True and False Disciples

Matthew 7:13-29

Immanuel – 3/10/24

Today is the 12th and final message from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. I preached the first one on December 10th. It’s been a very rewarding three months for me, I pray it has for you as well.

Going back even further, to when I began this sermon series on October 22nd, I said Matthew has five major discourses. Today we conclude the first and longest of these discourses: The Sermon on the Mount.

Also on October 22nd, I said the Gospel of Matthew had five major thematic shifts.

1. Chapters 1-7 are the revealing of the Messiah and the nature of His kingdom. (My Eyes Have Seen the King)

2. Chapters 8 to 16:20 are demonstrations of the Messiah’s power, both in miracles and teachings. (Incomparable Power)

3. From chapter 16:21 to 21:11 is when Jesus sets His face like flint towards Jerusalem.

4. Then from 21:12 to the end of 25 Jesus and the Jewish religious system collide.

5. The rest of the book, from 26 to the end, deals with the crucifixion and resurrection.

Every time we see one of these theme changes in Matthew, we will see a theme change around the church.

Though Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount in an afternoon (or maybe a morning), it’s been our pleasure to take these last three months and unpack everything that Jesus has taught us about His kingdom. Is there any better way to learn about the kingdom of heaven than to be taught by the King Himself?

Most recently we have heard Jesus teach us about the anxious heart, the critical heart, the generous heart, and today we learn about the most important of all - the obedient heart. And Jesus employs four warnings to teach us about the obedient heart.

Purpose

I want all of us to respond to Jesus in the obedience of faith.

Read vs 13-14

Only Two Ways

All over the Old Testament we find this idea of two ways: blessing and curse, wisdom and foolishness, wickedness and righteousness, life and death.

“Thus says the LORD: Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.”

-Jeremiah 21:8

Jesus, who is Himself the fulfilment of all Scripture, also declares that there are only two ways in life – the narrow way and the broad way. One way leads to life and the other way leads to death. But to understand what Jesus is really talking about, and what these two ways are, let me first show you what Jesus is not saying.

Jesus is not saying that in the course of history, only a relatively small number of people will find the narrow way that leads to life. In fact, Jesus is not speaking about the future at all in verses 13 and 14; He is not prophesying.

But in times when Jesus does talk about the future, He talks about many finding the way that leads to life.

“The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.” -Matthew 20:28

Jesus did not spill His blood for a relatively small portion of humanity, but for a great number; as it says in Revelation 7, a great multitude that no one could number. Many will be saved. So, when Jesus speaks about future things, He speaks about many finding the narrow way that leads to life.

But in Matthew 7, Jesus is not talking about numbers. He is talking to His disciples regarding the circumstances of their time; and relatively few of the Jews in those days would find the way that leads to life. In fact, Jesus will explicitly say this later on in Matthew.

“I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom (Israel) will be thrown into the outer darkness.” -Matthew 8:11-12

From His point in history, Jesus says that in the future many Gentiles will find the narrow way that leads to life, but many Jews will walk the broad way that leads to destruction. Why? Because they will reject Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).

Speaking before the temple council, Peter declares,

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved. -Acts 4:11-12

Jesus’ main point in verses 13-14 is about exclusivity. The hard-to-find narrow way is found only in Jesus. But the broad way that leads to death has so many lanes of traffic: sex and relationships, drugs and alcohol, religion and ritual, applause and fame, success and money, family and tradition, so many more, so many lanes that lead to destruction. All paths apart from Jesus converge upon the way of death.

But anyone who sees that such paths are deadly, and seeks first the kingdom of God, they will find Jesus and they will find life. It is interesting that in its very earliest days, Christianity was considered a sect of Judaism known as “The Way.”

Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

-Acts 9:1-2

Read vs 15-16

In the New Testament, a prophet carries many connotations. It can mean someone that God empowers to foretell the future. It can mean someone speaking authoritatively for God; they speak God’s word. A prophet can also be someone, not speaking God’s word, but speaking from God’s word - someone like a preacher. I believe Jesus’ warning in these verses mostly regards preacher-prophets.

I say that because in His illustration it appears that the sheep are relatively at ease in the presence of these prophets, because they look like all the other sheep. Prophets that speak for God and/or foretell the future were exceedingly rare in the Old Testament, and so it would not be normal for one of those prophets to be around, but strange and unusual. But in the community of the disciples, the prophet-preacher is common, the norm, the expectation. It’s what I am doing right now.

There’s so much to say about false prophets/false preachers in the church that I can only give this a light treatment today. But I have said much on this over the years. Almost one year ago, on March 19th, I preached a sermon called “Listen to the Truth.” I dealt more thoroughly with the same concept in that sermon, and I encourage you to go to our website or YouTube page and have a listen.

False prophets look like they are sheep, like they belong in the flock. But they are not sheep, it’s a disguise. They know what they are doing, and they are intentionally presenting themselves as harmless. But they have come to the sheepfold looking to devour naïve and gullible sheep.

By the time Matthew penned his gospel, the church was plagued by such false prophets; and all throughout the New Testament we read about what these wolves are after: money, sensuality, getting people to serve them, applause.

Jesus says, you will recognize them by their fruits. Again, the New Testament tells us what some of these fruits are: they do not practice what they preach (they’re hypocrites), they are secretive, they have fits of anger, they are self-righteous, and most importantly to our passage, their words are corrupted with false teachings.

On any tree, fruit takes a while to mature. The fruit of false prophets may take some time to mature, and so the sheep must ever be watchful. Keep your eyes on the word of God, study it, know it, saturate yourself in it. That way if some false prophet/false preacher comes along proclaiming some other gospel, you’ll be able to catch the scent of a wolf! Otherwise, if you don’t sharpen your spiritual senses, do not be surprised if you are gobbled up with the other naïve and gullible sheep.

When naïve and gullible sheep wander from Immanuel’s sheepfold and into the untamed wilds of YouTube, they can easily wander into dangerous country.

Read vs 17-18

Take some time this week to read Galatians 5:16-26. There Paul masterfully lists good fruit and bad fruit. Ask yourself, which fruit are you producing?

But ultimately, do you know how to tell if you are producing good fruit or bad? Jesus hinted at it earlier in this discourse.

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” -Matthew 5:16

Good fruit brings glory to our God and Father. Healthy trees cannot help but deflect all glory to God, for if there is any good fruit whatsoever, it is because He has given it. He has taken you, sick as you were, and made you healthy!

But fruit – even if it looks good at first – if it brings glory to self, then it is bad fruit. Bad fruit serves self rather than God. Diseased trees cannot help but produce such diseased fruit. It is how we are all born. We need to find another way, for selfishness is the broad way that leads to destruction.

Read vs 19-20

Diseased trees are a great threat to the health of an orchard. They threaten the health of every other tree. If the owner of the orchard is good at what he does, he will not tolerate a single diseased tree. Not only will they be cut down, but they will be burned. Thus, the tree, and the disease it carried, are both cast from the garden.

Only a foolish and uncaring orchard owner would do otherwise, and our God is neither foolish nor uncaring! Every sinner who refuses to repent of their selfish existence, and be made healthy in Christ, will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

Read vs 21-23

Before I talk about the people being judged in this passage, let’s look at the Judge. In this little parable Jesus places Himself at the end of history, at the final judgment, as the One issuing final judgment. The Jews – to which Jesus was speaking – understood that Yahweh is the final judge.

For Yahweh is our judge; Yahweh is our lawgiver; Yahweh is our king; He will save us. -Isaiah 33:22

There is absolutely nothing ambiguous about what Jesus is saying: He is Yahweh who will Judge. This is one reason why we read in verse 28, that the crows were so astonished.

People who say that Jesus never claimed to be God have such a shallow understanding of Jesus’ words. Anyone who teaches that Jesus never claimed to be God is a wolf. For right here in the Sermon on the Mount we find one of Christ’s boldest claims to divinity in the entire New Testament.

Now to those who will be judged by Yahweh-Jesus.

Over the years I’ve learned about so many of the fears in this little sheepfold. But there is probably none so great, and so pernicious, as the fear of being one of the people in this passage that will say, “Lord, Lord,” and hear in response, “Away from me, I never knew you.” True disciples of Jesus, whose lives bear good fruit, fear that they might be among those cast from Jesus’ presence.

Brothers and sisters, if you are loyal to King Jesus, that is not you! I pray that my words are comfort and hope to any struggling with such fears.

First, thinking critically within the context of chapter 7, we need to ask, “Who is it that Jesus is rejecting? Who will be judged?” Remember how the chapter started.

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.”

-Matthew 7:1-2

In verse 5 Jesus calls these same people “hypocrites.” People who go around with critical hearts judging others, completely unaware of their own faults and failures, flooded with self-righteousness in their hypocrisy: these are the ones that Jesus rejects. Such people neither know Jesus nor are known by Him.

These people may respond with, “Look at all the amazing things I did in your name.” But as it turns out, they hijacked the name of Jesus, for they do not know Jesus. Did not the magicians in Egypt counterfeit the works of God done by Moses?

Such counterfeits exist today. There are even eyewitness stories of people pouring gold glitter from air vents and calling it the glory cloud of God1: counterfeit miracles. But it’s not just the spectacular, even hospital visits and church attendance and serving meals can be counterfeit and hijacked and used to serve self-righteous purposes.

They may have done works in Jesus’ name, but they were works not done in accordance with the will of the Father – as it says in verse 21. And now we must ask, what are the works that are in accordance with the will of the Father? What does it mean to do the will of the Father that leads to salvation?

And this is where so many people get stuck, because they think this is about performance. Like you have to do certain work that will please God, and that is a scary thought, because Jesus said in 5:48,

“You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

-Matthew 5:48

That is a mighty high standard! And if we think our works will get us there, they will not! No one is perfect, not even one! Who can please God by trying to be good enough? What good fruit comes from corrupted trees? Can grapes come from thornbushes?

No! We cannot be good enough, and anyone who tries will hear those fateful words: “I never knew you; depart from me, you worker of lawlessness.” For all of our good works are lawlessness before the Lord; even our best is corrupted by selfishness.

So what, then, is the will of the Father and how do we do it? Jesus has been telling us throughout this whole wonderful Sermon on the Mount.

First, like we already saw, understand that you are not perfect, that you have a log in your eye, that rotten fruit hangs from your branches.

Second, in recognition of your great need, pray! 6:9-13, pray for your food, forgiveness, and deliverance so you can do the will of the Father, advance His kingdom, and hallow His name. Come to God in dependance. Come to Him with your need. Come to Him and be forgiven!

Third, believe! For Jesus said,

“If you then who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!”

-Matthew 7:11

Ask and it will be given, seek and you will find, knock and it will be given. The King and Judge, Jesus Christ, has promised!

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. -Matthew 6:33

Seek the King, receive the kingdom. Seek the one who is righteous, receive righteousness. You cannot be perfect as God is perfect, but Jesus is; and He promises to give His righteousness to any who seek Him, to any that desire to know Him. Believe that His everlasting love is now and forever poured upon you! You are His and He is yours!

Fourth, as we have already read today,

“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” -Matthew 5:16

Live not for your own glory, but for God’s; for no one can serve two masters. Give Him all that you are, for He is your greatest treasure!

Again, this is how we do the will of the Father:

1. Know you are in great need.

2. Come to God in your need. Ask Him for forgiveness and deliverance.

3. Believe that He loves you; you are His and He is yours.

4. Live for His glory.

O that we would scorn our selfish ways, that we would make war against our self-righteous and critical hearts! That we would come to Jesus in faith! That is the true mark of an obedient heart: one that comes to Jesus and believes!

And all who do will hear such blessed words as, “Well done my good and faithful servant. I know you, you who are redeemed and righteous, you who are blessed, yours is the kingdom of heaven. Enter with me.”

Read vs 24-27

Once again, there are two choices before every human: that of wisdom and folly, the rock and the sand, destruction and life. And what are the things that send people in one direction or the other? Right hearing of Jesus’ words. Hearing and then doing. Hearing, believing in those words so thoroughly that they shape your life; that you do them. True hearing is followed by true action.

The rock to build upon is of course Jesus. A life built upon Him and His words will not fail, no matter the storms that come.

But the foolish person hears the words of Jesus, hears what he wants to hear, and goes and builds on the sand. He does not build his life upon Christ, but upon the unstable particles of self-achievement. His works will be sifted, and his life left in ruin. He made a waste of his life.

But notice again that this is not ultimately about works. This is about what a person chooses to build their works upon: rock or sand. A mansion of good works can be built upon the sand, even with mighty miraculous works, and for all of its grandeur it will make a mighty collapse.

But a shanty of good works built upon the rock will not fall. It is the rock we need, not the works built upon it. We need Christ, our Cornerstone.

Thus says the Lord GOD, “Behold, I am the one who has laid as a foundation in Zion, a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, of a sure foundation: ‘Whoever believes will not be in haste.’ And I will make justice the line, and righteousness the plumb line; and hail will sweep away the refuge of lies, and waters will overwhelm the shelter.”

-Isaiah 28:16-17

And so, we each must hear the words of Jesus, from this great Sermon on the Mount, and respond in obedience.

1. Know you are in great need.

2. Come to God in your need. Ask Him for forgiveness and salvation.

3. Believe that He loves you; you are His and He is yours.

4. Live for His glory.

And when Jesus concluded this sermon, it’s no wonder the crowds responded in the way they did.

Read vs 28-29

1Wretched. (2018, October 3) Justin Peters: Christians Who Get a Buzz. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FKw8O3o-T0.