God of Jacob!
Then He will teach us His ways,
    and we will walk in His paths.”
For Torah will go forth from Zion
    and the word of Yehova from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 42:16
I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.

The foundation of knowledge of the desirable path is recorded for us in scripture.  If we read and believe these things, we’ll know how to find the right path.  We’ll know if we are on the path, or off the path.

“But my pastor says the Torah and the law are done away with.”
“My church teaches that the Old Testament Law no longer applies.”

The Word of Yehova defines His Torah instructions, The Law, as the path we should follow. Will you believe your pastor, or will you believe the Word of God?

Before moving on, let’s take a closer look at this narrow gate that Messiah spoke of…
¹⁴ How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
What is this gate? How do we find this narrow gate?
John 10:7
⁷ So Yeshua said again, “Amen, amen I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.”

The gate is Messiah.  We enter through Him.
John 14:6
⁶ Yeshua said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life! No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

“OK, So my church and my pastor do have it right, then…  All we have to do is believe in Jesus, and we get to enter the narrow gate?”

John 10:14
¹⁴ “I am the Good Shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me…”
According to John 10, we need to KNOW our Messiah. We need to KNOW not just who He is, but we need to KNOW His character.  We need to know the things He says.

John 10:27-28
²⁷ My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸ I give them eternal life! They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of My hand.

And when we know Him, and when we know the things He says, we follow Him.  We do the things He says.

Do we follow Him by simply knowing about Him?
Do we follow Him by simply believing He exists?
James 2:18-20
¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe—and shudder! ²⁰ But do you want to know, you empty person, that faith without works is dead?

No, it is not enough to simply believe in Him.
Even the demons believe, and shudder.
We must have works to go along with our faith.
What works?
We must follow the instructions given to us in the Torah.
Those works.
Just as the foundation of this knowledge is given to us in the scriptures I quoted above.

“But my pastor says we don’t do those things anymore.”
Again, consider this:
“My sheep hear My voice. I know them, and they follow Me.”

Do you know His voice?
Are you His sheep?
Do you hear the things He says?
Do you do the things He says?
Do you follow Him?
Or do you simply believe in Him, just like the demons?

John 14:15
 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
John 14:21
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.
John 15:10
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

“It sure would be easy if scripture would come right out and tell us if we know Him or not.”
Your wish has been granted:
The Test of Knowing Yehova
1John 2:3-6
³ Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴ He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ⁶ He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

If you know Him, you will walk just as He walked [in accordance with Torah].  If you know Him, you will keep the commandments, otherwise, you are a liar [and you don’t really know Him].

So…
This narrow path.
Is there such a thing as “sort-of” being on the path?
Can we all be on the same path, but in different places?
No, I don’t think so.
I think there is one narrow path.
We are either on it, or we are not on it.
There is no such thing as one person REALLY being on it, and another person SORT OF being on it.

And by the way, this post is not about legalism.
This post is not about mindlessly following a bunch of rules so that we can  say we are on the path.
It is about having a heart for the things of Yehova.
It is about showing Yeshua Messiah that we love Him, by keeping His commands.
Just as He instructed us to do.

It is about having a heart for the words and the ways of the Father.
Please stop making excuses for your friends (or for yourself) who do not have a heart for the ways of the Father, by saying they are on a different part of the path.
Pray for them to submit to the Father, and to be firmly on the path.
Don’t make excuses for them for playing near the path, just flirting with the path, one foot on, one foot off…

Don’t get me wrong…
It is ok to be learning.
It is not ok to learn and disregard, in my humble opinion.

If someone is learning to walk on the narrow path, but do not yet know about tzitzits, they will eventually learn.
I do not believe it is ok to have learned about tzitzits, and choose not to wear them. This is simple rebellion against the ways of the Father.
Even worse, I think it is awful for people to wear tzitzits at Torah fellowships, but not wear them the rest of the week.  Are they wearing them to please men? Or do they wear them because Yehova said to?  If they have a heart for the ways of Yehova, they would wear them all the time, or so it would seem.

It is great to honor the Sabbath.
It is not great to have learned about the importance of the Sabbath, but to ignore it if a great movie comes out. Or to ignore it if you got tickets to the game. Or to ignore it if you really want to go out to eat…
Yehova says the Sabbath is a sign between Him and His people.
Who wouldn’t want that sign?
Who wouldn’t want to be His people?
Yehova says that those who profane the Sabbath will surely die.
Those who violate the Sabbath will be cut off from the people.
Why would anyone who loves the ways of the Father reject His ways sometimes, especially knowing the consequences described in scripture?

What if someone has learned the truth about the moedim, the appointed times, but chooses to observe Christmas and Easter and Halloween instead, because their family wants them to?

Having learned the ways of the Father, and to choose not to do them is not a different place on the path.
It is simple rebellion.
It is simply resisting the ways of the Father, in favor of our own ways, or in favor of the ways of the world.
It is called being lukewarm about the truth you have learned.
Revelation 3:16
¹⁶ So because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I am about to spew you out of My mouth.

If you have friends in Torah who are lukewarm, please stop making excuses for them by saying they are in a different place on this path.
Either they are His sheep, hear His voice, and do the things He says, or they are not…
Luke 6:46
⁴⁶ “Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

Please don’t enable their lack of commitment to the Word.
Instead, pray for them to fully and wholly submit to Yehova.

Most people don’t understand “where I’ve gone” with regard to religion.
I get it.
It was a surprise to me as well.

Here is my best way to explain it:
Get a bible and read nothing but direct quotes of Yehova (God) and Yeshua Messiah (Jesus).
Let Their words be your doctrine.
It will be VERY different from what you may believe now.

I am happy to say that Jesus has made it safe to eat literally ANYTHING without harm, so long as you are a believer.
That’s awesome!!

I’ve always wondered what rat poison tastes like!!
Now I can find out without worry!!
Tide pods? That’s amateur stuff.
I’m going straight for the strychnine, and I’ll chase it with some hemlock and rhubarb leaves, and I’ll wash it down with some Drano clog remover…  Mmmm, delicious, right?

Why would I say such absurd things?
Anyone with a brain knows what would happen.
Certain death, right?

Where do I get my confidence to consume these things?
Why do I think I can ingest these awful substances [that are not meant to be eaten] and remain unharmed?
Because my Christian friends pointed this out to me:
Matthew 15:10-11 [words of Jesus]
¹⁰ When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: ¹¹ Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

No matter what I put in my mouth, I will not be defiled.
Woo hoo!!
Eat up!!
Have all the household cleaners you like!
Invite your friends to join in as well.

I don’t recommend “doubting” the things that Messiah said, but in this case, I think a bit more study might be required of us.
I don’t feel like dying a miserable death today, so being absolutely sure about this is quite important.

Here is the whole story in context.
Matthew 15:1-20
15 Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying, ² “Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
³ He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? ⁴ For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’;  and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’ ⁵ But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”— ⁶ then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. ⁷ Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
⁸ ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
⁹ And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’ ”
¹⁰ When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, “Hear and understand: ¹¹ Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
¹² Then His disciples came and said to Him, “Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?”
¹³ But He answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. ¹⁴ Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
¹⁵ Then Peter answered and said to Him, “Explain this parable to us.”
¹⁶ So Jesus said, “Are you also still without understanding? ¹⁷ Do you not yet understand that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and is eliminated? ¹⁸ But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. ¹⁹ For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. ²⁰ These are the things which defile a man, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile a man.”

Verses 1 and 2 tell us the subject matter of this story in scripture.
— The Pharisees question Yeshua Messiah as to why His disciples are violating the traditions of men.
— Instead of answering them, Yeshua turns the question back upon them, as He often does.  He asked them why they transgress the commandments of Yehova BECAUSE of their traditions?

Verses 8 and 9 tell us what Messiah thinks of this situation.
— These men say things that sound good, but their hearts are far from Yeshuah.
— This part is incredibly important!!  Messiah says they worship Him in vain. Why?
Because they teach that the “commandments of men” are official doctrine!!

In verse 11, Yeshua finally answers their question:
— With regard to the original subject matter [eating bread with unwashed hands] he says that what enters the man does not defile him [bread and possibly dirt/germs]
— This has nothing to do with changing dietary food laws.  In no way, shape or form is Messiah telling us to eat pork and shellfish!!  He is answering a question about eating bread with unclean hands, in violation of the traditions of men, who [in blasphemy] claim this to be official doctrine commanded by God!!

Things get harsh in verses 13 and 14!!!
— Messiah says that the Pharisees and anyone who follows their teachings will NOT be in the kingdom of heaven!!  He refers to them as the blind leading the blind — in other words, idiots.
— Does He say to chase after them, debate them, engage them in unending discussions, trying to change their minds?
— Nope.  He says, “Let them alone.”
— If you want to understand His response better, read my teaching about Evangelism.  Does it seem right that Jesus would not care about these people and how they choose to live?  Here is a clickable link to it:  What Is Evangelism?

In verses 16-19, Yeshua goes on to explain this concept to His disciples.  He makes the distinction between the physical and the spiritual.
— He explains that what goes into the stomach [bread, food, dirt, germs] passes through the physical body and gets eliminated.
— Then He explains what will defile a man spiritually.

Messiah finishes this lesson in verse 20.
— He goes back to the very specific subject matter again:  He states that eating with unwashed hands is not sinful.

Absolutely nowhere in this discussion does Messiah say it is ok to eat prohibited animals.

As I’ve shown with scripture in many of my other articles, the Word of Yehova DOES NOT EVER CHANGE.
God NEVER CHANGES.
God DOES NOT LIE.
God NEVER  CHANGES HIS MIND.
Read Numbers 23:19, Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8 and many others to confirm this is true.

If we are told in scripture that certain animals are not food, that never changes.
In fact, we see this regarding future times, AFTER MESSIAH RETURNS:

Isaiah 65:4-7
…Who eat swine’s flesh,
And the broth of abominable things is in their vessels;
⁵ Who say, ‘Keep to yourself,
Do not come near me,
For I am holier than you!’
These are smoke in My nostrils,
A fire that burns all the day.
⁶ “Behold, it is written before Me:
I will not keep silence, but will repay—
Even repay into their bosom—
⁷ Your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together,”
Says the Lord,

According to this prophecy in Isaiah 65, Yehova will be very displeased with people eating unclean animals, and in particular, pork/swine, and they will pay dearly for it.

We see this with regard to the Millennial Reign of Christ, AFTER His return, the second coming:

Isaiah 66:14-17
The Reign and Indignation of God
¹⁴ When you see this, your heart shall rejoice,
And your bones shall flourish like grass;
The hand of the Lord shall be known to His servants,
And His indignation to His enemies.
¹⁵ For behold, the Lord will come with fire
And with His chariots, like a whirlwind,
To render His anger with fury,
And His rebuke with flames of fire.
¹⁶ For by fire and by His sword
The Lord will judge all flesh;
And the slain of the Lord shall be many.
¹⁷ “Those who sanctify themselves and purify themselves,
To go to the gardens
After an idol in the midst,
Eating swine’s flesh and the abomination and the mouse,
Shall be consumed together,” says the Lord.

Do you see that?
Those eating swine, and other abominations and unclean animals will be destroyed by Yeshua Messiah!!
This is AFTER He returns and sets up His kingdom during the 1000 Year Reign!!
Scripture tells us what animals are food, and what animals are not food (clean vs. unclean).
Nowhere in scripture are these instructions rescinded.
Scripture regarding the future return of our Savior says that those who are violating the clean/unclean dietary instructions will be DESTROYED.

This is not my idea or my thoughts.
Scripture literally says that those eating unclean during the Millennial Reign will be destroyed!!
“Are you kidding me?
Isn’t that kind of harsh, just for eating bacon?”
Answer me this, Batman…
Why would our Messiah, our Savior, be willing to destroy those who eat pork?
Because those who eat swine do not love their Savior.
Why would I say such a thing?
Not me…
Yeshua Messiah, Jesus, is the one who said this:

John 14:15
 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
John 14:21
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.
John 15:10
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.
Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yeshua Messiah.
Revelation 22:14-15
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

The Test of Knowing Yehova
1John 2:3-6
³ Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴ He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ⁶ He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Messiah tells us over and over and over again to keep the commandments of Yehova (God).
He says that doing so is how He will know if we love Him.
Here’s the thing:  eating what He said to eat, and not eating what He said is not food is one of the simplest, easiest ways to obey His commands.
This is WAY easier than just about anything else.
If someone rejects one of the easiest things He said to do, then does that person love the Messiah, in the way Jesus defined loving Him?

If you don’t love Him they way He says to love Him, then why should you be included in His kingdom?  If you can’t follow one basic, easy command — to not eat bacon (and other unclean animals) — simply because He said so, then why would He include you in His kingdom?

He doesn’t.
Refer again to Isaiah 65 and 66 above, speaking of the time AFTER Messiah’s return…
THINGS WILL GO VERY BAD FOR YOU IF YOU IGNORE THE THINGS MESSIAH SAYS, IN FAVOR OF WHAT YOUR PASTOR TEACHES.

Do you eat pork?
Do you eat shellfish?
Do you eat other unclean animals?
Will you be DESTROYED by the one you believe is going to SAVE you?

So back to Matthew 15:11
¹¹ Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

If you believe this verse is Messiah telling you it’s ok to eat pork and shellfish, then it is also ok for you to eat rat poison, and transmission fluid, and metal shavings, and broken glass, and whatever else you can put in your mouth.
Do you want some of that for dinner too?

It is time to stop playing games with scripture, in order to do whatever you feel like doing.
Understand the things your Messiah says.
Listen to His voice.
Follow Him.
Obey Him.

Road House was a movie that came out in 1989.  As a mid-twenties military guy, this kind of movie was right up my alley at the time. I now recognize it as garbage, not of the Father, just like all movies.
But at the time, “It’s my way or the highway” was a famous quote.

Would you be surprised to know that Yehova says the same thing?
Can you wrap your head around that?

Genesis 18:19
For I have made myself known to him so that he will command his sons and his household after him to keep the way of Adonai by doing righteousness and justice, so that Adonai may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.

Exodus 18:20
Enlighten them as to the statutes and the laws, and show them the way by which they must walk and the work they must do.

Matthew 5:48
“Therefore be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”

My wife Tracy was exploring this and related verses this morning and shared her thoughts with me.  Let’s explore this some more…

These are Yeshua Messiah’s words at the end of Matthew 48.
That is quite a tall order, is it not?
Be perfect.
Just as your Father in heaven.

Wow!!!
Where do we even start?
This is the type of verse most of us have spent our whole lives just glossing over.  We’ve seen it while reading Matthew.  We’ve seen it in devotional books.  We’ve heard it in church sermons.

Let’s slow down for just a second and not gloss over it.
Let’s think about this one.
Really, how on earth can we be perfect like our Father in heaven?
I’ve been taught this is not possible.
These are the words of Messiah, so we have to believe them.
“Can we get some help please?”

2Samuael 22:31
As for God, His way is perfect.
The word of Adonai is pure.
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

Psalm 18:31
As for God, His way is perfect.
The word of Adonai is pure.
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.

Psalm 19:8-9
The Torah of Adonai is perfect,
    restoring the soul.
The testimony of Adonai is trustworthy,
    making the simple wise.
⁹ The precepts of Adonai are right,
    giving joy to the heart.
The commandments of Adonai are pure,
    giving light to the eyes.

Psalm 119:1-8
¹ Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the Torah of Adonai.
² Happy are those who keep His testimonies,
who seek Him with a whole heart,
³ who also do no injustice, but walk in His ways.
⁴ You have commanded that Your precepts
be kept diligently.
⁵ Oh that my ways were steadfast
to observe Your decrees!
⁶ Then I would not be ashamed,
when I consider all Your commandments.
⁷ I will praise You with an upright heart
as I learn Your righteous judgments.
⁸ I will observe Your statutes.
Never abandon me utterly!

Psalm 119:95-97
⁹⁵ The wicked wait for me to destroy me.
But I will study Your testimonies.
⁹⁶ I have seen a limit to all perfection,
yet Your commandment is boundless.
⁹⁷ O how I love Your Torah!
It is my meditation all day.

 

How is your audition going?
Do you know what I mean by that?

Most people think this life is about this life.
And then, if we believe in Jesus, we eventually get angel wings and we go to hangout in heaven forever.

Well, believe it or not, that is not what scripture teaches.
Those ideas are the traditions of men.

What is this life?
I believe this life is simply an audition.
Yehova needs to decide who He is going to spend an eternity with…
This life is a try-out.
It is a test run.

Do we love the words and the ways of Yehova?
Or do we not?
Because in the Kingdom of Heaven, “life” will consist of the words and the ways of Yehova.
If we do not like His ways in this life, then why on earth (pun intended) would we want to spend eternity living out His ways?

If you want to know more about this, read the Psalms.
David, imperfect as he was, absolutely loved the words and the ways of our Creator.  Read it.
Learn what it means to be a man after God’s own heart.

So, how is your audition going?
No, really…
How is your audition going?
Will you be able to make the team?

Here are a couple of hints in scripture about how to do well on your audition:

Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.

John 14:15
 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
John 14:21
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.
John 15:10
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

The Test of Knowing Yehova
1John 2:3-6
³ Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. ⁴ He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. ⁶ He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yeshua Messiah.

Revelation 22:14-15
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. ¹⁵ But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.

Matthew 7:13-14
¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 5:17-19
¹⁷ “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. ¹⁸ For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. ¹⁹ 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.

Matthew 7:21-23
²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

James 1:22-25
²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. ²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

James 2:14-26
¹⁴ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ¹⁵ If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, ¹⁶ and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? ²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? ²² Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? ²³ And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. ²⁴ You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
²⁵ Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?
²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Hebrews 10:26-31
²⁶ For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

2Peter 3:14-17
¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; ¹⁵ and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, ¹⁶ as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.
¹⁷ You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; 

1John 2:24-25
²⁴ Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. ²⁵ And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life. [The Torah is what they have heard since the beginning. John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.]

Again, one final time, how is your audition going?

Who will be in the Kingdom of Heaven?
Yeshua Messiah tells us in Rev 22:14
Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.

What commandments is He referring to?
We are told in Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yeshua.

Why is it important to keep the commands?
Yeshua Messiah, tells us in various places, like John 14:15
“If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

We do not keep commands to “EARN” salvation.
We keep commands because of our salvation.

If we want to be in His kingdom, we have to love our Messiah.
He tells us how we are to do that:

John 14:21
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.

We don’t get to be in His Kingdom if we do not love Him.
We also don’t get to be in His Kingdom if we make up our own way of loving Him.  We must love Him as He says to.

In fact, He states this very clearly in Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

How do we love HIM?
He tells us a third time in John 15:10
If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

It sure would be nice if scripture gave us an easy way of sorting all of this out…
It does.
Really?
Yes.

1John 2:3-6
³ Now we know that we have come to know Him by this—if we keep His commandments. ⁴ The one who says, “I have come to know Him,” and does not keep His commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him. ⁵ But whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God is truly made perfect. We know that we are in Him by this— ⁶ whoever claims to abide in Him must walk just as He walked.

Did you notice that is a New Testament scripture?
Did you notice this was written after Messiah’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension?

We see the concept of “OUTER DARKNESS” mentioned three times in scripture:
1. The story of the Centurion
2. The Wedding Feast
3. Parable of the Talents

All three references are in the book of Matthew.
All three references also mention ‘weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
All three references are direct quotes of Yeshua Messiah.

If our Messiah spoke of it, then it must be true, and we should know and understand these warnings.

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

⁵ Now when Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him, ⁶ saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
⁷ And Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.”
⁸ The centurion answered and said, “Lord, I am not worthy that You should come under my roof. But only speak a word, and my servant will be healed. ⁹ For I also am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
¹⁰ When Jesus heard it, He marveled, and said to those who followed, “Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel! ¹¹ And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.¹² But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” ¹³ Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” And his servant was healed that same hour.  [Matthew 8:5-13]

This first story speaks of the great faith of the Centurion.
His faith is contrasted to the lack of faith that Yeshua observed in Israel.  Not good, right?
Messiah says those of Israel who are without the faith of the centurion, the sons of the kingdom, will be cast into outer darkness!!
Whoa, that’s a serious warning, going out to people who probably think and believe they are “in the kingdom.”
Well, even Yeshua says they are sons of the kingdom.
Is it possible to be “in the kingdom” and still be cast out into a horrible place?
This immediately reminds me of Matthew 5:17-19
¹⁷ “Do not think that I came to abolish the Torah or the Prophets! I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. ¹⁸ Amen, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or serif shall ever pass away from the Torah until all things come to pass. ¹⁹ Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever keeps and teaches them, this one shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

I know of people who said they are aiming to be “least in the kingdom”.
Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Is that the heart we want to show our Messiah?
Do we want to admit to Him that we are only willing to do as little as possible, just as long as we can be least in the kingdom?
Is that going to make Him happy with us?

The Parable of the Wedding Feast

22 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: ² “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, ³ and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. ⁴ Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.”’ ⁵ But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. ⁶ And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. ⁷ But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. ⁸ Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. ⁹ Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ ¹⁰ So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.
¹¹ “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. ¹² So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
¹⁴ “For many are called, but few are chosen.”  [Matthew 22:1-14]

This parable is also fascinating.
Those who are called but not chosen will be tossed out of the wedding feast. Why? Because they are not dressed properly.

We see this in Revelation 3:4-5
 You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels.

This is encouraging, to those who have not defiled their garments. But what does that mean??

Revelation 22:14 tells us who will be included in the kingdom.
It is normally translated this way in English bible versions:
¹⁴ Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
However, translations that are more literal to the original text show this:
¹⁴ How fortunate are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the Tree of Life and may enter through the gates into the city.

Keeping the commandments is considered to be the same as washing our robes, or having clean robes.
Going back to this parable, those who have defiled their spiritual garments by not keeping them clean [ie keeping the commandments of Yehova] will be thrown into outer darkness.
Did you understand this?
Not keeping the commandments/instructions of Yehova is how we defile our garments…
How do I know I’m right about this?
Hebrews 10:26-31 tells us there no longer remains a sacrifice for those who continue in willful sin…
Do you understand?
Messiah’s sacrifice, the one thing that allows us to have salvation through Him, no longer pertains to us if we continue in willful, on purpose sin.

[Matthew 25:14-30]
The Parable of the Talents
¹⁴ “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. ¹⁵ And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey.¹⁶ Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. ¹⁷ And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. ¹⁸ But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. ¹⁹ After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
²⁰ “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ ²¹ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’²² He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ ²³ His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
²⁴ “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. ²⁵ And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
²⁶ “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. ²⁷ So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. ²⁸ Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
²⁹ ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. ³⁰ And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’  

Is this parable about gold?
Is this parable about money?
Is this parable about earning a profit?
No, no, and no…
This parable displays whether or not someone truly knows the God they serve, and whether or not they have a heart to serve Him.
The first two servants understood the character of Yehova.
They served Him well, because they understand the duty of man, given to us in Ecclesiastes 12 and in Revelation 14.

Ecclesiastes 12:13
¹³ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.
Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Yeshua Messiah.

Those who TRULY KNOW the character of their God will do the things He says.  Their lives will show the fruit of their faith.
In this parable, the third servant did not know the true character of Yehova. This third servant was fearful and mistrusting of Yehova.
Instead of following His instructions, he buried his talent. He did not listen to, serve, and obey Yehova.

Is it enough to simply believe in Jesus?
Will that get us the promise of eternal life in heaven?
James 2:18-19
¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your^[d] works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

Even the demons believe, and shudder.
Nope, simple belief will not work for you, even though many churches teach this idea. This occurs because they take simple promises like John 3:16 and build doctrine from it, instead of building doctrine upon the whole of scripture.

Faith without works is dead.  Our works are the fruit in our lives, and it comes by listening to our Messiah, and doing the things He said.
He even admonishes some with this thought:
Luke 6:46
“But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say? “

OK, so we’ve briefly discussed the three times outer darkness is mentioned in scripture.
But what IS outer darkness?
Sometimes I wish scripture would just tell us these things.
Is this something people used to know, so a full blown explanation was not required when these things were written?  Is this lost knowledge? Is it something we should know?
I’m not sure, but one thing is clear —  “there was weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Outer darkness is not a good place to  be. I can say this as fact, with absolute certainty.
But now, we veer off into speculation.
Where is it?
What is it?
I don’t know, but here are some thoughts…

 Matthew 24:35
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

2Peter 3:10-14
¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. ¹¹ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ¹² looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Messiah Himself tells us more than once in scripture that heaven and earth will pass away.
2Peter 3 tells us all will be burned up and destroyed. Verse 13 says we are to look towards a new heaven and a new earth.
Was Peter on drugs, or is this really going to happen?

Matthew 5:18
For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 
Mark 13:31
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Luke 21:33
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Isaiah 65:17
“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth;
And the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.
Isaiah 66:22
“For as the new heavens and the new earth
Which I will make shall remain before Me,” says the Lord,
Revelation 21:1
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away.

I think we have enough validation in scripture that the earth and the heavens are going to pass away, and that there will be new earth and heavens…  Can I explain all of this in intricate detail?
Nope.
But I can read it and believe it.

In John 14, Yeshua Messiah says that He goes to prepare a place for us, and that He will return:
John 14:2-3
In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Let’s take a look at some of this restoration. Revelation 21 tells us about our eternal home, for those who are granted eternal life:

Revelation 21:9-27
The New Jerusalem
⁹ Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls filled with the seven last plagues came to me and talked with me, saying, “Come, I will show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” ¹⁰ And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, ¹¹ having the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, clear as crystal. ¹² Also she had a great and high wall with twelve gates, and twelve angels at the gates, and names written on them, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: ¹³ three gates on the east, three gates on the north, three gates on the south, and three gates on the west.

¹⁴ Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. ¹⁵ And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. ¹⁶ The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. ¹⁷ Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. ¹⁸ The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. ¹⁹ The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, ²⁰ the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. ²¹ The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

The Glory of the New Jerusalem

²² But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. ²³ The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. ²⁴ And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. ²⁵ Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). ²⁶ And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. ²⁷ But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

We get a glimpse of the City of New Jerusalem.
It sounds like quite a fascinating place.
But here are a few things we learn:
1.  It has gates of entry, and each gate is ‘guarded’ by an angel.
2.  Why are angelic guards necessary?  Verse 27 tells us who is not allowed in…
3.  We also learn there is no sun or moon, and that the glory of Yehova will illuminate the City of New Jerusalem.  Awesome!!

These details establish this speculation:
If the entrances are guarded by angels, to prevent anything from entering that would defile it, does that mean there are people outside New Jerusalem?

And if there is no sun or moon, because the glory of Yehova will illuminate the City, does that mean it will be dark outside of the City?
Is that what outer darkness is?
Outside the City of New Jerusalem?
Outside of the presence of the Glory of Yehova?
Is that where people are who are thrown into outer darkness?
Is this eternal, or only for a time?
We know there is weeping and gnashing of teeth associated with outer darkness.

Is it possible to make it into the kingdom of heaven, but to not be allowed into the City of New Jerusalem?
Is that what it means to be “least in the kingdom of heaven”?

Matthew 5:19
¹⁹ 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.

I am not claiming to fully understand these things.
Is my speculation correct, or way off base?
I don’t know.

But I do know this:
1. We do not want to end up in outer darkness.
2.  We do not want to aim to be least in the kingdom.

We are to do this instead:
Matthew 22:37
³⁷ Yeshua Messiah said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.

How do we love Him?
He defines it for us:
John 14:15
“If you love Me, you shall keep My commands.”
John 14:21
“He who possesses My commands and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I shall love him and manifest Myself to him.”
John 15:10
“If you keep My commands, you shall stay in My love, even as I have kept My Father’s commands and stay in His love.

OK, let’s restate Matthew 22:37, using the definition of love that Messiah provided to us:
³⁷ Yeshua Messiah said to him, “‘You shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment.

Is this how we avoid outer darkness?
By doing what Messiah says to do?
By loving Him the way He tells us to?
I don’t know about you, but I’m on board.
Right or wrong?
Don’t care.
How can it hurt to love Him the way He says to?
Pray on these things.
Do not find yourself in outer darkness one day…

2Peter 2:20-21
 For if, after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the latter end is worse for them than the beginning. ²¹ For it would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered to them.

Have I answered any questions, or just created more?
In the end, let’s take a look at the Greek words used for outer darkness in scripture:

G1857 – ἐξώτερος – exōteros
Strong’s definition:  exterior:—outer.

However, Thayer’s Greek Lexicon tells us this:
ἐξώτερος, ἐξωτέρᾳ, ἐξώτερον (a comparative from ἔξω, cf. ἐσώτερος, ἀνώτερος, κατώτερος), outer: τό σκότος τό ἐξώτερον, the darkness outside the limits of the lighted palace (to which the Messiah’s kingdom is here likened), Matthew 8:12; Matthew 22:13; Matthew 25:30. ((the Sept.; Strabo, others).)

Wow, that is exactly what I’ve speculated above.
Maybe I am on to something…

G4655 – σκότος – skotos
Strong’s definition:  shadiness, i.e. obscurity (literally or figuratively):—darkness.

Outline of Biblical Usage:
-darkness; of night darkness
-of darkened eyesight or blindness
-of ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality, together with their consequent misery in hell
-persons in whom darkness becomes visible and holds sway

I don’t know if this article solidly answers any questions about outer darkness.
But here is what I’m going to do:  I’m going to strive to be greatest in the kingdom, not least in the kingdom.
Will you join me?