diff --git a/lib/pact_broker/configuration.rb b/lib/pact_broker/configuration.rb
index fe4afb086..c7a54c736 100644
--- a/lib/pact_broker/configuration.rb
+++ b/lib/pact_broker/configuration.rb
@@ -27,13 +27,14 @@ class Configuration
     ]
 
     attr_accessor :log_dir, :database_connection, :auto_migrate_db, :use_hal_browser, :html_pact_renderer
-    attr_accessor :validate_database_connection_config, :enable_diagnostic_endpoints, :version_parser
+    attr_accessor :validate_database_connection_config, :enable_diagnostic_endpoints, :version_parser, :sha_generator
     attr_accessor :use_case_sensitive_resource_names, :order_versions_by_date
     attr_accessor :check_for_potential_duplicate_pacticipant_names
     attr_accessor :semver_formats
     attr_accessor :enable_public_badge_access, :shields_io_base_url
     attr_accessor :webhook_retry_schedule
     attr_accessor :disable_ssl_verification
+    attr_accessor :base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results
     attr_reader :api_error_reporters
     attr_writer :logger
 
@@ -51,6 +52,8 @@ def logger
 
     def self.default_configuration
       require 'pact_broker/versions/parse_semantic_version'
+      require 'pact_broker/pacts/generate_sha'
+
       config = Configuration.new
       config.log_dir = File.expand_path("./log")
       config.auto_migrate_db = true
@@ -62,6 +65,8 @@ def self.default_configuration
       config.use_case_sensitive_resource_names = true
       config.html_pact_renderer = default_html_pact_render
       config.version_parser = PactBroker::Versions::ParseSemanticVersion
+      config.sha_generator = PactBroker::Pacts::GenerateSha
+      config.base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results = false
       # Not recommended to set this to true unless there is no way to
       # consistently extract an orderable object from the consumer application version number.
       config.order_versions_by_date = false
diff --git a/lib/pact_broker/pacts/content.rb b/lib/pact_broker/pacts/content.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..05be78a95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/pact_broker/pacts/content.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+require 'pact_broker/pacts/parse'
+require 'pact_broker/pacts/sort_content'
+
+module PactBroker
+  module Pacts
+    class Content
+
+      def initialize pact_hash
+        @pact_hash = pact_hash
+      end
+
+      def self.from_json json_content
+        new(Parse.call(json_content))
+      end
+
+      def self.from_hash pact_hash
+        new(pact_hash)
+      end
+
+      def to_hash
+        pact_hash
+      end
+
+      def to_json
+        pact_hash.to_json
+      end
+
+      def sort
+        Content.from_hash(SortContent.call(pact_hash))
+      end
+
+      # Half thinking this belongs in GenerateSha
+      def content_that_affects_verification_results
+        if interactions || messages
+          cont = {}
+          cont['interactions'] = interactions if interactions
+          cont['messages'] = messages if messages
+          cont['pact_specification_version'] = pact_specification_version if pact_specification_version
+          cont
+        else
+          pact_hash
+        end
+      end
+
+      def messages
+        pact_hash.is_a?(Hash) ? pact_hash['messages'] : nil
+      end
+
+      def interactions
+        pact_hash.is_a?(Hash) ? pact_hash['interactions'] : nil
+      end
+
+      def pact_specification_version
+        maybe_pact_specification_version_1 = pact_hash['metadata']['pactSpecification']['version'] rescue nil
+        maybe_pact_specification_version_2 = pact_hash['metadata']['pact-specification']['version'] rescue nil
+        maybe_pact_specification_version_3 = pact_hash['metadata'] && pact_hash['metadata']['pactSpecificationVersion'] rescue nil
+        maybe_pact_specification_version_1 || maybe_pact_specification_version_2 || maybe_pact_specification_version_3
+      end
+
+      private
+
+      attr_reader :pact_hash
+
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/pact_broker/pacts/create_formatted_diff.rb b/lib/pact_broker/pacts/create_formatted_diff.rb
index e09fa87ee..fa4e2795e 100644
--- a/lib/pact_broker/pacts/create_formatted_diff.rb
+++ b/lib/pact_broker/pacts/create_formatted_diff.rb
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@ def self.call pact_json_content, previous_pact_json_content
         difference = diff(previous_pact_hash, pact_hash)
         Pact::Matchers::UnixDiffFormatter.call(difference, colour: false, include_explanation: false)
       end
-
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/pact_broker/pacts/diff.rb b/lib/pact_broker/pacts/diff.rb
index 4733d4b97..90d2beb0b 100644
--- a/lib/pact_broker/pacts/diff.rb
+++ b/lib/pact_broker/pacts/diff.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 require 'pact_broker/api/pact_broker_urls'
 require 'pact_broker/date_helper'
 require 'pact_broker/pacts/create_formatted_diff'
-require 'pact_broker/pacts/sort_verifiable_content'
+require 'pact_broker/pacts/sort_content'
+require 'pact_broker/pacts/parse'
 require 'pact_broker/repositories'
 require 'yaml'
 
@@ -110,7 +111,7 @@ def prepare_content json_content
           if options[:raw]
             json_content
           else
-            PactBroker::Pacts::SortVerifiableContent.call(json_content)
+            SortContent.call(Parse.call(json_content)).to_json
           end
         end
       end
diff --git a/lib/pact_broker/pacts/generate_sha.rb b/lib/pact_broker/pacts/generate_sha.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..bb47f113f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/pact_broker/pacts/generate_sha.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+require 'digest/sha1'
+require 'pact_broker/configuration'
+require 'pact_broker/pacts/sort_content'
+require 'pact_broker/pacts/parse'
+require 'pact_broker/pacts/content'
+
+module PactBroker
+  module Pacts
+    class GenerateSha
+      def self.call json_content, options = {}
+        content_for_sha = if PactBroker.configuration.base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results
+          extract_verifiable_content_for_sha(json_content)
+        else
+          json_content
+        end
+        Digest::SHA1.hexdigest(content_for_sha)
+      end
+
+      def self.extract_verifiable_content_for_sha json_content
+        Content.from_json(json_content).sort.content_that_affects_verification_results.to_json
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/pact_broker/pacts/parse.rb b/lib/pact_broker/pacts/parse.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..768c9ab26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/pact_broker/pacts/parse.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+require 'pact_broker/json'
+
+module PactBroker
+  module Pacts
+    class Parse
+      def self.call(json)
+        JSON.parse(json, PACT_PARSING_OPTIONS)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/pact_broker/pacts/repository.rb b/lib/pact_broker/pacts/repository.rb
index 873415f2d..3edea2195 100644
--- a/lib/pact_broker/pacts/repository.rb
+++ b/lib/pact_broker/pacts/repository.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-require 'digest/sha1'
 require 'sequel'
 require 'ostruct'
 require 'pact_broker/logging'
+require 'pact_broker/pacts/generate_sha'
 require 'pact_broker/pacts/pact_publication'
 require 'pact_broker/pacts/all_pact_publications'
 require 'pact_broker/pacts/latest_pact_publications_by_consumer_version'
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 require 'pact_broker/pacts/latest_tagged_pact_publications'
 require 'pact/shared/json_differ'
 require 'pact_broker/domain'
+require 'pact_broker/pacts/parse'
 
 module PactBroker
   module Pacts
@@ -197,7 +198,7 @@ def different? pact, other_pact
       end
 
       def find_or_create_pact_version consumer_id, provider_id, json_content
-        sha = Digest::SHA1.hexdigest(json_content)
+        sha = PactBroker.configuration.sha_generator.call(json_content)
         PactVersion.find(sha: sha, consumer_id: consumer_id, provider_id: provider_id) || create_pact_version(consumer_id, provider_id, sha, json_content)
       end
 
@@ -206,7 +207,6 @@ def create_pact_version consumer_id, provider_id, sha, json_content
         pact_version = PactVersion.new(consumer_id: consumer_id, provider_id: provider_id, sha: sha, content: json_content)
         pact_version.save
       end
-
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/pact_broker/pacts/sort_content.rb b/lib/pact_broker/pacts/sort_content.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e661d3640
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/pact_broker/pacts/sort_content.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+require 'pact_broker/json'
+
+module PactBroker
+  module Pacts
+    class SortContent
+      def self.call pact_hash
+        key = verifiable_content_key_for(pact_hash)
+
+        if key
+          content = pact_hash[key]
+          sorted_pact_hash = order_object(pact_hash)
+          sorted_pact_hash[key] = order_verifiable_content(content)
+          sorted_pact_hash
+        else
+          pact_hash
+        end
+      end
+
+      def self.verifiable_content_key_for pact_hash
+        if pact_hash['interactions']
+          'interactions'
+        elsif pact_hash['messages']
+          'messages'
+        else
+          nil
+        end
+      end
+
+
+      def self.order_verifiable_content array
+        array_with_ordered_hashes = order_object(array)
+        array_with_ordered_hashes.sort{|a, b| a.to_json <=> b.to_json }
+      end
+
+      def self.order_object thing
+        case thing
+          when Hash then order_hash(thing)
+          when Array then order_child_array(thing)
+        else thing
+        end
+      end
+
+      def self.order_child_array array
+        array.collect{|thing| order_object(thing) }
+      end
+
+      def self.order_hash hash
+        hash.keys.sort.each_with_object({}) do | key, new_hash |
+          new_hash[key] = order_object(hash[key])
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/pact_broker/pacts/sort_verifiable_content.rb b/lib/pact_broker/pacts/sort_verifiable_content.rb
deleted file mode 100644
index b9149e506..000000000
--- a/lib/pact_broker/pacts/sort_verifiable_content.rb
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,41 +0,0 @@
-require 'pact_broker/json'
-
-module PactBroker
-  module Pacts
-    class SortVerifiableContent
-
-      def self.call json
-        hash = JSON.parse(json, PACT_PARSING_OPTIONS)
-        verifiable_content = if hash['interactions']
-          hash['interactions']
-        elsif hash['messages']
-          hash['messages']
-        end
-        order_verifiable_content(verifiable_content).to_json
-      end
-
-      def self.order_verifiable_content array
-        array_with_ordered_hashes = order_hashes(array)
-        array_with_ordered_hashes.sort{|a, b| a.to_json <=> b.to_json }
-      end
-
-      def self.order_hashes thing
-        case thing
-          when Hash then order_hash(thing)
-          when Array then order_child_array(thing)
-        else thing
-        end
-      end
-
-      def self.order_child_array array
-        array.collect{|thing| order_hashes(thing) }
-      end
-
-      def self.order_hash hash
-        hash.keys.sort.each_with_object({}) do | key, new_hash |
-          new_hash[key] = order_hashes(hash[key])
-        end
-      end
-    end
-  end
-end
diff --git a/spec/features/base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results_spec.rb b/spec/features/base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..d6c21883a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/features/base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+RSpec.describe "base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results" do
+  let(:td) { TestDataBuilder.new }
+  let(:json_content_1) { load_fixture('foo-bar.json') }
+  let(:json_content_2) do
+    pact_hash = load_json_fixture('foo-bar.json')
+    pact_hash['interactions'] = pact_hash['interactions'].reverse
+    pact_hash.to_json
+  end
+  let(:base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results) { true }
+
+  before do
+    PactBroker.configuration.base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results = base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results
+    td.create_pact_with_hierarchy("Foo", "1", "Bar", json_content_1)
+      .create_verification(provider_version: "5")
+      .create_consumer_version("2")
+      .create_pact(json_content: json_content_2)
+  end
+
+  context "when a pact is published with a different order of interactions to a previous version, but which is otherwise the same" do
+    context "when base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results is true" do
+      it "applies the verifications from the previous version" do
+        expect(PactBroker::Matrix::Row.all).to contain_hash(consumer_version_number: "2", provider_version_number: "5")
+      end
+    end
+
+    context "when base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results is false" do
+      let(:base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results) { false }
+
+      it "does not apply the verifications from the previous version" do
+        expect(PactBroker::Matrix::Row.all).to_not contain_hash(consumer_version_number: "2", provider_version_number: "5")
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/content_spec.rb b/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/content_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..54c67f08e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/content_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,166 @@
+require 'pact_broker/pacts/content'
+
+module PactBroker
+  module Pacts
+    describe Content do
+      describe "content_that_affects_verification_results" do
+
+        subject { Content.from_hash(pact_hash).content_that_affects_verification_results }
+
+        context "with messages" do
+          let(:pact_hash) do
+            {
+              'ignored' => 'foo',
+              'messages' => [1],
+              'metadata' => {
+                'pactSpecification' => {
+                  'version' => '1'
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          end
+
+          let(:expected_content) do
+            {
+              'messages' => [1],
+              'pact_specification_version' => '1'
+            }
+          end
+
+          it "extracts the messages and pact_specification_version" do
+            expect(subject).to eq expected_content
+          end
+        end
+
+        context "with interactions" do
+          let(:pact_hash) do
+            {
+              'ignored' => 'foo',
+              'interactions' => [1],
+              'metadata' => {
+                'pactSpecification' => {
+                  'version' => '1'
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          end
+
+          let(:expected_content) do
+            {
+              'interactions' => [1],
+              'pact_specification_version' => '1'
+            }
+          end
+
+          it "extracts the interactions and pact_specification_version" do
+            expect(subject).to eq expected_content
+          end
+        end
+
+        context "with both messages and interactions, even though this should never happen" do
+          let(:pact_hash) do
+            {
+              'ignored' => 'foo',
+              'interactions' => [1],
+              'messages' => [2],
+              'metadata' => {
+                'pactSpecification' => {
+                  'version' => '1'
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          end
+
+          let(:expected_content) do
+            {
+              'interactions' => [1],
+              'messages' => [2],
+              'pact_specification_version' => '1'
+            }
+          end
+
+          it "extracts the interactions and pact_specification_version" do
+            expect(subject).to eq expected_content
+          end
+        end
+
+        context "with neither messages nor interactions" do
+          let(:pact_hash) do
+            {
+              'ignored' => 'foo',
+              'foo' => [1],
+              'metadata' => {
+                'pactSpecification' => {
+                  'version' => '1'
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          end
+
+          it "returns the entire hash" do
+            expect(subject).to eq pact_hash
+          end
+        end
+
+        context "when somebody publishes an array as the top level element" do
+          let(:pact_hash) do
+            [{ "foo" => "bar" }]
+          end
+
+          it "returns the entire document" do
+            expect(subject).to eq pact_hash
+          end
+        end
+      end
+
+      describe "#pact_specification_version" do
+        subject { Content.from_hash(json) }
+        context 'with pactSpecification.version' do
+          let(:json) do
+            {
+              'metadata' => {
+                'pactSpecification' => {
+                  'version' => '1'
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          end
+
+          its(:pact_specification_version) { is_expected.to eq '1' }
+        end
+
+        context 'with pact-specification.version' do
+          let(:json) do
+            {
+              'metadata' => {
+                'pact-specification' => {
+                  'version' => '1'
+                }
+              }
+            }
+          end
+
+          its(:pact_specification_version) { is_expected.to eq '1' }
+        end
+
+        context 'with pactSpecificationVersion' do
+          let(:json) do
+            {
+              'metadata' => {
+                'pactSpecificationVersion' => '1'
+              }
+            }
+          end
+
+          its(:pact_specification_version) { is_expected.to eq '1' }
+        end
+
+        context 'with an array for content' do
+          let(:json) { [] }
+
+          its(:pact_specification_version) { is_expected.to eq nil }
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/create_formatted_diff_spec.rb b/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/create_formatted_diff_spec.rb
index 0d3306757..672fedceb 100644
--- a/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/create_formatted_diff_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/create_formatted_diff_spec.rb
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 module PactBroker
   module Pacts
     describe CreateFormattedDiff do
-
       describe ".call" do
 
         let(:pact_content_version_1) do
@@ -24,9 +23,7 @@ module Pacts
           expect(subject).to match /\+.*get/
           expect(subject).to_not include 'Key'
         end
-
       end
-
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/generate_sha_spec.rb b/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/generate_sha_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c7edb1f67
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/generate_sha_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+require 'pact_broker/pacts/generate_sha'
+
+module PactBroker
+  module Pacts
+    describe GenerateSha do
+      describe ".call integration test" do
+        let(:json_content) do
+          {
+            interactions: [{a: 1, b: 2}, {c: 3, d: 4}],
+            metadata: {
+              pactSpecification: {
+                version: '1'
+              }
+            }
+          }.to_json
+        end
+
+        let(:json_content_with_only_order_difference) do
+          {
+            interactions: [{d: 4, c: 3}, {b: 2, a: 1}],
+            metadata: {
+              :'pact-specification' => {
+                version: '1'
+              }
+            }
+          }.to_json
+        end
+
+        let(:json_content_with_diff_interactions) do
+          {
+            interactions: [{a: 9999, b: 2}, {c: 3, d: 4}],
+            metadata: {
+              pactSpecification: {
+                version: '1'
+              }
+            }
+          }.to_json
+        end
+
+        before do
+          allow(Content).to receive(:from_json).and_return(content)
+          allow(content).to receive(:sort).and_return(content)
+        end
+
+        let(:content) { instance_double('PactBroker::Pacts::Content', content_that_affects_verification_results: content_that_affects_verification_results) }
+        let(:content_that_affects_verification_results) { double('content', to_json: 'foo') }
+
+        subject { GenerateSha.call(json_content) }
+
+        it "accepts options in case there is any future requirement for a second argument" do
+          expect{ GenerateSha.call(json_content, some: 'options') }.to_not raise_error
+        end
+
+        context "when equality is based on the verifiable content only" do
+          before do
+            PactBroker.configuration.base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results = true
+          end
+
+          it "sorts the content" do
+            expect(content).to receive(:sort)
+            subject
+          end
+
+          it "creates the sha from the sorted content JSON" do
+            expect(Digest::SHA1).to receive(:hexdigest).with(content_that_affects_verification_results.to_json)
+            subject
+          end
+
+          it "returns the sha" do
+            expect(subject).to eq "0beec7b5ea3f0fdbc95d0dd47f3c5bc275da8a33"
+          end
+        end
+
+        context "when equality is based on the verifiable content only" do
+          it "does not sort the content" do
+            expect(Content).to_not receive(:from_json)
+            subject
+          end
+
+          it "creates the sha from the original JSON" do
+            expect(Digest::SHA1).to receive(:hexdigest).with(json_content)
+            subject
+          end
+
+          it "returns the sha" do
+            expect(subject).to eq "ebc0feee91fb7fc0acf8420426184478ebaf648a"
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/repository_spec.rb b/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/repository_spec.rb
index 3ef33adbc..114b0dd1c 100644
--- a/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/repository_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/repository_spec.rb
@@ -38,7 +38,11 @@ module Pacts
           expect(subject.created_at).to be_datey
         end
 
-        context "when a pact already exists with the same content" do
+        context "when a pact already exists with exactly the same content" do
+          before do
+            PactBroker.configuration.base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results = false
+          end
+
           let(:another_version) { Versions::Repository.new.create number: '2.0.0', pacticipant_id: consumer.id }
 
           before do
@@ -49,8 +53,47 @@ module Pacts
             Repository.new.create version_id: another_version.id, consumer_id: consumer.id, provider_id: provider.id, json_content: json_content
           end
 
+          it "does not the content" do
+            expect_any_instance_of(Content).to_not receive(:sort)
+            subject
+          end
+
+          it "creates a new PactPublication" do
+            expect { subject }.to change{ PactPublication.count }.by(1)
+          end
+
           it "reuses the same PactVersion to save room" do
-            expect { subject }.to change{ PactVersion.count }.by(0)
+            expect { subject }.to_not change{ PactVersion.count }
+          end
+        end
+
+        context "when base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results is true" do
+          let(:another_version) { Versions::Repository.new.create number: '2.0.0', pacticipant_id: consumer.id }
+          let(:sha_1) { '1' }
+          let(:sha_2) { '1' }
+
+          before do
+            PactBroker.configuration.base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results = true
+            allow(PactBroker.configuration.sha_generator).to receive(:call).and_return(sha_1, sha_2)
+            Repository.new.create version_id: version.id, consumer_id: consumer.id, provider_id: provider.id, json_content: json_content
+          end
+
+          subject do
+            Repository.new.create version_id: another_version.id, consumer_id: consumer.id, provider_id: provider.id, json_content: json_content
+          end
+
+          context "when the sha is the same" do
+            it "reuses the same PactVersion to save room" do
+              expect { subject }.to_not change{ PactVersion.count }
+            end
+          end
+
+          context "when the sha is not the same" do
+            let(:sha_2) { '2' }
+
+            it "creates a new PactVersion" do
+              expect { subject }.to change{ PactVersion.count }.by(1)
+            end
           end
         end
 
@@ -65,7 +108,7 @@ module Pacts
             Repository.new.create version_id: another_version.id, consumer_id: consumer.id, provider_id: provider.id, json_content: json_content
           end
 
-          it "does not reuse the same PactVersion to save room" do
+          it "does not reuse the same PactVersion" do
             expect { subject }.to change{ PactVersion.count }.by(1)
           end
         end
@@ -524,7 +567,7 @@ module Pacts
         let(:pact_content_version_1) { load_fixture('consumer-provider.json') }
         let(:pact_content_version_2) do
           hash = load_json_fixture('consumer-provider.json')
-          hash['foo'] = 'bar' # Extra key will affect equality
+          hash['interactions'].first['foo'] = 'bar' # Extra key in interactions will affect equality
           hash.to_json
         end
         let(:pact_content_version_3) {  load_fixture('consumer-provider.json') }
diff --git a/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/sort_content_spec.rb b/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/sort_content_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ca4304b51
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/sort_content_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+require 'pact_broker/pacts/sort_content'
+
+module PactBroker
+  module Pacts
+    describe SortContent do
+      let(:pact_content_1) do
+        {
+          'a' => 1,
+          'interactions' => [{ 'a' => 1, 'b' => 2 }, { 'a' => [2, 1, 3], 'b' => 3 }]
+        }
+      end
+
+      let(:pact_content_2) do
+        {
+          'interactions' => [{ 'b' => 3, 'a' => [2, 1, 3]}, { 'b' => 2, 'a' => 1 }],
+          'a' => 1
+        }
+      end
+
+      let(:expected_sorted_content) do
+        '{"a":1,"interactions":[{"a":1,"b":2},{"a":[2,1,3],"b":3}]}'
+      end
+
+      it "sorts the interactions/messages and keys in a deterministic way" do
+        expect(SortContent.call(pact_content_1).to_json).to eq(expected_sorted_content)
+        expect(SortContent.call(pact_content_2).to_json).to eq(expected_sorted_content)
+      end
+
+      context "when there is no messages or interactions key" do
+        let(:other_content) do
+          {
+            'z' => 1,
+            'a' => 1,
+            'b' => 1,
+          }
+        end
+
+        it "does not change the content" do
+          expect(SortContent.call(other_content)).to eq other_content
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/sort_verifiable_content_spec.rb b/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/sort_verifiable_content_spec.rb
deleted file mode 100644
index 459e916d1..000000000
--- a/spec/lib/pact_broker/pacts/sort_verifiable_content_spec.rb
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,25 +0,0 @@
-require 'pact_broker/pacts/sort_verifiable_content'
-
-module PactBroker
-  module Pacts
-    describe SortVerifiableContent do
-      let(:pact_content_1) do
-        {
-          a: 1,
-          interactions: [{ a: 1, b: 2 }, { a: 2, b: 3 }]
-        }.to_json
-      end
-
-      let(:pact_content_2) do
-        {
-          interactions: [{ b: 3, a: 2}, { b: 2, a: 1 }],
-          a: 1
-        }.to_json
-      end
-
-      it "sorts the interactions/messages and keys in a deterministic way" do
-        expect(SortVerifiableContent.call(pact_content_1).to_json).to eq(SortVerifiableContent.call(pact_content_2).to_json)
-      end
-    end
-  end
-end
diff --git a/spec/spec_helper.rb b/spec/spec_helper.rb
index a510046a0..ed2b8ca1e 100644
--- a/spec/spec_helper.rb
+++ b/spec/spec_helper.rb
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 RSpec.configure do | config |
   config.before :each do
     PactBroker.reset_configuration
+    PactBroker.configuration.base_equality_only_on_content_that_affects_verification_results = false
     require 'pact_broker/badges/service'
     PactBroker::Badges::Service.clear_cache
   end
diff --git a/spec/support/foo-bar.json b/spec/support/foo-bar.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7f0d88f24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/support/foo-bar.json
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+{
+  "consumer": {
+    "name": "Foo"
+  },
+  "provider": {
+    "name": "Bar"
+  },
+  "interactions": [
+    {
+      "description": "a retrieve thing request",
+      "request": {
+        "method": "get",
+        "path": "/thing"
+      },
+      "response": {
+        "status": 200
+      }
+    },{
+      "description": "another retrieve thing request",
+      "request": {
+        "method": "get",
+        "path": "/another-thing"
+      },
+      "response": {
+        "status": 200
+      }
+    }
+  ],
+  "metadata": {
+    "pactSpecification": {
+      "version": "2.0.0"
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/spec/support/test_data_builder.rb b/spec/support/test_data_builder.rb
index c762bffa0..07fc70a53 100644
--- a/spec/support/test_data_builder.rb
+++ b/spec/support/test_data_builder.rb
@@ -340,5 +340,4 @@ def default_json_content
        "random" => rand
      }.to_json
    end
-
 end