At the very beginning of his public life, Jesus Christ gave a Keynote Address to his disciples. The words in bold above set out his views on whether it matters or not. “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” The Law and the Prophets do matter.
What did Jesus mean by “the Law and the Prophets”? Well, the Ten Commandments are a key part of the Law in the Bible’s Old Testament. The brave statements of the Prophets (before Jesus came), who pointed out the widespread failures of God’s own people to keep his commandments, are also on record in the Old Testament.
But did you notice that Jesus said, “I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them”? Did you notice too that he added, “For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished”? What on earth did he mean?
He seems to be saying that he personally will fulfill every iota and dot of God’s Law and Prophets, will accomplish all. To Jesus, these did matter – every comma mattered.
In his first Keynote Address on earth Jesus also wanted his followers to know that their own attitude towards God’s commandments also mattered. “Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” They needed to know that their position in God’s kingdom depended upon whether or not they later taught “It doesn’t matter”. Either way there would be consequences for them in that realm above.
Why, in that case, does it matter when Jesus’ followers teach others that “It doesn’t matter”? Jesus gave the reason in his Keynote address (see bold above). “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”