The Authority of the Word 1-21-24
Notes
Transcript
The Wise
The Wise
capping off the sermon with an indictment in regards to what you do with what you just heard
for those who hear and believe He is Lord, they obey by doing the word in recognition of His authority to say what He said and give the commands He gave - this is contrasted with the religious establishment in the context of Pharisaical Judaism, adherence to the law for one’s right standing before God
In review, happiness or blessedness is only characteristic of those desperate souls who feel a need and desire that only God can satisfy, not those who maintain a strict adherence to the law, which cannot bring life.
Look back at chapter 5. Jesus is fulfilling the law, that is His personal mission, others who do it and teach it are called great but they are not fulfillers. In fact, a righteousness has to be greater than has been seen for you to enter the kingdom of heaven, the scribes and Pharisees are not doing it. He then shows through 7:14 what righteousness actually looks like when lived out. This description indicts everyone and declares mankind void of the righteousness required in the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, where do we look?
The gospel in the beatitudes - humility, need, repentance, desiring God, loving and following Him
what follows is living by faith in a merciful God, trusting Matthew 6:12
12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
His righteousness, who trusts Him for it? Psalm 23:3 “3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
1 The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein,
2 for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.
5 He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
Psalm 31:1 “1 In you, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me!”
Psalm 103:17 “17 But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children’s children,”
This sermon was already prefaced by Matthew back in chapter 4 when Jesus quotes Deuteronomy stating that man does not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
There is life in His words alone - John 6:63–68 “63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” 66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life,”
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
everyone is technically “hearing” if you can physically hear or even through translation or sign language
but the wise man then puts those things he hears into action. His life is built on those words. He lives on those words
Psalm 119:33–40 “33 Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end. 34 Give me understanding, that I may keep your law and observe it with my whole heart. 35 Lead me in the path of your commandments, for I delight in it. 36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! 37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. 38 Confirm to your servant your promise, that you may be feared. 39 Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good. 40 Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!”
Adversity
Adversity
what happens when adversity comes as it comes to all men?
those words serve as the foundation that will not allow a collapse. when the bottom drops out - except it cant. Adversity cannot make the believer collapse. They push us against the rock
“beat” - with great force or violence
Psalm 118:4–9 “4 Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” 5 Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. 6 The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? 7 The Lord is on my side as my helper; I shall look in triumph on those who hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.”
to not be swept away you cling to the rock, and when the wind blows, it pushes you against the rock
“I have learned to kiss the waves that throw me up against the Rock of Ages.”
— Charles H. Spurgeon
The promises of Jesus and His word
28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.
38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Foolish
The Foolish
hears and does not do
parable of the unforgiving servant
Judas - vv.21-23
cost of discipleship is not worth it for those who do not do the commands of our Lord
6 Only he who believes is obedient. Only he who is obedient believes.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
The Cost of Discipleship (1937)
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
exploration of obedience, being that works do not earn us righteousness but were created beforehand that we should walk in them - therefore, obedient in what way, what did Jesus command
2 great commandments - Matthew 22:37–39 “37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
also - repent, come to me, believe in me, love me, listen to me, abide in me, take up your cross and follow me, rejoice, fear God, pray and do not lose heart, do not be anxious, humble yourself, do the will of the Father, love your enemies, lay up treasures in heaven, take the Lord’s supper, baptize, make disciples (John Piper - All that Jesus Commanded)
the foolish build on sand, shifting loose material, given the appearance of lots of little rocks, even moldable when watered down but able to be swept away in an instant
be sure of your footing, do not trust self or try to find righteousness and life somewhere other than the source
a collapse is sure to come whose life is built on anything but the tried and true word of God
The Authority of the Word
The Authority of the Word
astonished (v.28) mentally amazed, not necessarily of faith
v.29 taught with ruling authority and not by recitation
chapters 8-9 demonstrates authoritative power
we are all building a life, using what has been given as resources to use wisely, ultimately for His glory
The Solid Rock (406)
1 My hope is built on nothing less
than Jesus' blood and righteousness;
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
but wholly lean on Jesus' name.
Refrain:
On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand:
all other ground is sinking sand;
all other ground is sinking sand.
2 When darkness veils his lovely face,
I rest on his unchanging grace;
in every high and stormy gale,
my anchor holds within the veil. [Refrain]
3 His oath, his covenant, his blood,
support me in the whelming flood;
when all around my soul gives way,
he then is all my hope and stay. [Refrain]
4 When he shall come with trumpet sound,
O may I then in him be found:
dressed in his righteousness alone,
faultless to stand before the throne.