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!