Two Ways To Live - Matthew 7:13-27

INTRO

Happy Easter - He Is Risen

Our first easter as a church was a small group in our living room back in 2019.

The next easter I was preaching to a camera in my living room.

To be here now with you is so deeply encouraging.

God has done so much in the life of our church. We are so deeply grateful to gather with you and celebrate.

Today we will finish the sermon on the mount.

The sermon on the mount is the longest recorded teaching we have from Jesus.

Today we see his deep and profound challenge to live an abundant life in him.

I want to preface our time together by saying, the scene we witness of an empty tomb is enough for us to say we should listen to this man.

His words are profound.

His invitation is sure.

Here is our Big Idea:

Big Idea: Build your life on the rock of the Risen Lamb

Jesus is going to present a choice.

Jesus often gave choices

He often presented choices between one path and another.

He asks: Will you follow the letter of the law or its spirit?

Will you practice righteousness to be seen by men or to be seen by God?

Will you serve God or money?

In Matthew 7, Jesus uses four images to describe two ways to live.

1. Two Roads (v.13-14)

Matthew 7:13–14 (ESV)

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Life is a journey, and we're all headed somewhere.

The key question is, where?

Jesus presents us with just two paths:

A broad road with a wide gate, bustling with people...but leading to ruin,

and a narrow road with a small gate, less traveled, that leads to life.

Now, at first glance, the broad road might seem more appealing,

It seems open and airy…welcoming even.

Any one can go on this path. It’s so spacious and easy.

Yet, Jesus flips this notion on its head, showing us that being on the “narrow" way in leads to life.

To be on the narrow way means being focused and intentional about our direction in life.

A Pilot will tell you that to stay on course requires constant adjustments and attention; veering even slightly off course could lead us miles away from our intended target.

Jesus says pursue the narrow path with purpose.

It’s within this narrow path that we find true freedom.

John 8:31–32 (ESV)

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Here is the whole point, the narrow way leads to abundant life.

You have a choice.

Follow Jesus, pursue him, know him.

Walk according to his will and ways. It’s not an easy way.

It is often difficult, lonely.

One where you have to be intentional and find your people that call you to stay on the straight and narrow.

Or drift carelessly on the broadway.

Many of us long for purpose and direction.

It’s easy to get pulled toward the broad road.

The whole idea is that it’s easy.

It’s the air we breathe the flow of our culture.

The whole point of this broad road is that it imposes no boundaries on what you think.

Personal views do not make any difference.

Live how ever you want, pursue whatever you want.

Your career, your children, your pleasures, whatever you want, the broad way pays no mind.

The wide road might offer the illusion of freedom, tearing down boundaries and allowing us to live as we please.

But in reality it leads to destruction

Proverbs 16:25 (ESV)

There is a way that seems right to a man,

but its end is the way to death.

While sticking to the narrow way might seem restrictive, it's actually the blueprint for genuine freedom and fulfillment.

Jesus says make your choice.

Because true freedom lies within the boundaries of truth, not beyond them.

Walk the narrow road.

We see 2 roads next we see 2 trees

2. Two Trees (v.15-20)

Matthew 7:15–20 (ESV)

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

How do you spot a true kingdom follower?

Look at the fruit they're producing.

It's not just about saying, "I'm in."

It's about asking, "Am I different because of it?"

If saying you believe doesn't change how you live, that's like a tree that never grows any fruit.

It's useless.

Our lives should be bursting with good fruit—clear signs that God's doing something in us.

This fruit should be the kind that makes people stop and think, "There's something special here."

But here's the deal: some folks claim they're all about Jesus, yet their lives tell a different story.

We're talking arrogance that pushes people away,

a faith that's all talk but no action,

living a split life where your faith doesn't seem to touch your real world,

or a faith that's lazy

or just about following rules.

And then there are those obsessed with showing off their spiritual or doctrinal knowledge but missing the point of actually knowing Jesus or doing what God wants.

It’s a hard truth, but a lot of what gets called Christianity today might just wither away to nothing when it's put to the test.

People watch how we live to see if this Jesus thing is for real.

And you know what?

God's watching, too.

If our fruit's not legit, we gotta wonder about the roots.

Ever find yourself asking, "Why do I keep doing this?"

There was a Navy pilot

He thought his wild lifestyle was all because of peer pressure.

His solution?

Switch scenes, get away from those friends.

But what do you know?

Different place, same old story—same bars, same scenes, just new faces.

Then it hit him one night: he did what he did because he liked it.

Here's the thing—before someone really knows Jesus, truly knows Him, not just nodding along on Sundays, they've got a busted “want to.”

No interest in God, church feels like a chore, and the Bible might as well be in code.

Trying to force yourself to want the good and reject the bad? It's a no-go.

But when you're heart is made new, it's like God hits the reset on your "want to."

He changes your desires.

Temptation’s still there, but now there's something more.

You actually want to talk to God, dive into His Word, hang with people who get it.

Church isn’t just another box to tick; it’s where you belong.

Following God becomes what you’re about.

Why do we do what we do?

It's simple: our actions reflect who we are inside.

Just like trees and their fruit—apple trees don't grow peaches.

You could try hanging apples on a peach tree, but that doesn't change its nature.

Adding a few religious tasks doesn’t make someone a Christian any more than wearing a jersey makes you an athlete.

Our lives, how we speak, act, and love, that’s the fruit that shows our true nature.

Like Jesus said, "A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit...Therefore, by their fruits, you will know them" (Matt 7:17, 20).

It's about what's changed inside, not just the actions on the outside.

[So, 2 roads, 2 trees, 2 Claims…]

3. Two Claims (v.21-23)

Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV)

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Just like we've got only two paths to walk, in the end, there are only two places we could end up.

This bit ties right back to Jesus' heads-up about false prophets.

It all comes down to this: it's not just about saying you're in; it's about living like you mean it.

Claiming to be Jesus' follower without walking the walk is like a tree that never grows fruit—it just doesn't add up.

Spurgeon said we can deceive people making all the right claims. We can be like Wisteria instead of grape clusters.

From the distance we look the part but close up it’s an invasive vine that needs to be pruned.

Tragedy of tragedy Jesus tells us that there will be those who stand before him claiming to be Christians.

But they will hear, “I never knew you.”

You need to hear this.

It does not matter what you do or what you say.

What matters is who you know.

Do you know Jesus?

The critical question for our generation—and for every generation— is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beau- ties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ were not there? _John Piper

Jesus is the greatest joy and treasure.

More than wanting to frighten you I want to plead with you not to look at cheap trinkets over lasting treasure.

When we know Jesus we don’t live a moral life to appease God so we can get back to our creature comforts.

When we know Jesus the whole of our life is aimed at knowing him and abiding in him.

Finally we come to our last set of two…and it’s this two builders.

4. Two Builders (v.24-27)

Matthew 7:24–27 (ESV)

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

Jesus presents two builders.

One wise one foolish.

Two foundations- One rock, one sand.

During the hot summer months, the sand around the Sea of Galilee was hard on the surface.

But a wise builder knew that he needed to dig several feet below the surface to the bedrock in order to establish the foundation for his house.

In today’s world, full of acceptance for everything and a belief that all paths lead to God, Jesus' words cut through the noise with clarity and conviction.

He challenges the idea that sincerity in belief is all that matters or that every spiritual path leads to the same destination.

Instead, Jesus presents us with just two options for building our lives:

On His teachings, which are as solid as a rock,

or on any other belief system, which, no matter how appealing, is as unstable as sand and doomed to collapse.

Jesus is urging us to consider not just whether we've made a commitment or experienced change, but what foundation we're building our lives on.

He's not saying Christianity is better just because of its religious rituals or moral rules, which might not always measure up to other beliefs.

What Jesus offers isn't a religion in the traditional sense but a relationship initiated by God's action towards us, not ours towards Him.

That’s the gospel news.

It's a revelation of God's nature and a rescue mission for humanity.

Claiming that Jesus is the ultimate answer isn’t about putting Christianity on a pedestal.

It’s the understanding that God has revealed himself in Jesus to bring us back to him.

The big question is how do we respond to this?

He is inviting us to know him.

The world is full of talk about God, but what God desires and what will show the world the truth of the gospel is walking with Jesus and living according to his way.

When we live in the way of Jesus it influences our character, impacts our actions, defines our priorities, and guides our relationships,

All of this to showcase a life lived in relationship with Jesus.

This is the essence of the kingdom life that Jesus introduces,

He calls come and follow me.

So do we trust in the justice and love of a God who seeks out the lost?

Our we building our lives on the Rock

That means actively listening to Jesus and following His commands.

It is easy to fool the pastor, our friends, and even ourselves.

All we have to do is learn the vocabulary and adapt some cultural conventions.

But Jesus does not want any of us to fall to such delusions.

It is apparent as he concludes the Sermon on the Mount that he is instilling some healthy fear into our lives.

Do you know him?

When I think about knowing Jesus.

I think of the hymn abide with me.

Henry F. LIGHT wrote it on a sorrowful evening after he preached his last sermon at a church he dearly loved.

A fatal illness had already seized him and the doctor advised him to retreat to sunny southern Europe, and he prepared to sail,.

The last Sunday before leaving, although he had no strength to stand up and preach, yet he forced himself and preached among his weeping people.

That evening, by the light of the evening sun, he wrote these words:

Abide with me, Fast falls the eventide;

The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;

When other helpers fail, and comforts flee,

Help of the helpless, O abide with me!

It’s not about all your doing. It’s about knowing the risen lamb, the help of the helpless.

CONCLUSION

Do you know what Jesus has done to pursue you?

Died and Rose to conquer the grave and lead you to abundant life.

I have so deeply enjoyed A Pilgrims Progress the allegorical story of Christian traveling from the city of destruction to the celestial city.

It is a rich metaphor for the kingdom life. (FIRST PICTURE)

Christian faces a myriad of trials, temptations, and challenges, including the Slough of Despond, the Hill of Difficulty, and encounters with characters like Evangelist, Hopeful, and The Giant Despair.

The story starts with him carrying a heavy burden on his back.

(INSERT PICTURE - One w/Burden - One falling off)

I want to read one excerpt for you.

Now in my dream, I saw Christian on a highway that was fenced on both sides by a wall named Salvation.

He started running up the Way but quickly found this difficult due to the burden that was still on his back.

As he ran to the top of what seemed like a small hill, he saw a cross and, below it, a tomb.

Just as he approached the cross, his burden fell off his back and tumbled down the hill until it rolled into the opening of the tomb and was never seen again.

Sensing an enormous relief from his burden, Christian became so excited that he cried out in joy, “Jesus has given me rest by means of His sorrow and life by means of His death!”

He stood there for quite a while, weeping as tears streamed down his cheeks.

He was in awe of what had just happened.

To think that just the sight of the cross could remove his burden and give him peace!

Suddenly three shining angels appeared to him, and one of them said, “Peace be with you! Your sins are forgiven!”

A second angel stripped him of the old rags he was wearing and dressed him in new clothes.

The third angel placed a mark on his forehead and gave him a scroll with a seal on it.

The angel then instructed Christian to look at it for comfort as he ran on the highway and then to deliver it at the gate of the Celestial City.

After this, the angels left him.

Christian could barely contain his joy and began leaping while passionately singing:

“I’ve traveled so far with my burden of sin,

But no one could ease the grief I was in,

Until I came here! What a place this is!

Is this where I will start being blessed?

Is this where the burden fell off my back?

Is this where the cords that bound it to me broke?

Bless the cross! Bless the empty tomb!

Blessed rather be The Man who was there put to shame for me!”

How does the hope of the resurrection influence my daily living? Do I live as if Jesus is truly risen and active in my life?

Have I consciously chosen the narrow path that Jesus talks about, understanding the challenges and the eternal rewards it offers?

What does walking with Jesus and living according to His way look like in my daily life? How does it shape my character, priorities, and relationships?

How am I responding to Jesus' invitation to build my life on Him? Am I hesitating or fully committing to His way?