Two Decisions

Information for decisions

Decision between two trees and their fruit

Mt7:15-20 “15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits.”

Any first impressions in (vv.15-20)?

What is the telltale sign of the false prophets, the ravenous wolves?

Jesus had already warned about the broad path that leads to destruction

Mt7:13 “13 “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.”

so, step one to knowing the narrow path is to know there is a wide path and that there are many who want to lead you on that path who are ravenous wolves that lead to destruction.

I like with D.A. Carson, someone I have quoted before had to say:

“Warnings against false prophets are necessarily based on the conviction that not all prophets are true, that truth can be violated, and that the gospel’s enemies usually conceal their hostility and try to pass themselves off as fellow believers.”

Now you may say that there are no prophets today. Good point, but it would be anyone who proclaims the word of God today, they may not hold the “office” of a prophet. But listen to what Paul says

Gal1:6-9 “6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; 7 which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! 9 As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”

Deceive, deny their true character, oftentimes even to themselves, believing even their own lies

They serve self-interest; self-gain, self-desire, self-prestige, desire to advance own agenda over Christ’s.

You will know them by their fruit. So pay attention.

To manner of living

Content of teaching

Effect of teaching

Result of teaching

So, you WILL know them, It Will be evident, it cannot be hidden, for there WILL be fruit, good fruit or bad fruit

Let me ask one more question, scan these these verses again, do you notice anything missing, you have Good fruit, bad fruit, Good trees, bad trees, but is there anything missing? (trees with no fruit)

Spurgeon says this:

“It is not merely the wicked the bearer of poison berries, that will be cut down but the neutral, the man who bears no fruit of positive virtue must also be cast into the fire.”

For there is no neutral ground when it comes to Jesus, no fence sitting. Either you are for him, or against Him. You WILL bear fruit.

Look at the next verses

Decision between two claims

Mt7:21-23 “21 “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. 22 “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?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

What are the two claims?

Not all who claim the name will enter

Those who do the will of the Father will enter

Saying “Lord Lord” is good, but it cannot save us.

Saying it must be from the heart not just from the lips

Mt15:8 “8 ‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me.”

It is more than some religious duty done with no heart, no soul, no spirit, when done that way it is just bare words and just passing thoughts like the hypocrites and of no eternal value.

Trapp said:

“This warning of Jesus applies to people who say, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and yet their spiritual life has nothing to do with their daily life. they go to church, perhaps fulfill some daily religious duties, yet sin against God and man just as any other might. there are those that speak like angels, speak like devils; that have Jacob’s smooth tongue, but Esau’s rough hands.”

That was pretty well put isn’t it?

“ON THAT DAY” - - -there is that final day that we will stand before the throne, it will be the white throne or the bemus seat, judgment seat; one you have entered into the kingdom, the other He will say I never knew you.

Notice the claim in (v.22) about prophesy, casting out demons, doing miracles in Jesus name, all those things are true, great! Miracles do not save. God even used godless people to do godly things.

Lk9:49-50Lk9:49-50 “49 John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; for he who is not against you is for you.””

On that day. - - - so on that day, there is really one basis of salvation.

it is not a verbal confession

it is not raising your hand

it is not someone saying a prayer for you, or you repeating a prayer

It is a personal connection with Jesus Christ. you knowing Christ and Christ knowing you, putting Him on and Him entering You through the gift of His Holy Spirit. Without this connection all miracles, great works, signs, wonders mean nothing.

“What a terrible word! What a dreadful separation! Depart from ME! From the very Jesus whom you have proclaimed in union with whom alone eternal life is to be found. For, united to Christ, all is heaven, separated from Hill all is hell.” (Clarke).

Decision between two foundations

Mt7:24-27 “24 “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. 25 “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. 26 “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. 27 “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.””

What are the two choices offered here?

What two kind of people are mentioned here, as evidenced by their choices?

What are the two foundations mentioned here as the illustration to the two choices?

Here are similarities

Both houses were built the same

Both houses looked the same on the outside

that is where the similarities stopped

What holds house together; makes is strong?

The foundation

The foundation is not seen, it is hidden. The foundation of our life is often hidden from the outside and can only be seen from the inside and is only seen when the storms come

Notice (v.25, 27) rain fell, floods came) it was not “if” it was came. Storms, floods in our lives come, we cannot avoid them. The foundation we have will be tested, tried and the foundation matters, will the foundation hold up? Is it on firm ground or on sandy ground? Is it built on the ROCK or on sand?

Ah, better to test our foundation now, then later before it is too later. For there is no second chances.

The wise words of Jesus to the people here is what?

Hear AND ACT on the words of mine

This brings us to the close of the Sermon on the Mount

The Crowds were amazed

Mt7:28-29 “28 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.”

The people who were hearing Jesus teaching were amazed at the teaching of Jesus as One having authority, not one with authority.

I hope you are walking away as we finish this series with a closer walk with Christ as kingdom dwellers too in amazement of Him.