Kingdom Choices

Matthew 7:13-29

Good morning, Church. Go ahead and grab your Bibles and meet me in Matthew 7.

What a blessing it is to be in the house of God this morning. I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving — we truly have so much to be thankful for, amen?

Yesterday we had the opportunity to walk through our neighborhood and pray over every home we passed. Every front porch, every mailbox, every family — lifting them to the Lord and asking Him to move in our community. And church, that’s what Kingdom people do. We don’t just gather — we go. We go to meet people . And I’m believing God is going to honor those prayers in ways we can’t even see yet.

Now this morning, We’re standing at the very end of the Sermon on the Mount—Jesus’ longest, strongest, most in-your-face teaching. And He doesn’t land the plane with a soft little devotional thought.

He doesn’t say, “Alright y’all, let’s hold hands, sing Kumbaya, and have a nice week.” No.

And listen… the way Jesus ends this sermon? It’s not gentle. It’s not subtle. It’s not a soft landing on a nice cushioned runway.

No — Jesus comes in like Tom Cruise in Top Gun, the greatest actor in the world, radioing the tower like:

“Requesting permission for a flyby.”

And the whole crowd is like that air-traffic controller:

“Negative, Ghost Rider, the pattern is full.”

But Jesus does not care. He kicks the tires and light the fires, blazes right over the tower, rattles the windows, coffee spilling everywhere — and everybody’s standing there like: “What did He just SAY?”

Because that’s how Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount.

He’s not whispering anymore. He’s not suggesting anything. He’s drawing lines.

This is the moment where Jesus looks every one of us in the eye and says, ‘Alright — you’ve heard My teaching. Now what will you do with it?’

It’s like that meme going around— which way western man?

Because you can’t follow Jesus accidentally.

Nobody drifts into the Kingdom.

You don’t stumble into holiness on a Tuesday morning like, ‘Huh… look what happened!’

Holiness doesn’t fall on you like rain. You walk into it step by step, surrender by surrender.

You never slide uphill spiritually. Holiness requires intention.

Discipleship is intentional. It’s chosen. It’s costly. And Jesus makes that crystal clear in this passage.

The title this morning is Kingdom Choices — because Jesus is about to lay two gates, two paths, two teachers, two foundations, and ultimately two destinies in front of us. And He’s going to make us decide which Kingdom we really belong to.

So— Which way western man?

Let’s read God’s Word together.

Matthew 7:13–29 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. “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. “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.’ “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.” And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Choices 1: The Path You Enter (Matthew 7:13–14).

So Jesus brings us to this crossroads moment. Not theory. Not vibes. A choice.

And the very first Kingdom choice He lays down is the one that determines every other choice you’ll ever make in your spiritual life — the path you actually walk.

Because here’s the truth, church: Nobody becomes holy on accident. You drift into sin — you decide into holiness. And Jesus says the deciding point is right here at the gate.

So let’s look at it. Matthew 7:13–14…”**

“Enter by the narrow gate.”

Jesus doesn’t say “think about it,” or “consider it,” or “weigh your options.” It’s a command. Enter. Step in. Move.

Because faith is not passive. Salvation is not something you inherit. It is something you enter through Christ and Christ alone.

This is the moment where you step off the throne of your own life and bow before the rightful King.

A. The Narrow Gate — Christ Alone

Jesus tells we have choices. The open road and the road less traveled.

The easy life leads to destruction.

 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Remember, Jesus is speaking to a crowd made up of mostly religious Jews.

The question isn’t will the saved be few? The questions is will the saved be you?

The narrow gate is narrow because only one Person fits through it — Jesus.

Not your good works.

Not your church attendance.

Not your grandma’s prayers.

Not your “I’m not as bad as those people.”

Only Christ.

John 14:6 (ESV) “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Acts 4:12 (ESV) “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

1 Timothy 2:5 (ESV) “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

The narrow gate isn’t narrow because God is stingy — it’s narrow because salvation is found in one Name, not many.

You can’t squeeze your pride through this gate. You can’t carry your sin bags through this gate. You can’t drag your self-rule through this gate.

The narrow gate forces you to lay everything else down and cling to Jesus as your only hope.

And listen — that’s why so few people choose it. It requires surrender.

B. The Hard Path — Obedience That Costs Something

Jesus says the path is hard — not because He wants to make your life miserable, but because following Him cuts against everything your flesh naturally wants. It goes against the culture. It demands a kind of obedience that is daily, gritty, and intentional. It’s the slow carving of Christlikeness into your soul.

You don’t drift into that. You choose it. You walk it. You return to it every time you wander.

Let me put it this way — and anyone who has lifted weights or exercised knows what i’m talking about:

You can stare at the dumbbells all day long — you will not get stronger.

You can talk about lifting. You can watch YouTube videos about lifting. You can buy a gym membership and never go. But until you actually pick up the weight… nothing changes.

Holiness works the same way.

You can read your Bible all day long— and that will not make you obedient to God’s Word.

You can talk about God. You can watch Youtube videos from your favorite pastors. You can join the church.

But nothing actually changes until you put it all into action.

Jesus says the path is hard because it requires intentional, daily, obedient steps. Not perfection — but direction. You get up. You follow. You deny yourself. You repent when you fall. You get back up again. You choose Jesus over your feelings, Jesus over your impulses, Jesus over the wide road that everyone else is taking.

Listen — the narrow path is not a quick sprint; it’s a lifelong walk of obedience. It’s the slow carving of Christlikeness into your soul.

This is why Luke 9:23 (ESV) matters so much: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”

Not weekly. Not occasionally. Daily.

Holiness is not microwaved — it’s slow-cooked. It is formed through daily surrender, daily obedience, daily putting one foot in front of the other toward Jesus.

And this is why Jesus says in John 14:15 (ESV): “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

Jesus does not say, “If you love Me, you’ll talk about loving Me.” He says, “If you love Me, obey.”

Obedience is the spiritual conditioning of the Christian life. It shapes you. It strengthens you. It matures you.

If the narrow gate is where you enter the Kingdom, the narrow path is where you become like Jesus.

C. The Wide Path — Easy, Popular, Deadly

Jesus says the wide path is easy and crowded — and that’s exactly why so many people choose it. You don’t have to repent to walk it. You don’t have to surrender. You don’t have to deny yourself. You don’t even have to think. You just float with the current of culture, show up when it’s convenient, and slap a little spiritual language on top of a self-centered life.

It’s comfortable. It’s customizable. It’s Christianity à la carte.

Pick the parts you like. Ignore the parts you don’t. Add a little positivity, subtract any holiness, and multiply your comfort.

People on the wide path feel spiritual, but they aren’t saved. They feel good about themselves, but they aren’t born again. They admire Jesus, but they don’t obey Him. They sing the songs but never surrender their hearts.

And the crazy thing? You can walk the wide path without ever deciding to. It’s the path of least resistance. You just drift into it.

It’s like when Judah was little — we’d go to the beach, and that boy would be out there in the water living his best life, splashing, yelling, throwing sand like he was recreating a National Geographic special. But two minutes later I’d look up and he’d be 40 yards down the shore like he was training for open-water swimming in the Olympics.

I’d yell, “JUDAH! Get back over here!” And he’d yell back, “I DIDN’T MOVE!” No, buddy… the current moved you.

Church, that’s exactly what the wide path does. You don’t feel yourself drifting. You don’t realize you’ve moved. You think you’re standing still. But the current of the world, the flesh, and the enemy will pull you farther and farther from Jesus without you even noticing — unless you’re anchored to Him.

The wide path feels safe because it’s crowded. But Jesus says it’s crowded because it’s deadly.

It leads to destruction — not inconvenience, not discomfort, not spiritual mediocrity… destruction.

That’s why Jesus refuses to sugarcoat this. He’s not trying to scare you — He’s trying to save you. This is the mercy of God warning you before you ever reach the cliff.

And here’s the Kingdom truth every one of us has to wrestle with: Everyone in this room is walking a road right now.

The only question is: Which gate did you actually enter?

Not which gate you like. Not which gate you agree with. Not which gate you heard about growing up. Which gate did you actually step through?

Because your path always reveals your heart. Your direction always exposes your decision.

But here’s the thing—Jesus doesn’t just talk about gates and paths… He takes it deeper. Because the road you walk isn’t just shaped by the gate you entered— it’s shaped by the voice you follow while you’re on it.

And that leads Jesus straight into Kingdom Choice #2…

Kingdom Choice #2: The Voice You Follow (vv. 15–20)

You ever notice how the wrong voice can sound real good at first? False teachers don’t come with a name tag that says, “Hi, I’m here to ruin your life.” No—Jesus says they look helpful. They look spiritual. They look like the kind of people you'd trust with your kids at VBS.

A. Wolves in Shepherd’s Clothing

Jesus says these folks show up dressed like sheep… or worse, shepherds. They talk Christian. They look Christian. They’ve got the lingo down. They say “blessed” and “highly favored.” They post verses on Instagram with a latte next to it.

But underneath the wool… big ol’ wolf. And their teaching? It doesn’t lead you toward the narrow path. It pulls you off the narrow path—because wolves never lead you toward life; they lead you toward lunch… where you’re the lunch.

I think about Judah sometimes with this. When he was little, he'd see something shiny in a store—some toy that looked amazing on the box. He’d be convinced it was the greatest thing ever made. Then we'd get home, open it up… and it’d break in 30 seconds. That’s false teaching—looks good, sounds good, falls apart the moment you actually need it.

B. Fruit Reveals the Root

Jesus tells us, “Don’t get fooled by leaves—look for fruit.” Not charisma, but character. Not gifting, but godliness. Not crowds, but Christlikeness.

Listen, even a fake tree at Hobby Lobby looks good from a distance. But get close enough, and you realize it hasn’t produced anything since the day it rolled out of the factory. Jesus says real teachers, real disciples, real followers—they bear fruit. Fruit you can taste. Fruit that actually nourishes. Fruit that lasts.

C. The Kingdom Test

Jesus makes this so simple a middle-schooler could understand it. You don’t need a theology degree, a commentary set, or a Bible in Greek and Hebrew. You just need a little spiritual common sense. Jesus basically hands us a Kingdom sniff test—like when Judah tries to tell me his soccer cleats “don’t smell that bad,” and I take one whiff and immediately start interceding in prayer. Some things you just know are off.

Here’s the test Jesus gives:

Does this teaching lead people to holiness or to self? If what they say constantly puts you at the center—your dreams, your comfort, your preferences—it’s not the gospel. Jesus didn’t come to sprinkle spiritual glitter on our self-centeredness. He came to crucify it.

Does it increase love for Jesus, or just admiration for the teacher? Some voices make you say, “Wow, what a preacher.” The right voices make you say, “Wow, what a Savior.” One leads to fan clubs, the other leads to worship. One builds platforms, the other builds disciples.

Does it produce repentance, or does it reinforce rebellion? Real biblical teaching doesn’t just make you feel good—it makes you new. It doesn’t just comfort you; it corrects you. It doesn’t just inspire you; it transforms you. If you walk away always affirmed but never confronted… that’s not a shepherd—that’s a life coach with a leather-bound Bible he’s using as a prop.

And let’s be honest: some sermons today are basically spiritual protein shakes—taste good, make you feel pumped, and then leave you hungry an hour later. But the Word of God is steak. It’s substance. It sticks to your ribs. It actually strengthens you for the narrow road.

Kingdom truth:

If you follow the wrong voice, you will walk the wrong path. It doesn’t matter how sincere you are. You can sincerely follow your GPS straight into a lake.

Because it’s not sincerity that determines your destination— it’s the voice you follow.

And Jesus says there are a lot of voices out there… but only one that leads to life. So slow down. Listen carefully. Hold every voice—including mine—up to the Word of God. Follow the Shepherd whose voice is steady, strong, and always faithful.

But Jesus doesn’t stop with the voices around us— He moves to the voices within us. The claims we make. The confidence we rest in. The spiritual assumptions we carry.

Because some of the most deceiving voices you’ll ever hear… are the ones you speak to yourself.

And that leads Jesus into one of the most sobering moments in the entire sermon…

Kingdom Choice #3: The Claim You Rely On (vv. 21–23)

This might be one of the most sobering parts of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. He looks at a crowd full of people who think they're good, think they're saved, think they're locked in… and He basically says, “Not everyone who speaks Christianese belongs to Me.”

Just because someone can say “Praise God,” “Bless your heart,” and “I’ll pray about it” doesn’t mean they actually know Him.

A. Empty Religion Can Sound Impressive

When these folks stand before Jesus and call Him “Lord,” they’re not using a throwaway title. The Greek word there is kyrios—the same word used for God Himself.

In other words, they’re not casual church-shoppers. They’re not spiritual tourists. These are people who recognized Jesus as God. These are the folks who would check every box of orthodox Christianity.

And notice this—“Lord, Lord.” Anytime a name is repeated in Semitic culture, it’s a sign of deep emotion, affection, relationship. Think David crying out, “Absalom, Absalom.” Think Jesus saying, “Mary… Mary.” These aren’t people who just believed the right doctrines; they felt something for Jesus. They respected Him. They had the language of devotion.

Then they say, “Did we not do many mighty works in Your name?” Preaching, casting out demons, ministry stuff. And we think, Hold up—how is that even possible?

But the Bible is full of people who did “God things” without actually knowing God:

Caiaphas—the very priest who pushed for Jesus’ crucifixion—gave a prophecy straight from God.

Simon the sorcerer in Acts tried to perform miracles.

And the greatest example of all—Balaam’s donkey preached a whole sermon. But nowhere does Scripture say that was a saved donkey.

Here’s the point: these people Jesus is talking about were involved in ministry. They showed up to prayer meetings. They went on mission trips. They saw miracles. They served, they spoke the language, they looked the part.

Outwardly? You couldn’t tell the difference between them and a genuine follower of Jesus.

But Jesus could.

And that’s what makes this passage so sobering.

Jesus says they’re going to stand there and say, “Lord, Lord… didn’t we prophesy in Your name? Didn’t we cast out demons? Didn’t we do all kinds of mighty works for You?” In other words:

“Jesus, hold up. We aced the theology test. We felt like we loved You. We were in ministry! We did all the Christian things — prayed the prayers, got baptized, checked all the boxes. The pastor even told us we were Christians. We served. We looked the part. Didn’t we look just like everybody else?”

And right here, Jesus exposes four marks of people who are falsely assured — people who think they’re saved but aren’t.

And notice: the difference isn’t in rituals. It’s not in passion. It’s not in how loud they sing or how many verses of Romans Road they have memorized. It’s not even in moral behavior. The Pharisees were the varsity squad of religion — they had the first five books of the Bible memorized. Most of us can’t even remember where we left our keys.

A. They have no first-hand knowledge of Jesus (v. 23) Jesus looks at them and says, “I never knew you.” Meaning: you had religion, but you didn’t have relationship. You knew things about Jesus… you just didn’t actually know Jesus. There was never surrender. Never affection. Never a love for Him simply because He’s worthy.

They served God, but it wasn’t out of delight — it was out of transaction. They wanted something from Him. They believed if they did the right rituals, God would give them a better life… or at least keep them out of hell.

To them, God was basically a cosmic checklist: do these things, pray these prayers, perform these rituals, and He’ll leave you alone.

Think about marriage for a second. If I looked at Blair and said, “Woman… here’s what I need from you: kids and a clean house.” And then she said, “Okay, Jordan, here’s what I need from you: be home by 6, hand me $300 a week for clothes, never play golf, stay home every Saturday, and every now and then bring me some flowers and perfume.” And then I did those things like some kind of cold contract…

That’s not marriage. That’s a business agreement.

In the same way, serving God because you think He’s a means to a better life… or a get-out-of-hell-free card… is not Christianity. Christianity is knowing Him, loving Him, surrendering to Him — not using Him.

B. The Great Exposer: Obedience

So what does Jesus look for? Obedience.

Not perfect obedience—if that were the case, we’d all be done for. But real, humble, ongoing obedience that flows from actually knowing Him.

Obedience is the fruit that reveals the real root. Anybody can say “Lord, Lord,” but only someone who loves Him will actually follow Him. Jesus doesn't need hype men—He wants disciples.

Think about this: obedience isn’t what saves you… but it shows that you’ve been saved. It’s the evidence that grace really got ahold of your heart.

C. The Most Terrifying Words in the Bible

Jesus says there will be people who stand before Him claiming all their spiritual achievements, and He will say: “I never knew you.”

Not “I used to know you.” Not “I knew you but you messed up too much.” Not “I knew you but you lost it.” No— “I NEVER knew you.” As in: “You did a lot of things in My name, but you never gave Me your heart.”

These are the most terrifying words in the Bible because Jesus is not rejecting sinners—He loves sinners. He’s rejecting spiritual performers. People who used ministry to avoid intimacy. People who relied on their résumé instead of a relationship.

Jesus doesn’t want employees. He wants sons and daughters.

Kingdom truth:

Knowing Jesus is more important than doing things for Jesus. The question on that day won’t be, “What did you do?” It will be, “Do you know Him—and does He know you?”

So choose the claim you rely on wisely. Choose relationship—not résumé. Choose intimacy—not activity. Choose surrender—not spiritual performance.

But Jesus doesn’t stop with our claims— He dives even deeper into the very structure of our lives. Because it’s not just what we say we believe… it’s what we actually build on.

Your foundation always tells the truth.

And that leads Jesus into His final kingdom challenge…

Kingdom Choice #4: The Foundation You Build On

Matthew 7:24–27 — Two houses. Same storm. Different outcomes.

Jesus wraps up the Sermon on the Mount with this picture we all get: two guys building houses side-by-side. From the street, everything looks the same—same neighborhood, same blueprint, same weather patterns rolling through. But Jesus says the difference isn’t in how the houses look…it’s what they’re sitting on.

Jesus ends the entire Sermon on the Mount with a picture everyone in that crowd would’ve understood: ancient Israel had a rainy season that turned dry riverbeds—called wadis—into violent, sudden floods. A house built in the wrong place or on the wrong foundation could be swept away in minutes.

He uses this real-life context to preach a spiritual truth: Hearing the Word is not the same as obeying the Word. Two men look identical on the outside… but the storm reveals what they really built on.

A. Both Hear the Word—Only One Obeys

Jesus says:

“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24, ESV)

Every person in the crowd that day heard the same sermon—the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). Both men had access to the same truth. Same teaching. Same Scripture. Same revelation.

But Jesus makes it clear: Attendance isn’t obedience. Listening isn’t building.

James picks up the same theme centuries later:

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22, ESV)

Self-deception happens when you hear the truth and assume that’s enough.

It’s like when Judah was younger. I’d tell him, “Buddy, clean your room.” He’d nod his head like a grown man. “Yes sir.” And then I’d walk in five minutes later and he’d be jumping off his bed onto a pile of laundry like he’s in the WWE. He heard me. He just didn’t do it.

Jesus says hearing + doing = stability. Hearing – doing = collapse.

B. Storms Reveal What’s Hidden

Jesus continues:

“And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew…” (Matthew 7:25, ESV)

In the Middle East, these flash floods happened violently and quickly. The wise builder dug deep until he hit bedrock. The foolish builder wanted speed and convenience. He built on top of the sand—easy, fast, impressive-looking… until the first storm hit.

Storms don’t create the cracks. Storms reveal the cracks.

Peter reminds us:

“So that the tested genuineness of your faith… may be found to result in praise and glory…” (1 Peter 1:7, ESV)

And Paul says:

“Each one’s work will become manifest… because it will be revealed by fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:13, ESV)

Testing is part of God’s design. Storms expose what sermons can’t see. Trials show what your spiritual foundation actually is.

Storms don’t care if you have a church background, a Christian playlist, or a Bible verse tattooed in Greek. Storms hit everybody. Only the foundation determines who stands.

C. The Rock vs. the Sand

Jesus defines both builders clearly:

Rock = Jesus’ teaching obeyed

“…built his house on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24)

The rock isn’t information. It’s not admiration.

Its transformation. It’s obedience—a life that actually puts Jesus’ words into action.

Think of John’s words in 1 John:

“And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.” (1 John 2:3, ESV)

John doesn’t say, “This is how you earn salvation…” He says, “This is how you know you actually know Him.” Obedience is the evidence of a real relationship. Love shows up in loyalty. Belief shows up in behavior. Faith shows up in following.

One man digs deep and builds on the rock—God’s Word, God’s will, God’s ways. The other just slaps something together on the sand because it’s quicker, easier, and looks fine for now. And Jesus is clear: the real difference isn’t hearing His words…it’s obeying them. You don’t get a life that stands by nodding along in church—you get it by actually doing what the Architect says.

Sand = Jesus’ teaching admired but ignored

“…built his house on the sand.” (Matthew 7:26)

Sand is what happens when we treat truth like trivia—stuff we remember but don’t love, don’t live, don’t let change us. Sand scatters. Sand shifts. Sand won’t hold when life gets heavy. But the rock—that’s the truth we cling to, the truth we build on, the truth we actually trust because we love the One who said it.

And the storms will come. Jesus doesn’t say “if”—He says when. The rain falls, the floods rise, the winds howl, and suddenly your foundation gets exposed. That’s when you find out what you built your life on.

Sand is easy. Sand is comfortable. Sand is quick. Sand lets you stay in control of your life.

Sand is Christianity without surrender—Jesus as consultant, not Lord.

Proverbs warns us:

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” (Proverbs 14:12, ESV)

Jesus says the collapse is not possible, not probable— It is guaranteed.

“…and great was the fall of it.” (Matthew 7:27, ESV)

The tragedy isn’t the storm. The tragedy is building your entire life on something that couldn’t hold you.

Kingdom Truth:

Obedience is the difference between surviving and collapsing.

Not talent. Not charisma. Not church activity. Not Bible knowledge.

Jesus closes the Sermon on the Mount with one simple question: What are you building your life on—His Word or your will?

Because when—not if—the storm comes, your foundation will preach the loudest sermon of your life.

Choose the rock. Choose obedience. Choose the Kingdom.

At the end of the day, there’s only one foundation that doesn’t crack, shift, or split: faith in Christ and obedience to His Word. Everything else—every dream, plan, opinion, and shortcut—is sand. Only Jesus holds. Only His Word stands. And only a life built on Him will stand when everything else shakes.

But Jesus knows something else: Even after hearing truth, even after being confronted with choices, even after being shown the difference between sand and stone… some people will still walk away unchanged.

You can hear the greatest sermon of your life and still not submit to the One who preached it. You can be moved… impressed… inspired… and still uncommitted.

And that’s exactly what happens at the end of Matthew 7.

Matthew zooms the camera out, pans across the crowd, and shows us their reaction—not their obedience, just their amazement. They loved the message… they just didn’t surrender to the Messiah.

Which brings us to the final kingdom choice Jesus confronts us with…

Kingdom Choice #5: The Authority You Submit To

Matthew 7:28–29 — The crowds were amazed… but not committed.

Matthew closes the Sermon on the Mount by describing the reaction of the crowd. They’re stunned. Jaw-on-the-floor. Goosebumps. “Did you hear what He just said?” People texting their friends. The kind of sermon that makes you want to go shake the preacher’s hand afterward.

They were amazed… But amazement isn’t the same as allegiance. The crowd loved the sermon but had no intention of obeying the Savior.

A. Jesus Speaks With Divine Authority

Matthew says:

“And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” (Matthew 7:28–29, ESV)

The scribes quoted rabbis. Jesus quotes Himself. The scribes said, “Rabbi so-and-so says…” Jesus said, “But I say to you…” (Matthew 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44)

This is divine authority on display.

And remember the context: The rabbis taught like commentators. Jesus taught like the Author.

Paul later says something similar about Jesus:

“For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” (Colossians 1:19, ESV)

He is not just a teacher in the Kingdom— He is the King of the Kingdom.

He doesn’t give suggestions. He gives commands. He doesn’t offer opinions. He declares truth.

B. Amazement Without Surrender Isn’t Enough

You can be impressed by Jesus and still be lost. The crowds loved His delivery… Loved His stories… Loved His wisdom… But they didn’t love Him enough to obey.

Herod was the same way:

“Herod feared John… and when he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.” (Mark 6:20, ESV)

He liked the preaching. He just didn’t want to repent.

Jesus doesn’t want fans—He wants followers. He doesn’t want admirers—He wants disciples.

You can binge-watch sermons, fill notebooks with notes, highlight your entire Bible—and still not know Him. Amazement is not salvation. Surrender is.

It’s like Judah at a wrestling match. He’ll watch a kid hit a double-leg takedown and say, “Dad! That was awesome!” But if I tell him to try that same technique at practice, he looks at me like, “Let’s not get crazy now.”

Amazed… but not committed. That’s the crowds in Matthew 7.

The Kingdom Comes Down to a Choice

Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount like only the Great Physician can— not with a soft landing, not with a feel-good story, but like a good surgeon cutting straight to the heart.

He lays out the options in pairs—simple, unmistakable, unavoidable:

Two gates — wide or narrow

Two paths — easy or costly

Two teachers — truth or deception

Two claims — “Lord, Lord” or “I know Him”

Two foundations — rock or sand

Two destinies — life or destruction

There’s no middle road in the Kingdom. No spiritual Switzerland. No neutral ground.

You can’t walk both paths. You can’t build on both foundations. You can’t follow two voices.

You have to choose.

And Jesus looks at the crowd—people who heard the greatest sermon ever preached— and He essentially asks them the same question He asks us today:

“What will you do with Me?”

Not: “What did you think of the message?” “Were you impressed?” “Did you enjoy it?”

But: “Will you follow Me?”

Because the difference between heaven and hell is not admiration—it’s allegiance.

CALL TO ACTION

So Church, here is the invitation—clear, simple, and costly:

1. Enter the narrow gate—Christ alone.

Not Jesus plus religion. Not Jesus plus your own goodness. Jesus alone.

2. Follow His voice—not the culture’s.

Every voice out there wants to lead you somewhere. Only one leads to life. Get close. Listen deeply. Follow faithfully.

3. Rely on relationship—not performance.

Your résumé can’t save you. Your busyness can’t save you. Your ministry accomplishments can’t save you. Knowing Jesus—that saves you.

4. Build your life on obedience—not admiration.

Don’t be a sermon appreciator. Be a sermon applier. Stability comes from doing what He says—even when it’s hard.

5. Submit to the King—not your preferences.

Lay down the crown. Surrender the throne. Joy begins at the feet of Jesus.

The Final Word

“Kingdom Choices” demands one thing from every disciple:

Choose Jesus for real. Not just with your lips— but with your life.

Church, this is not casual Christianity. This is not “check the box” faith. This is a full-body, full-heart, full-life surrender to the King who gave everything for you.

Choose Him when it costs you something. Choose Him when it means you stand out instead of blend in. Choose Him when everyone else is rushing toward the wide gate and the easy road. Choose Him when obedience is hard. When surrender is scary. When taking up your cross feels heavy.

Choose the narrow gate — the one that leads to life. Choose the Shepherd’s voice — the only voice that won’t lie to you. Choose the firm foundation — the only ground that will hold when your world shakes. Choose obedience — the kind that shows up in your Monday, your marriage, your habits, your secret places. Choose surrender — the kind that says, “Jesus, You can have all of me.” Choose the King — not as an advisor, not as an accessory, but as Lord.

Because when you choose Jesus — you don’t just choose a religion… you choose life. Real life. Abundant life. Eternal life. Life that storms can’t steal and sin can’t stain.

And now, church, we move into a holy moment. A moment of invitation and consecration. A moment where all the teaching and all the truth meets your heart in real time.

This isn’t the time to admire the sermon. This is the time to respond to the Savior.

Whatever God has been whispering, stirring, convicting, revealing in you today — do it.

If He’s calling you to repent — come home. If He’s calling you to let go of that sin — lay it down. If He’s calling you to forgive someone — release it. If He’s calling you into deeper obedience — step forward. If He’s calling you to salvation — run to Him. If He’s calling you to recommit your life — do not stall the Spirit.

Don’t negotiate with God. Don’t wait for a better moment. Don’t assume you’ll do it later.

Obey Him now. Trust Him now. Come to Him now.

This is your invitation. This is your consecration. This is the moment where eternity leans in and heaven watches.

So as we move into this time — listen to the Spirit… and do whatever He tells you to do.