“Matthew 7:13-29”

Tuesday, May 26, 2020

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall. When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.”

---End of Scripture Verses---

The conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount is no less surprising than the introduction (the Beatitudes) and the body of this remarkable sermon. Throughout this discourse Jesus says things that go against the grain of worldly, conventional thinking. He shows us clearly that the views of God and man often stand in opposition to one another, and that the kingdom of heaven is vastly different than any earthly kingdom to ever exist. In this last section Jesus tells us some startling facts about the narrow way that leads to eternal life (verses 13-14).

1. “There are few who find it” (verse 14). In a national poll taken recently, two thirds of the Americans surveyed said they believe they are going to heaven. Since a quarter of the people polled don’t even believe in heaven, that means that nearly all who do believe think they are going there. The poll also stated that less than one half of one percent of Americans believe they are going to hell. “They say” nearly everyone is saved and practically no one is lost. Jesus says many are going to eternal destruction and few will find eternal life.

2. “I never knew you” (verse 23). Jesus tells us in verses 21-23 that a lot of people are going to be surprised on Judgment Day. In these verses Jesus said He would say “depart from Me” to people who believed in Him and who did a lot of good deeds. Most people use belief and good deeds as the benchmark for faithful discipleship. But Jesus said that believers who “practice lawlessness” cannot dwell with Him in eternity. “They say” being a good person is good enough. Jesus says we need to follow His laws as well.

3. Wise and foolish people (verses 24-27). Jesus expands on the idea of “lawlessness” in the illustration of the wise and foolish builders. The lawless person is the foolish one who, “hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them” (verse 26). The wise person learns God's commandments and obeys them and is able to stand before the Lord on Judgment Day with his “house” intact. But the foolish person will fall flat on that day because he ignores all or part of God’s law, and great will be that fall (verse 27). “They say” I am saved by what I believe not by what I do. Jesus says hear His commandments and obey them for eternal life.

4. “The people were astonished at His teaching” (verse 28). Does this sermon and particularly this passage astonish you? If they do, mission accomplished. Jesus is urgently trying to get your attention. Please do not take my word or any person’s word for truth when it comes to your salvation. Life is too short and eternity is too long to take anything for granted. Please study your Bible daily and closely examine the Scriptures as if your life depends upon it. Please learn God’s will for you and comply in humble, obedient faith. Then you will be one of the few, the wise, the saved.

Please read Matthew 8:1-17 for tomorrow – Jesus heals infirmities.

Have a blessed day!

-Louie Taylor

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