Conclusion
Notes
Transcript
Matthew 7:15-29New King James Version
The Sermon on the Mount ends with four warnings, each offering paired contrasts: two ways (vv. 13–14), two trees (vv. 15–20), two claims (vv. 21–23), and two builders (vv. 24–27).[1]
A key word which runs through the last three of the four sections is poieō, “to do,” though English idiom does not allow the repetition of the same verb in translation: it is represented above by “bear” (fruit) in vv. 17, 18, 19, by “do” (the will of God) in v. 21, by “done” (wonders) in v. 22, and by “does” (Jesus’ teaching) in vv. 24, 26. In each case except v. 22 it is those who “do” who are commended; in v. 22 the wrong sort of “doing” is contrasted with the right sort in v. 21. In vv. 24 and 26 both men are described as “hearing” Jesus’ words but only the first “does” them; the message is clear, that those who have now “heard” Jesus’ teaching receive no benefit from it unless they also put it into practice.[2]
1. External change versus internalchange (Matthew 7:15-20).
a. Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
b. Matthew 7:16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
c. Matthew 7:17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.
d. Matthew 7:18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
e. Matthew 7:19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
i. Matthew 3:10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
f. Matthew 7:20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
2. Good words & deeds versus right relationship (Matthew 7:21-23).
a. Matthew 7:21 “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.
b. Matthew 7:22 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?’
i. in that day = judgment day
ii. prophesied in Your name
1. Jeremiah 14:14 And the Lordsaid to me, “The prophets prophesy lies in My name. I have not sent them, commanded them, nor spoken to them; they prophesy to you a false vision, divination, a worthless thing, and the deceit of their heart.
2. Jeremiah 27:15 for I have not sent them,” says the Lord, “yet they prophesy a lie in My name, that I may drive you out, and that you may perish, you and the prophets who prophesy to you.”
c. Matthew 7:23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
3. Auditing versus applying(Matthew 7:24-27).
a. Matthew 7:24 “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:
b. Matthew 7:25 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.
c. Matthew 7:26 “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:
d. Matthew 7:27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
i. James 1:22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
1. Deceivers – wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15)
2. Self-deceived
a. Matthew 7:21 “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.
b. Matthew 7:22 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?’
c. Matthew 7:26 “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:
d. Matthew 7:27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
3. Consequences
a. Matthew 7:19 cut down and thrown into the fire.
b. Matthew 7:23 depart from Me,
c. Matthew 7:27 that house; and it fell. And great was its fall
Conclusion
Matthew 7:28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,
Matthew 7:29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
a. Jesus came to fulfilthe Law and the Prophets.
a. Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.
b. Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old….
c. Matthew 5:22 But I say to you….
b. Jesus requires and providesa greater righteousness.
a. 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.
c. Jesus is the eternal judge.
a. Matthew 7:23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
i. Psalm 6:8 Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity; For the Lordhas heard the voice of my weeping.
1. Jesus is qualified to judge because He suffered for our sins.
[1] Carson, D. A. (1984). Matthew. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Matthew, Mark, Luke (Vol. 8, p. 188). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.
[2] France, R. T. (2007). The Gospel of Matthew (p. 286). Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publication Co.