Distinction in Heaven by Miner Lamb

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 31, 1870

“Distinction in Heaven.”

By Miner Lamb

It was said of John the Baptist, “Of them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John, notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he.” Matt. 11:11. The word least in this verse should be rendered “lesser;” and it refers to the Lord who was six months younger than John whose fame also at that time was greater than that of Jesus. It was said also to confirm the faith of the disciples in him as the Messiah. The figure of speech called deiktikos, or pointing to oneself, was very common in those days. It is quite a different word from least in Matt. 5:19: Whosoever shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. The word translated least in Matt. 11:11, is translated less in Mark 4:31, where there is no article, and least in Matt. 13:32, where there is the article. The Greek Concordance gives only those three places where that word is used. In Matt. 13:32, it would have been better translated lesser, for it is improbable that the mustard seed was the least known seed in the East. It was considered comparatively, and not superlatively, in the Hellenic or Greek-Testament dialect, whatever may have been its use in other Greek dialects. The enemies of the Sabbath have plenty to say about salvation by free grace, but never any thing about being counted worthy to stand before the Son of Man. When the mother of Zebedee’s children invoked Christ for her sons, Christ did not deny there were distinctions in Heaven, but that to sit on his right hand and on his left would be given to those for whom it was prepared.

INER LAMB.

Vineland, N. J.