One of These Things is Not Like the Other
Matthew: God's Promises Fulfilled • Sermon • Submitted
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One Of These Things (Is Not Like The Others)
One of these things is not like the others,
One of these things just doesn't belong,
Can you tell which thing is not like the others
By the time I finish my song?
Introduced in 1969, this catchy Sesame Street learning segment song encouraged youngsters to look closely at several objects, and discern which one was not quite like the rest.
Today we find ourselves at the end of this wonderful and powerful teaching of Jesus called the Sermon on the Mount.
It’s been quite a journey through chapters 5, 6, 7 here in Matthew— and Jesus ends his teaching with some more powerful images and object lessons to drive home the truth that his disciples— those who are citizens of the kingdom of God— are not like the others— and that we as those citizens can indeed discern very carefully the the false teachers, bad trees, and poor foundations of life.
Jesus is going to give us direct teaching here that challenges us to reflect on our status regarding three areas of consideration:
Our Fruit reveals our Root, v.15-23
Our Fruit reveals our Root, v.15-23
Our Stability reveals our Foundation , v. 24-27
Our Stability reveals our Foundation , v. 24-27
Our Reaction reveals his Authority, v. 28-29
Our Reaction reveals his Authority, v. 28-29
Our Fruit reveals our Root, v.15-23
Our Fruit reveals our Root, v.15-23
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
A prophet here is a person who would proclaim the word of God, teach the people, and bring messages that are from God.
There were many false prophets in Jesus’ day. They often were governmental or political plants— trying to create rhetoric and public sentiment about certain issues. These teachers had all the wrong motives.
I, and any of us who are teachers of God’s word, fall into this category. Listen, one of the most intimidating things about my calling to serve as a pastor--is the responsibility I have to teach you God’s word. I know very well the high standard that God has— and that you all have for my work as a teacher and pastor for our church.
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.
There are teachers who appear to be like us, but in reality they have evil motives.
Sheep-like in the outward appearance, but inside they are ravenous wolves who ultimately will terrorize and consume the sheep.
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
We can discern (identify) a false teacher by the fruit (results) produced by their teaching.
Jesus presents a very easy illustration to understand:
Good trees and Bad Trees:
Verse 16 and 20 echo how we can best discern a false teacher— or a false philosophy or a false wisdom: The tree and plant illustration is very clear. It would have been very applicable to people in Jesus’ time also— they were very familiar with farming and agriculture.
18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
A plant will only produce it’s own kind.
This means that if we see bad fruit— we can conclude that there are bad roots.
James also echos this logic:
11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good.
I grew up in a part of southwestern Michigan where fruit farms were very numerous. Kind of like Merle Hershberger’s Hilltop organization here in town. You can’t see the roots of a plant— but you sure can tell if those roots are healthy or not by the condition of the plant and the fruit— or lack of fruit— that the plant is producing.
I was a leader of coaches and teams at Malone for long enough to know that after about 3-4 years, that team will actually “become” who that Coach is. The good the bad and the ugly.
The fruit of their time learning and growing under that coach— would transform them as a group to produce the “fruit” of this person’s leadership. I know there were times when we had to make a change in coaches— and we based those decisions on the environment and experience the team was reflecting. I’m very aware— that even in my position here— give it a period of time— maybe longer than a college athletic team, but eventually you all will begin to look like the leadership of this church. Not just me, but the elders and board of directors, the teachers and people who are helping Jesus to shape the culture and practices of our congregation.
20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
I would welcome and encourage you to implement this type of analysis and reflection on the sources of influence and teaching that you are receiving in your life. Not just me, or us as a church, but within every area of your life. Who are you mentored by? Who is instructing you? What are their motives and what does the fruit of their life look like?
Who are the teachers and mentors in your life?
Examine the fruit of your mentors lives very closely, because you will be shaped by it.
What is that fruit? It’s the message itself, and the results that it produces.
It’s not necessarily their lifestyle— (They already look like a sheep)— it’s the message and the result of the message.
It’s what I’m telling you— but it’s what you are compelled to do after you hear it also!
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Because watch how he processes this for us:
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’
23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
How could this happen? Think about that person’s situation. They come all the way to the end of their life— and this is Jesus’ response to them? How? It made me pause this week and question whether these people knew they were off or not? I guess we are assuming that they DIDN’T know that they were not known by God. They must have been deceived. A wolf, perhaps in sheep’s clothing led them away from the truth. At that point the teacher cannot save you. Even what you have done in Jesus name cannot save you. That’s a key point that Jesus is making— The justification that these people made to appeal was based in what they DID. They did the “right” things— but yet he never knew them?
My heart goes out to these people— don’t you feel at least a little sympathy here? How can we become and make certain that we are not deceived?> I want to be “the one who does the will of my Father”, right?
What is the will of the Father?
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ 29 “ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. 31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Later in his ministry, Jesus also says this:
40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
The Life Application Study Bible has an excellent summary here: I have to share it with you:
“Jesus exposes people who sounded religious but had no personal relationship with him. On Judgment Day only our relationship with Jesus- our acceptance of him as Saviour and our obedience to him- will matter. Many people think that if they are “good” people and say religious things, they will be rewarded with eternal life. In reality, faith in Jesus is what will count at the judgment.” Life Application Study Bible (Matt 7:21-22)
A notable point here is that Jesus teaches a parable similar to this in Matthew 13. It’s a story about the wheat and the tares. Remember this one?
A farmer sowed good seed into the field— but an enemy came and sowed weeds also into the field. The workers came and said “do you want us to remove the weeds”? The farmer said no— wait until harvest— then the difference can be discerned — the fruit of the wheat is kept— and the chaff or worthless part is separated and burned.
If we don’t want to be the ones deceived and dismissed— then don’t neglect to examine the fruit of those who are leading you. I would never be offended if you have a question or a problem with something that I teach here at church. You should definitely examine and consider all my teaching. I want your feedback, especially if I’ve not been clear, or if you feel I’m incorrect. Let’s talk, and I’m humble enough to own my mistakes.
That’s actually part of the fruit that i want you to see that is good! That I know I’m not perfect, and that I’m open to correction. I’m teachable also!
Next section:
Our Stability reveals our Foundation
Our Stability reveals our Foundation
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Those who hear these words and put them into practice are wise.
What are the words>? The whole last three chapters in your bibles! This is how he’s ending the whole sermon!
We are to be hearers and “practice-rs”.
If you are hearing and practicing what Jesus teaches, you are compared to a wise person who is building their dwelling upon a solid foundation.
We are all building our lives on something.
Storms and difficulties will happen; will you be stable or unstable?
Who is that “rock” that we should build upon?
11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Basically— if you build on a solid foundation— the only solid foundation there is— Jesus— It doesn’t matter what happens. Will there be storms, yes. Will the wind and rain of this world beat against you, yes. But you will stand firm on that foundation.
In all these situations, one of these things is not like the other...
There is one way to God, Jesus Christ (John 14:6)
He is the only foundation on which to build.
Everything else is sinking sand.
Our Reaction reflects his Authority
Our Reaction reflects his Authority
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Jesus was the word of God in the flesh who spoke the word of God with authority.
Our reaction to Jesus and his teaching reflects the authority we give him.
Are you amazed by Jesus? I am, and I pray we will continue to be amazed everyday.