Sunday Morning Service

Matthew 5-7 (Click title for audio access)

"A Sermonic Retrospective" • 6.27.10 • Sunday Morning Service

Intro.

- We have finished an examination of the sermon on the mount, from a section by section vantage point. I will not lie: I could not have enjoyed 6 week journey much more.

- To bask in the very thoughts of the Lord Jesus and to look at my life through His lens, is at once daunting and satisfying.

- When we began chapter 5, I told you that we would be incapable of covering everything in one pass. I promised that we would again quickly fly back over to gather a few more insights.

- That is what we are going to do today.

- In the two final verses of chapter 7, Matthew records the response of that first audience.

• Matthew 7:28,29 : "And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."

- Literally, their mouths were wide open. They stood in silence and in awe. Matthew records that it was His authority that impressed them.

- This primarily refers to a direct difference between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees.

- It was not unusual for Rabbis to quote other Rabbis, ad nauseaum. It would have been a very rare Rabbi who finally gave his own opinion on any matter.

- In contrast, Jesus says over and over again: "You have heard it said, BUT I SAY to you."

- Additionally, there are three other impressive elements. The first was the brevity that marks this sermon. There is no fluff, simply swift movement from one amazing thought to another.

- Second, is the breadth that marks His sermon. It covers every aspect of life on earth and carries us into the depth of eternity.

- Finally, there is the definition. Jesus sets a definitive tone on 4 different subjects that are most important to our Christian lives.

- Today, I want to pick up these themes that are worthy of a little more of our attention. We'll look at them in this order:

I. His Righteousness

II. His Fatherhood

III. His Kingdom

IV. His Reward

Text

I. His Righteousness

- The overarching theme of the sermon on the mount is the righteousness of God. Matthew 5:20 is the thematic centerpiece of Christ's thought.

• Matthew 5:20 : "For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."

- The righteousness that Jesus respects is a righteousness that is different from that of the scribes and Pharisees. This righteousness is overabundant, overflowing righteousness.

- It is given to God's people, the ones who recognize their poverty and who hunger consistently for God's righteouness.

- To that person looking outside of Himself and toward God, God grants the righteousness of Christ. It is foreign to any natural human being.

- It does not originate in us. It cannot be worked up. We cannot attain it. It must be given to us. It must be declared over us.

- Turn with me to Genesis 15. Abram has been told that His descendants would be numerous and that they would bless the families of the entire earth via the Messiah.

• Genesis 15:6 : "And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness."

- In this case, I would commend the rendering of the New Living Translation which is a more accurate rendering.

• Genesis 15:6 (NLT) : "And Abram believed the Lord, and the Lord declared him righteous because of his faith."

- God saw Abraham's belief. He saw genuine trust and He said, "I declare that He is as a righteous man."

- Abraham believed in what was yet future to Him in the same way that we believe what has been done in the past. When that happens, we have righteousness that comes from God.

- Literally it is Christ's righteousness that we will never achieve, but that we can experience.

- His righteousness expresses itself through me when I stand and commit to allow the Lord to act through me.

- His righteousness seeks to honor God above and beyond any human audience. It is His righteousness within us that makes us act out the tenets within the sermon on the mount.

- It's His righteousness that is seen most clearly in what has been called the "Golden Rule."

• Matthew 7:12 : "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

- To act in such a way expresses the totality of what was expressed within the Old Testament.

- How can we experience this? That is the work of the Holy Spirit. He reminds us of His Word and then enables us to surrender to what God wants to do through us.

II. His Fatherhood

- Early in the sermon on the mount, Jesus tells His disciples of God's Fatherhood relationship to them. It is seen as early as the Beatitudes.

• Matthew 5:9 : "Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God."

• Matthew 5:16 : "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."

- Looking at God as a our Father causes us to consider many different things. We begin with an understanding of divine, intimate concern.

- To the original audience, this was a foreign concept. God's eye was toward Jerusalem and towards His people but that was the extent of that concept for the Jewish people.

- To comprehend a God that desired to exist in a Father/Son relationship required a bit more, but it is well within the Sermon on the Mount.

- Note from these verses what the Father's role is in our lives.

• Matthew 6:31,32 : "Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."

- He is a God intimately acquainted with our needs. He knows and our understanding of His knowledge should propel us to trust Him more.

- Furthermore, He is a Father who sees.

- In chapter 6, we are given several practices that are meant to be done unto the Lord. We are to do them, but not to be seen by men. We are to do them solely unto the Lord.

• Matthew 6:3,4 : "But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly."

- This statement is repeated twice after this in chapter 6. He is involved in our lives and He sees our activities.

- He is a Father who is intimately concerned and intimately involved in our lives. Our response is to be like Him by taking on characteristics that glorify Him and that reveal our relationship to Him.

• Matthew 5:43-48 : "You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

- Take note of those phrases: "That you may be sons of your Father in heaven." "You shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."

- When He expresses His character through us, when we respond as He responds, we reveal our relationship to Him! People say, "He (or she) is acting just like their Father."

- That is at once, our responsibility, our goal and our greatest compliment!

III. His Kingdom

- God's Kingdom plays a strong note within the sermon on the mount. Matthew uses two interchangeable terms: The Kingdom of heaven and the Kingdom of God. It's the same thing.

- The Kingdom concept is divided into two parts. First refers to the immediate surrender to Kingdom rule.

- That is what a Christian is: An individual living with a claim to and a responsibility toward God's Kingdom. His Kingdom belongs to those with Kingdom attitudes.

• Matthew 5:3 : "Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

• Matthew 5:10 : "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "

- His Kingdom belongs to those with Kingdom priorities.

• Matthew 6:10 : "Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven."

• Matthew 6:33 : "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

- Christians live today as people who already belong to a Kingdom that has yet to come to complete fulfillment. We live in light of Kingdom reality, all of which is assured to us in the future.

- Turn over to Philippians 3. Paul explains a little more about this reality.

• Philippians 3:18-21 : "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."

- Someday, as our cry "your Kingdom come" intimates, we will see it in it's full expression, where Christ is lifted to the highest place, where we will serve and love Him without shame or fear.

- It will be there, in His fulfilled Kingdom, where the principles and commands of the sermon on the mount will be the normative activity. It will be standard. It will be the rule of the streets!

IV. His Reward

- In many ways, what we have seen thus far qualifies just fine as a reward. When you and I think of reward, we have to understand that we have enough reward right now.

- We have peace with God in this life. The hostility between us has been settled at the cross.

- We have been given His Spirit who gives us wisdom and direction.

- That being the case, reward is a constant theme throughout the sermon.

• Matthew 5:11,12 : "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

- Jesus says in 6:4, 6:6 and 6:18 that "the Father who sees in secret will reward openly."

- Each time that the word "reward" is used, it refers to a laborers wage. It is the natural expectation that comes from work.

- I read this week that unless a thing is good for something, it is good for nothing!

- There is a reward at the end of the Christian life, an expectation of good. What is that reward? Is it precious metals and jewels?

- Looking at the book of Revelation and we understand that gold is pavement and jewels are part of the walls of the heavenly city!

- The reward for a Christian in the life after is the same as it is today, except that the benefits there will be to the perfect degree.

- The reward is a simple as the first word of this sermon: "Blessed." We noted that the word has been translated happy, but that a more appropriate understanding is one of satisfaction.

- The Christian man or woman can look forward to a contented, satisfied eternity.

- On the other hand, the opposite is true for those who seek satisfaction in this life.

- They seek the approval of men through religious show and they have their reward.

- They seek to serve material things (mammon) and those are their rewards.

- They choose the wide, comfortable road, thinking that they have found life, but are indeed moving steadily, digressively toward utter and complete ruin, and that, for eternity.

• Matthew 7:13b : "for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it."

- In the same way that the reward of satisfaction is perfected in the presence of Christ, so also is the ruin perfected in the absence of Christ!

- For eternity, there are those who will know ruin and experience loss upon loss, as they are tormented, cursed and lost forever.

Conclusion

- These are the stakes. This is what we are all playing for. When I surrender my life to Christ, I am opening the door for His righteousness to flow through me.

- He is my Father and I am His son. He is my King and I am His subject. He is my reward and He is yours as well.

Thursday Night Bible Study

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Genesis 35:16-Genesis 37 

"Transitions" • 6.24.10 • Thursday Night Bible Study

Intro.

- Jacob's family story has been one of many ups and downs. There have been more difficult chapters than there have been exemplary ones.

- His family has been called back to Hebron, and they are just about there in the narrative before us. What we see is a family that seems to careen closer and closer to the edge of disaster.

- This chapter continues that slide.

Text

• Genesis 35:16-22 : "Then they journeyed from Bethel. And when there was but a little distance to go to Ephrath, Rachel labored in childbirth, and she had hard labor. Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, 'Do not fear; you will have this son also.' And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin. So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem). And Jacob set a pillar on her grave, which is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. Then Israel journeyed and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder. And it happened, when Israel dwelt in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine; and Israel heard about it." : Jacob's beloved wife Rachel dies here in childbirth, bearing Jacob's last child.

- As she was dying, Rachel decided to call the baby "Ben-Oni." That name represented Rachel's sorrow, as it literally means "son of my sorrow."

- Jacob would not honor that. He called this final son "Son of the right hand!" Literally, the "son of prosperity!" Benjamin and Joseph were going to be the spoiled ones of the twelve.

- Rachel is buried out on the way to Ephrath, which is Bethlehem. Why did Jacob not take Rachel with them? That is not given to us.

- He gave her a headstone and set up a pillar there to honor the body.

- Now, as the family settles down near this area, Reuben, the oldest, took Jacob's concubine unto himself. Again, Jacob heard about it, but does nothing about it.

- This was a supreme insult to Jacob. It will come back to haunt Reuben later.

• Genesis 35:23-29 : "Now the sons of Jacob were twelve: the sons of Leah were Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, and Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun; the sons of Rachel were Joseph and Benjamin; the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, were Dan and Naphtali; and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant, were Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Padan Aram. Then Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had dwelt. Now the days of Isaac were one hundred and eighty years. So Isaac breathed his last and died, and was gathered to his people, being old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him." : When Jacob returned to Hebron, Isaac was still alive.

- Isaac believed that he was going to die many years prior to this. It was his fear and purpose to disobey that helped open the doors for what has transpired over these last several chapters.

- Despite that Isaac was old and full of days. Getting to see his grandkids brought that extra joy to Him. Jacob's sons met and likely learned from Isaac about faith in the Lord in those final days.

• Genesis 36:1 : "Now this is the genealogy of Esau, who is Edom." : We are going to pass this chapter up, in terms of reading through all of these names.

- Esau, it turns out, seemed to be a pretty decent man, graciously greeting Jacob, voluntarily leaving Canaan so that Jacob could dwell there (v.6,7) and returning to bury Isaac.

- God wants the people to know Esau is Edom. That is repeated 4 times in this chapter.

- The reason why this chapter exists is for the people who would later read this book. They needed these details because Edom was a nation that was to be left alone.

- Turn over to Deuteronomy 2. The people had been very near to Mt. Seir for some time.

• Deuteronomy 2:4-6 : "And command the people, saying, 'You are about to pass through the territory of your brethren, the descendants of Esau, who live in Seir; and they will be afraid of you. Therefore watch yourselves carefully. Do not meddle with them, for I will not give you any of their land, no, not so much as one footstep, because I have given Mount Seir to Esau as a possession. You shall buy food from them with money, that you may eat; and you shall also buy water from them with money, that you may drink."

- After this time, Edom, the nation, becames a national enemy to Israel. They refused Israel passage through their land and thoroughly discouraged them. Why were they so hostile?

- Remember that Esau was tied to two condemned groups of Canaanites, as well as a rejected bloodline. He had married a Hivite, a Hittite and an ishmaelite.

- These people had no regard for the things of God and were the perfect breeding ground for one of Israel's most fierce enemies. In verse 12, Esau's concubine gave birth to little Amalek.

- Amalek and his descendants became a violent marauding tribe throughout that region. Their calling card was seen first as the people of God were coming out of Egypt.

- At that time Joshua won a victory over them at Rephidim, but God was not done with them.

- Turn over to Deuteronomy 25. God explains why He decreed their extinction.

• Deuteronomy 25:17-19 : "Remember what Amalek did to you on the way as you were coming out of Egypt, how he met you on the way and attacked your rear ranks, all the stragglers at your rear, when you were tired and weary; and he did not fear God. Therefore it shall be, when the Lord your God has given you rest from your enemies all around, in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance, that you will blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget."

- Esau might have been a decent fellow, but most of what came after him was hostile to God.

• Genesis 37:1-4 : "Now Jacob dwelt in the land where his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. This is the history of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers. And the lad was with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives; and Joseph brought a bad report of them to his father. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age. Also he made him a tunic of many colors. But when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him." : The story is still tied to Jacob, though Joseph will be our main focus.

- He was a very young man, a son of Jacob's favorite wife. What we see here is the defining moments of his young life.

- Joseph was a shepherd, feeding with Dan, Naphtali, Gad and Asher. Joseph brought a "bad report of them" to Jacob.

- The sense of this is that he told Jacob some of their evil activities. Think of all that these guys had already done and there is no doubt that more was taking place.

- Joseph had seen their behavior in the past and how it had affected their family and he would not stand by and let it continue.

- Israel favored Joseph over all of his children. This is an interesting thing to say. He probably saw Rachel in Joseph's face. He saw a miracle, in that He was extremely old when Joseph was born.

- Compared his other sons, Joseph was a joy. His heart for righteousness alone continually re-affirmed Joseph to Jacob's heart.

- Joseph was not causing trouble among other tribes like Simeon and Levi had with the Shechemites. He was not trying to steal time with Jacob's concubine as Reuben had.

- And obviously, he was not doing whatever these other boys had been doing out in the field.

- When a child loves what is right and does what is right, that child is loved greatly.

- Jacob's love began to express itself more publicly as time went on, which is always a mistake. Favoritism is the breeding ground for all sorts of evil to transpire.

- Jacob promotes Joseph by making a tunic for him. This might be better considered as a large robe, with overgrown sleeves and ornately designed.

- It is well adorned, not meant for a simple shepherd, but more for a supervisor of shepherds. - This was obvious to the other brothers. They hated Joseph and could say nothing good to him. Literally, they offered him no shalom, which is the common greeting!

• Genesis 37:5-8 : "Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. So he said to them, 'Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.' And his brothers said to him, 'Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?' So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words." : Things only got worse for Joseph, as he spoke of this dream that he had about his life.

- Something was special about him and he was not afraid to talk about it. I will say, if I had older brothers the likes of Simeon and Levi, I might have passed on telling this dream!

- Sometimes it is wise to let the Lord's personal words for our lives be just that: Personal!

- The dream was of wheat bundles tied together. These bundles representing each of the brothers, bowed to Joseph's. The brothers' jealousy spiked.

- The thought of God elevating this teen to a place of authority over them brought even greater hatred toward Joseph.

• Genesis 37:9-11 : "Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, 'Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.' So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, 'What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?' And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind." : This second dream was even more difficult for the brothers to swallow. Joseph dreamt of his brothers, as well as his parents bowing down to him.

- Jacob rebuked Joseph for his dream. His brothers went from being unable to speak peacably to him, to hating him, to envying him.

- Jacob tucked this thought away: Could this mean something? Could this be of the Lord? Unfortunately, Jacob again fails to say anything about it!

- His affirmation of God's potential activities might have helped here.

• Genesis 37:12-17 : "Then his brothers went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. And Israel said to Joseph, 'Are not your brothers feeding the flock in Shechem? Come, I will send you to them.' So he said to him, 'Here I am.' Then he said to him, 'Please go and see if it is well with your brothers and well with the flocks, and bring back word to me.' So he sent him out of the Valley of Hebron, and he went to Shechem. Now a certain man found him, and there he was, wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, 'What are you seeking?' So he said, 'I am seeking my brothers. Please tell me where they are feeding their flocks.' And the man said, 'They have departed from here, for I heard them say, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’ So Joseph went after his brothers and found them in Dothan." : The brothers had gone out, but Joseph had remained at home with Israel. Their relationship was growing closer. Jacob's desire was to groom Joseph for power.

- Joseph's job was to oversee the flocks of Israel. Israel is about to send Joseph to check upon his brothers, which was going to be a difficult assignment. I might have said, "Dad, hows about no!"

- Joseph says "Here I am." Each time I see this response, I sense total obedience, total willingness to do whatever was asked.

- Abraham said this before going up to Mt. Moriah. Isaiah will say this when he accepts God's commission to go. Here, Joseph says it, in the middle of certain difficulty.

- The boys were in Shechem, which was a curious place to be hanging out. It was a place where they had been previously influenced. It was a place of failure. It was a place of desolation.

- Israel sent Joseph, who came to find that the boys were no longer at Shechem, but had moved over to Dothan, which means "Double sickness."

- The Father had send Joseph to find his sons, who had gone from bad to worse. Joseph, after some more traveling found his brothers in Dothan.

• Genesis 37:18-22 : "Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Then they said to one another, 'Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!' But Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, 'Let us not kill him.' And Reuben said to them, 'Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him'—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father." : Joseph became visible to the other sons of Israel. His unique coat gave him away.

- Their digression has led them to this exact situation. They could not speak peaceably, they hated and envied him. Now, they want to act on their anger.

- They want to act on their anger and use their deceptive nature. Each of these guys stood to lose even more of Israel's favor for Joseph's report of them.

- Interesting, remember that this is the family that God was going to bring the Messiah through and hate, envy and anger are all alive and well.

- Reuben alone stands to defend Joseph, in terms of trying to keep Joseph alive.

- He does not mind the plan to humble Joseph, but he did not want to murder his half-brother.

- At this point it, seems that Reuben left the scene. He leaves and Joseph comes.

• Genesis 37:23-28 : "So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it. And they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. So Judah said to his brothers, 'What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.' And his brothers listened. Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt." : The boys stripped the tunic first. What did they tunic represent to them? It was Jacob's authority over them through Joseph.

- The first thing they did was to remove that from Joseph, in an attempt to bring him down to their level. His garments separated him from them.

- They put Joseph down into the pit and then sat down to eat! These guys were heartless! Their hatred for him was deep enough to allow them to eat while Joseph screamed for mercy.

- Seeing these Ishmaelite traders woke up an enterprising opportunity to their minds. Judah conceived this idea, presumably for the profit, but possibly to keep his brothers from killing.

- Later on some Midianites came by and Joseph was sold in Egypt for 20 shekels.

• Genesis 37:29-36 : "Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he tore his clothes. And he returned to his brothers and said, 'The lad is no more; and I, where shall I go?' So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood. Then they sent the tunic of many colors, and they brought it to their father and said, 'We have found this. Do you know whether it is your son’s tunic or not?' And he recognized it and said, 'It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.' Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth on his waist, and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted, and he said, 'For I shall go down into the grave to my son in mourning.' Thus his father wept for him. Now the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard." : Reuben came back and was grieved. This would have been his second sin, the first being his relationship with Israel's concubine.

- Now, they went with a plan to deceive Jacob with his son's coat. Being ultimate deceivers like their father, they let Jacob fill in the details.

- It is Jacob who speaks out his worst fears and put the pieces together: It was a wild animal that did this! One might have wondered at his deductive reasoning.

- Was he really fooled or just so unwilling to see the brothers obvious play? Either way, the boys were temporarily off the hook, done with Joseph and life would now go on.

- Jacob mourned for many days, refusing to be comforted. There was nothing that could be said. He was deeply grieved and his heart was torn out. In the meantime, Joseph was very alive.

- It's sad to say that Joseph, though likely incapable of seeing this as a blessing, was being brought to a place of safety that he could not have had in his own home!

- He was brought into the very house of one of the men in charge of executions. Potiphar was in charge of political prisoners. Joseph would be placed there in his service.

Conclusion

- Joseph was a pattern breaker. He was the one member in Jacob's family that would not be influenced or swayed by his brother's rebellion.

- Joseph is an excellent type of Jesus Christ, who also was sent to His brothers, the Jewish people. Like Jacob's literal sons, they despised and rejected Jesus and delivered Him to death.

- But as we know, they too thought Him dead! Jesus was alive and one day, all will stand before Him and bow the knee.

Sunday Morning Service

Matthew 7:13-29 (Click title for audio access)

"The End" • 6.20.10 • Sunday Morning Service

Intro

- Jesus has been dealing with our relationships to believers and unbelievers.

- We are not to judge them, as verse 1 says, but are in fact, supposed to treat them as we ourselves would like to be treated, as verse 12 says.

- Today, our Lord presses us toward the goal of His sermon: Choose. What road will you take?

- He has spoken of Kingdom virtues, characteristics that can only be expressed by a person who is born again and filled with His Spirit. Now, He speaks to us of the end.

Text

• Matthew 7:13,14 : "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. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." : Jesus has been talking about treating others as you would have them treat you. In this world, this is a popular thing to do, if the other guy is the one doing it!

- Such a principle is impossible to achieve in our flesh. It's a Kingdom principle that does not allow for our pride to puff up. And it is certainly not going to be a popular path to walk.

- Jesus says, "Enter by that narrow gate!" This is a direct command from the Lord. The force of it is "You enter now by the narrow gate."

- Christians are not ones who admire the gate or who want eventually to enter the gate! They are ones who are choosing to enter in!

- There are those who will hear the Sermon on the mount and comment on it's beauty, it's composition and it's genius simplicity, but never take on the tenets themselves!

- All of what Jesus has been talking about has led us to this moment: What will we choose? Will we choose to live this life?

- That choice funnels down to two gates. The first is the narrow or "strait" gate.

- That strait gate was indeed a narrow one. One commentator mentioned that this narrow gate might be best thought of as a turnstyle, which is just big enough for any one person to enter through.

- Immediately, we are impressed with the Lord's urgency to follow this way. Before He tells why, He talks about the other option.

- The other gate option is wide. While the narrow gate is a turnstyle, the wide gate is a large enough opening for droves of people to go through.

- We understand that Jesus is using the ideas of gates as a metaphor for the type of life that the righteous person leads. The narrow gate is lonely and difficult. The wide gate is well populated.

- What is He talking about? Remember that Jesus has been talking about righteousness that exceeds that of the Pharisees. The narrow gate is the gate of internal relationship with Christ.

- The narrow gate is defined by submission to Christ, denying of self, carrying crosses.

- The broad way is defined by religious show, parading our virtues and values Sunday and Thursday! The difference is one who is dead to self and the other is dead to Christ

- There are many living a life that is selfish. There are many who are living a life that bows simply to their own desires, some even spiritual desires.

- That broad road inevitably leads to their destruction. Literally, it's the road to perdition or ruin.

- Jesus tells us that the narrow gate is difficult. The word that is used here comes from the same word family that brings us the words "trial" and "tribulations."

- The idea here is that this road is a compressed road, with little room to maneuver. It's the kind of road that demands our concentration to follow.

- Jesus is not hiding the fact that this life of selflessness, this life marked by His righteousness, will be difficult. Tell that to that group of people today who think it easy and glamourous!

- Others will get promoted because of scrupulous methods. Others will steal from your reputation to enhance their own. It's difficult to stay on that road!

- Note also that this road is the way which leads to life. It's not "a" way or "one of many" ways. It is THE way which leads to life.

- Here, the term life is descriptive of the fullness of life that God intends for His people, not just in eternity, but here and now.

- The final note about this: There are few who find it! Few. True Christianity is never going to be the majority religion on earth.

- No matter how vigilant we are, no matter how much of a force we are in the polls, there will ever seem to be an overwhelming majority against us!

- Notice also that Jesus says that there are few who FIND it! It's not a way that will be well lit or greatly advertised. It requires a search. The wide way is easily discovered.

• Matthew 7:15 : "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." : You might think that once you are on "Life Road" that you are safe and secure to reach the end. Unfortunately, there are dangers.

- Jesus tells us to "Beware." Remember who He talks to. He is talking to those who were His followers. He is talking to disciples! Jesus is telling us to watch and be wary.

- The first danger on the road is the deception that comes from outside of ourselves. Specifically, there are false prophets. Everything about them is false.

- Jesus is not talking about a person who is wrong, which we all can be. He is talking about a person who intends to deceive you.

- "Oh, this is great! You mean that there are people who desire to deceive me? I'll just make sure to avoid them!" Yes, look for the guys with the t-shirts that say "False Prophet!"

- Unfortunately, they don't wear clothing that identifies them!

- They wear the right clothing, literally sheep's skin. They are covered externally, but inwardly, not just under the sheep's skin, but what they are at the core of their being, is quite different.

- They want trust. They want cooperation. They want whatever you represent to them. That might mean money. That might mean statistic or demographic glory!

- Jesus says that they are "ravenous." This word is translated "extortioner" every other time that it's used in the scripture.

- In the 1300's, the earliest information I could find, it meant to twist or wrench something out. Today, it's exclusively used with regard to money.

- These false prophets appear to be harmless. They come as an animal that would not be threatening to anyone but is ultimately an animal that seeks to harm everyone.

- What are their false teachings? They sound religious and motivational. They promote a "better lifestyle" in Christ. They talk about a better you and ways to have more "fill in the blank!"

- Usually attached is a plea for finances with the common, "God can't do these things unless you first invest in Him." God needs you like He's never needed you in the past! That's true!

- Broad is the way and many are one it...

• Matthew 7:16-20 : "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them." : Jesus encourages fruit inspection! You can't know who they are by how the look, but you can tell who they are by what they produce!

- The word "know" refers to accurate knowledge. You will know them accurately by what it is that they accomplish.

- It would not make sense to attempt to get something from something that does not produce that thing. Thornbushes bring forth thornbushes, not grapes! Thistles bring forth thistles, not figs.

- No matter how much you might desire grapes, you will never find them growing on a thornbush! Trying to see if there are any will just get you a bunch of cuts!

- The logic is simple: Jesus lets us know that the only way to judge a tree's health is to check out it's fruit.

- I heard multiple commentators quote this simple rabbinical saying: As is the fruit so is the root! What are the fruits that we are to see?

- Paul tells the Galatian believers that the fruit of the spirit is love. It's a desire to to see someone else lifted to their highest degree in Christ!

- A false prophet desires only that he be lifted up in some form or fashion, either in reputation or in monetary compensation.

- A good tree, one that stands up and is robust, brings forth fruit that is beautiful, praiseworthy.

- A bad tree, literally one that is corrupted and rotten, will produce wicked fruits.

- Trees that are healthy cannot produce rotting fruit and vice versa.

- The end of a tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and good only for firewood.

- What is sad, is that there are many sincere, lovely, people who have followed these false prophets so long, but have never been told "You must repent from your sin and be born again."

- They have never been told "Submit to Christ, turn from your wretched lifestyle and glorify Him in this life!" They have followed the wrong leader and the consequences will be severe!

• 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. 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?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'" : I mentioned that there were two dangers. The first was deception from without. The second is deception from within! Jesus is talking specifically about false prophets.

- They are deceived about themselves, in the same way that we can be deceived about ourselves. We'll discuss how in the next section, but the danger of self-deception is especially cruel!

- These false prophets, the ones that we are to beware of, who bear rotting fruits in this world, will one day stand before the Lord. The first thing that they will attempt is to point to their right words.

- It appears that even they will believe their own lie. They come believing that these right words will save them. "Lord, Lord." These are words of formality, words of religiousity!

- I will suggest that the words out of the righteous mouth will be "Daddy" or "Father" or "Jesus!"

- They will say to Him, "Lord, Lord." They will still use the language. They will still attempt their charade. But it is not given to the ones with the profession, but the ones with posession!

- The one allowed into the Kingdom is the one who does the Father's will. Those who have truly given themselves to all that the Father wills will gain entrance.

- Second, many will attempt to point to their works. These have prophesied in His name.

- Notice who they will be saying this to: Jesus tells them that they will speaking these things to Him! "Many will say to ME!"

- Jesus, the one that many blaspheme, insult and curse, will one day be the One in charge of dispensing judgment!

- The false prophets claimed to prophecy, cast out demons and work miracles all in Christ's name. That is, they have used the name of the Lord as their drawing card.

- They used His name to authenticate their work and draw the religious many.

- One of the scariest words in the Bible comes out right here: MANY! Many will say in that day!

- Can you imagine how fearful a thing that would be? To come to Jesus professing something that they believed would welcome them into the Kingdom, only to discover that this was not the case!

- Imagine the panic that you would experience, standing before Christ, believing that you had gained entrance and were safe, only to hear these damning words from His lips!?

- "I never knew you!" We never had a relationship! I never had Your heart, which is the one thing that I wanted!

- Imagine the insanity of the moment. Imagine the crisis of a mind that stands before Christ, hearing these words, knowing the finality of the phrase "depart from me!"

- There is no chance of repentance. No more time for mercy. The gauntlet is down and the judgment is final!

- He tells these false prophets that they are actually workers of lawlessness! That is their profession! They are professional workers of lawlessness!

- But what of their followers? If these are the bad trees and their followers have been born from their "ministry," what shall happen to those followers? It is a sobering and scary thought!

• Matthew 7:24-27 : "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.'" : How can I tell if I am deceived or not? What is the litmus test? Jesus explains that here.

- There have been two gates, two trees and now two types of men/people.

- There are wise men and there are fools. The difference is in what one does with what Jesus has said. The one who hears them and does them is a wise man, the other, a fool.

- The one who hears what Christ has said, in totality and does them, ie. seeks to honor them or add them to their lives is wise.

- But how do you know if you have done that? Jesus gives us an illustration. The wise man builds his house on the rock. The word for "rock" is Petra.

- It refers to a large area of stone, a firm place to build a house upon. The footings are in place and the home can withstand the storms that beat on that house.

- Whether it be rain, floods or wind, that house does not fall! The same is true for a person who has built himself upon Christ. He has learned by experience, that Christ's truths are worth living.

- That person stands and does not fall when the pressure comes. That person keeps strong to His convictions and does not falter.

- It's not just that he barely makes it. He stands with a contented disposition, joyful in his or her Saviour, ready for the next storm that will inevitably come their way!

- On the other hand, the opposite is true for the fool. He has heard the Word of God and often thinks, "Oh that was a nice way to put it!" "I wish so-and-so were here to hear that! He needs it!"

- He hears what the Spirit says. He knows chapter and verse. He has a few choice ones memorized, like "Judge not, lest you be judged!"

- All the while, the scripture provides him with intellectual stimulation, the church provides him with cultural interest and the life of Christ provides him with inspiration.

- But to actually confront his own soul? To actually cease doing that which is revealed to Him? To actually begin to practice principles or commands? This never occurs to him.

- When the storm hits his life, he will not have a leg to stand upon. The sand that he has built upon will give way and great will be his loss!

• Matthew 7:28,29 : "And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." : He came to the end of this amazing message. Matthew records what the people thought: They were astonished. They were left amazed.

- Literally, their mouths were wide open and they could not close them!

- They had never heard such great teaching. If you have paid any attention, just to the words of Christ, I am fairly certain, that you will have had the same experience.

- Christ's teaching is masterful and profound beyond my ability to comprehend it! I have heard of Pastors who devoted a year to these three chapters!

- I have read or seen several volumes of work devoted to explaining this sermon. No doubt, when one comprehends just a little portion of what Jesus has said, the effect will be astonishment!

- They were amazed that He taught them, as one who had authority. He spoke without quoting other Rabbis. He spoke conclusively.

- He did this because He is the author of the Word! He knows the heart of it.

Conclusion

- This morning, two millenia removed from the time that Jesus physically spoke these words, the spirit of them continues to rock and shake us to the core.

- Do I belong to Him? Am I on the road that leads to life? Am I hearing and doing? These are questions that we do well to answer swiftly!