February 10, 2013
Morning Service

Matthew 7:21-29

This morning we will finish our study on the Sermon on the Mount.  The Lord willing we will review through it all tonight.  Last week we saw how Jesus summed up all the law and prophets teaching into one statement: 

(Mat 7:12)  Therefore, whatever you want people to do for you, do the same for them, because this summarizes the Law and the Prophets."

 

He gave us an understanding of the commitment that will be required to make heaven our home.  We must be willing to walk the narrow and difficult way and avoid the broad and easy route.  (Verse 13-14)

 

We finished by looking at Jesus warning against false prophets who seem to be speaking for God, but actually are seeking our destruction.  We were encouraged to study and know God’s Word and to discern prophets by their fruits.  (Verses 15-20)

 

Mat 7:15-20 "Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are savage wolves.  (16)  You will know them by their fruit. Grapes aren't gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles, are they?  (17)  In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces bad fruit.  (18)  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, and a rotten tree cannot produce good fruit.  (19)  Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire.  (20)  So by their fruit you will know them."

·         He continues this thought as we begin today with verse 21.

 

Mat 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.  (22)  Many will say to Me in that day, Lord! Lord! Did we not prophesy in Your name, and through Your name throw out demons, and through Your name do many wonderful works?  (23)  And then I will say to them I never knew you! Depart from Me, those working lawlessness!

·         What a revealing statement this is.  Entering into the kingdom of God takes much more than just works.  We cannot “earn” our way into heaven by what we do.  We must surrender our heart.  A great example of this is the story of the rich young ruler.

 

Mat 19:16-23 And behold, one came and said to Him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?  (17)  And He said to him, Why do you call Me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.  (18)  He said to Him, Which? Jesus said, You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness,  (19)  honor your father and mother, and, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.  (20)  The young man said to Him, I have kept all these things from my youth up; what do I lack yet?  (21)  Jesus said to him, If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in Heaven. And come, follow Me.  (22)  But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful; for he had great possessions. 

·         Despite his efforts to keep all the commandments, he had never surrendered everything to God.  It is only by giving ourselves up to God that we are able to accept His free gift of salvation.  We are saved by grace and then ordained for good works that will follow.

Eph 2:8-10 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, (9)  not of works, lest anyone should boast.  (10)  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them.

·         Salvation is not the end of our walk with God, only the beginning.  He has created us with a purpose in mind and will use us to fulfill that.  We just have to be ready and willing.

Notice again in verse 23, the criteria in which Jesus will judge us.  It is NOT what we did (miracles, read your Bible, sing loud, pray often, serve as a missionary).  He turns us away because He “never knew you.”

·         Our walk with God is NOT a check list or a “to do” list it is a relationship.

 

1Co 8:3 But if any one loves God, he has been known of him.

 

John 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.

·         Our works are not an effort to “earn our salvation,” they are a product of our salvation.  We love and realize what Jesus has done for us and now we give our lives to serve Him.  We serve Him because we love Him.  We love Him because we know Him.  Seek Him and your relationship with Him first, and then the works He desires will naturally follow.

 

Mat 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 a rock.  (25)  And the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house. And it did not fall, for it was founded on a rock.  (26)  And everyone who hears these sayings of Mine and does not do them shall be compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  (27)  And the rain came down, and the floods came, and the wind blew and beat on that house. And it fell, and great was its fall.

·         Jesus closes the teaching with the importance of obedience.  He who “hears these saying of Mine and does them.”

·         We have said throughout this study that these things are easily understood, but very difficult to apply.  He certainly stresses the importance of application with this parable.

·         It is the wise man who chooses to build his life based on the teachings of Christ.  It is the man who reads the map and follows the directions found there that gets to where he wants to go.

 

Rom 2:13 For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.

 

Jas 1:22 But become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

 

1Co 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit in you, whom you have of God? And you are not your own,  (20)  for you are bought with a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's.

 

Mat 7:28-29 And it happened, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His doctrine.  (29)  For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes,

 

Father grant us the desire to be doers and not hearers only.  May You be the foundation we build our lives upon.