Beloved, there's a statement that has been floating out of the mouths of saints for years. This statement—or variations of it—has been echoing in the chambers and sanctuaries of God's people for generations. You've heard it. I've heard it. Perhaps you've even said it yourself. The statement goes something like this: "I don't have to have a mansion, I just want to make it in."
On the surface, this sounds humble. It sounds spiritual. It sounds like the kind of thing a good Christian should say. But church, I'm here to tell you tonight that this statement, though well-intentioned, reveals a dangerous misunderstanding of what Scripture actually teaches about our eternal destiny.
This statement is supposed to express appreciation, gratitude, and humility. The problem is—it is not an informed statement. Because your status in Glory is not something that is simply given, but something that is earned by how you live on this side of heaven.
Your status in Glory will be the Reality of how you are living now that will produce Eternal Consequences. I am talking to saved people. This statement refers to after you have done all you can do on this side. It refers to after you have prayed all your prayers. After you have studied to show yourself approved a workman that need not to be ashamed but rightly dividing the Word of Truth.
After you have shouted, worshipped, and praised God for who He is and what He has done,. After the dead in Christ rise, after you have been caught up to meet Him in the air or have taken off mortal to put on immortality. After God says, “servant of the living God you been faithful of a few things enter into the Joy of the Lord.” Your salvation is secure! But your status in Glory is not.
Your status in Glory is not given to you by God as a participation trophy. It is a direct reflection of how you are living right now, in this moment, in this finite body. Listen carefully: There are no multiple levels of prestige, position, stature, or prominence arbitrarily distributed in heaven. There is only the projection of a life lived in this finite body, collected and judged by God in eternity.
The conclusion of that judgment is crystal clear according to Matthew 5:19 You are either going to be considered and called great in heaven, or the least in heaven. There is no in-between.
Let me remind you what Jesus Christ declared: In Matt 5:19, "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Understanding the Divine Standard
It would benefit us, NO, it would save us from eternal regret—to understand what Jesus meant when He spoke of "least" and "great."
The word "least" comes from the Greek word elachistos, meaning very small in amount, dignity, or significance. This isn't just about being small—it's about being insignificant in the eternal kingdom. The word "great" comes from the Greek word megas, meaning big, outstanding, magnificent. It also means outstanding for a specified quality. Such as dignity. But notice—both definitions can include the word dignity.
Dignity means nobility or elevation of character. And character, beloved, is not what you do when people are watching—character is who you are when nobody but God can see you. When God speaks in these verses, He is referring to the character of the person. For character is what defines a person's true identity.
The Heart of the Matter: The First Commandment That Determines Your Status
So what are these commandments we should be keeping and teaching others to keep?
I call these commandments “The Commandments of Grace. Because all of us was saved by the Grace of God. John 1:16-17, 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Let me show you the first and most foundational commandment that Jesus gave us—the one that will determine whether you are called great or least in the kingdom of heaven.
The Commandment About Anger: From Murder to the Heart
Matthew 5:21-22: "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."
Jesus didn't lower the bar—He raised it to heaven! The old law said, "Don't murder." Jesus said, "Don't even harbor murderous anger in your heart."
Jesus is telling us that murder begins in the heart long before it reaches the hands. And if we want to be great in the kingdom, we must master this commandment about anger.
Understanding the Levels of Anger
Notice Jesus gives us three levels of anger, each with escalating consequences:
Level 1: Anger Without Cause
"Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment."
This is the seed level of anger. It's that smoldering resentment, that bitter root that grows in your heart when someone doesn't meet your expectations. It's the anger that says, "How dare they!" It's the anger that rehearses conversations in your mind, that keeps you up at night, that makes you avoid certain people.
Level 2: Contemptuous Words - "Raca"
"Whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council."
The word "Raca" means "empty-headed" or "worthless." It's the anger that moves from the heart to the mouth. It's when you start calling people names, when you begin to devalue their worth, when you speak of them with contempt. It's the anger that says, "You're nothing! You're worthless! You're stupid!"
Level 3: Destructive Hatred - "Fool"
"Whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."
The word "fool" here doesn't mean lacking intelligence—it means morally worthless, spiritually bankrupt. This is the anger that wants to destroy someone's character, their reputation, their very soul. This is the anger that says, "I wish you were dead. You're beyond redemption. You're evil."
The Progression of Anger: A Spiritual Autopsy
Let me show you how anger progresses in the human heart:
Stage 1: The Offense
Someone hurts you, disappoints you, or treats you unfairly. This is normal—offenses will come.
Stage 2: The Brooding
Instead of addressing it biblically, you let it fester. You replay the offense over and over. You build a case in your mind.
Stage 3: The Devaluation
You begin to see that person as less than human. They become "the enemy." You start to question their motives, their character, their worth.
Stage 4: The Expression
The anger moves from your heart to your mouth. You speak poorly of them. You assassinate their character. You spread your bitterness to others.
Stage 5: The Destruction
You want them to suffer. You want them to pay. You want them to be destroyed. You have become a murderer in your heart. The Modern Manifestations of Heart-Murder
How does this commandment apply to us today? Let me be specific:
In Your Family:
The silent treatment you give your spouse
The bitter words you speak to your children
The resentment you hold against your parents
The way you talk about your in-laws
In Your Church:
The gossip you spread about the pastor
The criticism you voice about the leadership
The way you speak about members who have hurt you
The divisions you create with your words
In Your Community:
The road rage that fills your heart
The way you talk about your neighbors
The hatred you feel toward political figures
The contempt you show toward people who disagree with you
In Your Digital Life:
The angry comments you post on social media
The way you speak about people online
The hatred you harbor for public figures
The division you sow with your keyboard
The Consequences Are Eternal
Jesus said if you break this commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But if you keep it and teach others to keep it, you will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Your status in Glory is being determined by how you handle anger right now. Every time you choose to nurse a grudge, you're choosing to be least. Every time you choose to speak words of contempt, you're choosing to be least. Every time you choose to hate instead of love, you're choosing to be least.
The Path to Greatness: Mastering Anger
How do we keep this commandment? How do we move from least to great?
First: Quick Confession
Don't let the sun go down on your anger. When you feel that first spark of unjustified anger, confess it immediately. "Lord, I'm angry, and I don't want to be. Help me."
Second: Immediate Forgiveness
Choose to forgive before you feel like forgiving. Forgiveness is not a feeling—it's a choice. It's a decision to release the right to get even.
Third: Blessing Over Cursing
Instead of speaking evil of those who have hurt you, speak blessing. Pray for them. Ask God to bless them. This breaks the power of anger in your heart.
Fourth: Purposeful Reconciliation
Jesus said, "If you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go be reconciled to your brother." Take the initiative to make things right.
The Great Commission of Anger Management
But Jesus didn't just say "don't be angry." He said whoever keeps this commandment and teaches others to keep it will be called great in the kingdom. This means you have a responsibility to help others overcome anger. You must become a peacemaker, a reconciler, a teacher of righteousness. When you see someone struggling with anger, don't just say, "Get over it." Teach them how to process their emotions biblically. Show them the path from anger to forgiveness to love. When you see division in your church, don't just complain about it. Become a bridge-builder. Help people see past their offenses to the heart of the matter. When you see hatred in your community, don't just condemn it. Demonstrate a better way. Show them what love looks like in action.
The Personal Application: Your Anger Inventory
I need you to get honest with yourself right now. I need you to take an anger inventory of your heart.
Who are you angry with right now?
Is it your spouse who doesn't appreciate you?
Is it your children who don't obey you?
Is it your boss who doesn't value you?
Is it your pastor who doesn't understand you?
Is it your ex who betrayed you?
Is it yourself for failing again?
What angry words have you spoken?
Have you called someone stupid?
Have you said they're worthless?
Have you wished they were dead?
Have you assassinated their character?
Have you spread gossip about them?
Have you posted something hateful about them?
What angry thoughts are you nursing?
Do you rehearse conversations in your mind?
Do you fantasize about them getting what they deserve?
Do you hope they fail?
Do you smile when you hear bad news about them?
Do you avoid them because of your bitterness?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are in danger of being called least in the kingdom of heaven. But there's hope! There's still time to repent and change your status in Glory.
The Urgency of Now: Your Status is Being Determined
I need you to understand something: Every day you live with unresolved anger, you are choosing to be least in the kingdom of heaven. Every moment you harbor resentment, every word you speak in anger, every thought you think in hatred is determining your eternal status. You are not just wasting time—you are wasting eternity.
Jesus didn't give us this commandment to make our lives difficult. He gave it to us because He knows that anger is the root of all relational destruction. He knows that if we don't master anger, anger will master us.
The Promise of Greatness
But here's the beautiful promise: If you will keep this commandment about anger and teach others to keep it, you will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Imagine standing before Jesus and hearing Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You mastered your anger. You chose love over hatred. You spoke life over death. You built bridges instead of walls. You will be called great in My kingdom." That's the promise for those who choose to obey this commandment. That's the reward for those who refuse to let anger determine their destiny.
The Choice Before You: Great or Least?
Today, you have a choice. You can continue living with anger in your heart, or you can choose to be great in the kingdom of heaven by mastering this commandment about anger.
Greatness in Glory is not about never feeling angry—it's about what you do with that anger when it comes.
Greatness in Glory is not ever failing—it's about being quick to repent when you fail.
Greatness in Glory is not about never being offended—it's about choosing forgiveness over revenge.
Greatness in Glory is not about having enemies—it's about how you treat your enemies.
The Call to Greatness: Master Your Anger
I refuse to let you settle for being least in the kingdom because you wouldn't deal with your anger. I refuse to let you forfeit your eternal status because you wouldn't forgive. I refuse to let you be remembered as someone who destroyed relationships instead of building them.
God has called you to greatness. He has given you the power to overcome anger through His Holy Spirit. He has equipped you with everything you need to be great in His kingdom.
Will you choose to master your anger?
Will you choose to forgive those who have hurt you?
Will you choose to speak life instead of death?
Will you choose to teach others how to handle anger biblically?
Will you choose to be great in the kingdom of heaven?
Conclusion: The Eternal Weight of Anger
We serve a God who sees the heart. We serve a God who knows that murder begins with anger. We serve a God who judges not just our actions, but our attitudes.
Today, you have heard the first commandment that determines your status in Glory. You have learned that anger without cause makes you least in the kingdom, but mastering anger makes you great in the kingdom.
Don't let anger rob you of your eternal reward. Don't let bitterness steal your greatness. Don't let hatred determine your destiny.
Your status in Glory is being determined by how you handle anger right now. Make it count. Make it matter. Make it great.
The altar is open. The choice is yours. Will you be great or least in the kingdom of heaven?
Come and surrender your anger to God. Come and choose forgiveness over revenge. Come and choose greatness over mediocrity.
"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath." - Ephesians 4:26
My Status In Glory II - coming soon
Bishop Leroy Watson III
Visitor Comments (0)