What Will You Hear? (Matthew 7:13-23)

Introduction

After reading some scripture and contemplating some sermons that I have listened to lately, a question came to my mind.

What are the most devatating words that anyone will ever hear?

What is the one thing that you never ever want to hear about yourself?

The answer came to me quite quickly, and I found myself crying as I thought about the answer.

It would be absolutely devatating to hear these words.

What are they?

“I never knew you, depart from me.”

There are many who believe that on the day of Jesus Christ, He will meet them with arms wide open and say “welcome please enter eternal paradise with me.”

But the fact is, He will say to them “depart from me, because I do not know you.”

2 Peter 3 tells us that God does not wish that any would perish away from Him.

But our text today tells us that many will.

What will He say to you?

Do you know?

How can you know?

What about others that we claim to care about?

What will they hear?

Are we doing what we can to help them hear welcome, and not depart from me?

Pray (Stand)

1. The Way (Slide)

Matthew 7:13-14

“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.”

Matthew 7:13-14

“Pumasok kayo sa makipot na pintuan. Sapagkat maluwang ang pintuan at malapad ang daang papunta sa kapahamakan, at ito ang dinaraanan ng marami. Ngunit makipot ang pintuan at makitid ang daang papunta sa buhay, at kakaunti ang nakakatagpo niyon.”

Wide

The way to destruction is broad.

Destruction is Hell.

There are many ways to Hell

It is popular today, to say that there are many roads that will lead one to heaven.

The truth is, the opposite is true.

Every road but one leads to hell.

Many will enter through it.

This is such a horrifying statement.

Many will perish in Hell

I sometimes imagine what that “way” looks like. Could it be that this way is as wide as the horizon, and there are people on it as far as the eye can see?

Is there anyone there telling them they are on the wrong path?

It is our job to at least tell those who are on the wrong path that they need to change direction.

We know the whole and real Truth, we must share it.

Narrow

The way to life is narrow.

I sincerely hope that everyone in this room is on the straight and narrow path that leads to heaven…to the Lord.

It is not my place to determine which path anyone else is on.

However, my Savior has told me and every other believer that we need proclaim God’s Truth.

It is not good for us to assume that anyone is saved…what if they are not?

If you are having a conversation with someone, it is okay to ask them to tell you about their conversion if they claim to be saved.

Few will enter.

As we are going to see later in our text, many believe that they are on the correct path, however, Jesus says that they are not.

Some have made up their own requirements for entry into heaven.

Others just refuse to even believe that there is a heaven.

The fact is, Jesus tells us the way to enter heaven, and that path only goes through Him.

The way to Jesus is offered to everyone, however, everyone is required to enter under Jesus’ condition.

2. Teachers (Slide)

Matthew 7:15-20

“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.”

Beware

False Teachers

Wolves In Sheep’s Clothing

They pretend to teach the truth, but they are teaching lies.

They are teaching the way to keep their listeners on the wide path, not to get them on the narrow one.

Ear Ticklers

Paul told Timothy in his second letter that a time would come when ear ticklers would teach the people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear.

This is happening in many churches today.

They often say that they are trying to be more relevant to the people, what does that mean?

What could possibly be more relevant to anyone than for them to hear God’s Words as He intends them to be heard?

Things that are clearly unacceptable to God, are taught as acceptable.

One must be very careful what they listen to.

Make sure that the teachers we listen to are teaching the truth.

Good Teachers

Test the teaching

Does what you are hearing line up with Scripture?

How can you know?

If you need to pass an exam for school, or your job, or something else, what do you do?

If you are interested in a topic, and you want to know more about it, what to you do?

Therefore, in order to know more about the Bible and what is in it, then you need to spend time reading it, and studying it.

Bereans

Acts 17:11

“Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”

They eagerly received what Paul taught, but they also tested it against scripture to see if it was accurate.

Now mind you, we are talking about the Apostle Paul’s teaching here.

God used the Apostle Paul to write more of the New Teatament than anyone else.

If Paul need to be tested, then all teachers need to be tested.

And remember that when you do hear an errant teaching, it is ok to ask the teacher about it. We are all human and we might make a mistake, if the teacher is good fruit, the questions will be accepted and that person will check their teaching.

Fruit

Test people by the fruit they produce.

Does the way they live match the things they profess?

If the person is living in obvious sin, then the fruit he produces is bad.

Good Fruit/Bad Fruit

In Galatians, Paul tells us that people produce good fruit live by the Holy Spirit, and those who do not, live contrary to the Holy Spirit.

Bad Fruit: “immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these” (Galatians 5:19-21).

Good Fruit: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23)

You will know the difference in a good teacher and a bad teacher by their fruit.

As Jesus said, a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

Every tree that bears bad fruit is destroyed, that person is on the wide path, they are headed for Hell.

3. Hearers (Slide)

Matthew 7:24-27

“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.”

Hear The Word

The person, maybe yourself, hears the Words of God.

In Romans 10, Paul tells us that the Words need to be heard…how can anyone know the truth if they do not hear it?

This is the job of every saved believer.

The Great Commission…go into the world, teaching and baptizing.

But in today’s text, we see that merely hearing is not enough.

There must be action.

Action

Either you do what God says, or you don’t.

A choice must be made.

To ignore the issue and do nothing is actually a choice.

Either one will choose wisely or foolishly

The result will determine the eternal address of every person that has ever lived.

Result

Jesus says that the wise decision is to build one’s life on Him…to stand solid on His Words.

The house of the wise man weathered the storm.

The way of a wise person finds the narrow gate and that person goes through it.

The result is eternal life.

Jesus also says the foolish decision is to build one’s life on anything but Him…to refuse to listen to His Words.

The house of the foolish man was destroyed.

The way of a foolish person finds the wide gate and goes through it.

The result is a great fall...eternal destruction.

4. Welcome, Or Depart? (Slide)

Matthew 7:21-23

“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.’”

Matthew 7:21-23 “Hindi lahat ng tumatawag sa akin, ‘Panginoon, Panginoon,’ ay papasok sa kaharian ng langit, kundi ang mga taong sumusunod sa kalooban ng aking Ama na nasa langit. Sa Araw ng Paghuhukom marami ang magsasabi sa akin, ‘Panginoon, hindi po ba't sa iyong pangalan ay nangaral kami, nagpalayas ng mga demonyo at gumawa ng mga himala?’  Ngunit sasabihin ko sa kanila, ‘Hindi ko kayo kilala. Lumayo kayo sa akin, kayong mga gumagawa ng kasamaan.’”

Many Will Say

Jesus says the word “many” two times in today’s text.

Many will find the way to destruction.

Many will claim that Jesus is their Lord.

There are a lot of misguided people in this world.

There are many false teachers in this world

The Word of God cannot not be changed in order to make people feel better.

The world needs to know the truth.

It may not be a pleasant conversation, but that is not the point

I had a conversation with a young man a while back.

He asked me how I am so sure that God is real.

He was clearly angry, and his temperment told me that he was looking to argue.

I answered his question by first saying, that I have been asked that question before, and people have gotten angry with me for my answer.

They have called me names and told me I am stupid.

Then I told him that inspite of that reality, I continue to give my answer, because I truly believe that without God’s salvation, all people will go to Hell.

What kind of a person would I be to know the answer to this great question and refuse to say it because I may get hurt?

I went on to tell this person that I know God is real because there is evidence all around us in His creation.

The intricacy and extreme detail of creation does not allow for anything but a Creator…that Creator is God.

I went on to say that the man that existed before God came into my life was a selfish, arrogant jerk.

I am brand new man who now cares about the eternal condition of others and I am willing to be hurt in the process. The old man would have never done that…never.

But, now I tell you that God is real, I know He is real, and He wants you to know He is real.

There is only one way to live in eternal paradise and that is through Him.

The young man listened to what I had to say.

He was no longer looking to argue, but he did not want to hear anymore either.

I told him that I would pray for him, and that was that.

There are many who are destined for Hell

That young man has heard Jesus’ words of truth through me, and hopefully others, and he had to make a choice.

The day will come when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

Some will declare it willingly with much adoration.

Many will declare it begrudingly and with much disdain.

Many will declare it thinking that He had been their Lord all along, but He wasn’t.

They did not act on His words, and chose foolishly.

His response to them will not be good.

But Jesus Will Say

Depart from Me, I do not know you.

The most horrific words that I can imagine anyone ever hearing.

You are not welcome to enter paradise with me.

You will spend eternity away from me.

Well done good and faithful servant (Matthew 25).

These are the words we want to hear.

We want Him to say welcome, please come in.

Application (Slide)

There are two paths that Jesus teaches about in today’s text.

The wide path to destruction.

The narrow path to life.

Be careful of false teachers.

Test the teaching that you hear like the Bereans did.

Be mindful of the fruit of those around you, and those who are teaching you.

Is their fruit good or bad?

What does Paul’s list in Galatians 5 tell you about the fruitfulness of their lives.

How about our own lives, what kind of fruit are we producing?

Hearing is necessary for people to make the correct decision about their eternity.

However, hearing is not enough.

Action is required

Those who are wise will act according to God’s commands and they will live.

Those who do not follow God’s commands are foolish and they will fall…they will be destroyed in Hell.

What will each of us hear on the Great Day of the Lord?

Depart from me, I never knew you?

Please come in, well done my good and faithful servant?

If you have not decided to give your life to the Lord, I humbly ask that you do so.

If you do not, you will experience eternal punishment.

If you do, you will experience eternal paradise with Almighty God…it will be absolutely perfect.

Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and confess that you are a sinner that needs Him to be your Savior.

He wants to be your Savior, but you must receive His gift of salvation and ask Him to save you…its the only way.

What will you hear on that great day of Jesus? I hope it will be “welcome, and well done.”

If you are not sure about that answer, you can be.

Please ask someone.

If you don’t know who to ask, one of the church leaders, or myself will be very happy to help you know the Truth that can save you forever.

Pray

The Lord’s Table (Slide)

We celebrate the Lord’s Table together.

We remember the great sacrifice He made so that we could be saved.

Jesus Christ was severely beaten.

He was hung on a cross where His great suffering continued, and that is where He died.

He was placed in a tomb, but death could not keep Him down.

He destroyed death and rose out of that tomb.

He is alive today, and always will be.

He is at the God the Father’s right hand, and one day He will come to take every believer to be with Him for all of eternity.

That is what we celebrate today.

If you believe these things, and have received His gift of salvation, this Lord’s Table is extremely meaningful to you.

If you do not believe, and have not received His gift, this Table means nothing to you.

I pray for the salvation of everyone here, that we will all be saved and have much reason to celebrate the Lord’s Table together.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

Pray