Sermon Tone Analysis

Picture perfect

We all have pictures of things that we carry in the recesses of our mind.

Jesus has helped to paint pictures throughout the Sermon on the Mount and hopefully we have seen the perfect picture for the kingdom dweller to know and apply.

Some pieces of literary art we have seen recently.

Two ways and two trees (Mt7:13-23)

How to ask, seek and knock (Mt7:7-12)

Equal measure in equal judgment (Mt7:1-6)

Those are just recently I will summarize everything when we close out tonight.

In our passage tonight Jesus draws to a close with another comparison, two foundations and the results of the sermon on the crowd.

2018-9 has been a crazy year when it comes to disasters, hurricanes in Florida, massive forest fires in California, Tornado in Oklahoma and even here in Iowa, flooding in Iowa and Nebraska, oh did i mention winter storms in Kansas and here.

Disasters oftentimes prove the foundations of things.

We learn what is under the surface if things hold up against the storms of life.

Jesus is going to paint the picture of two foundations that is an analogy for our spiritual foundation that will, or will not withhold the storms of this life until the day of judgment.

Going back to the trees just for a moment (Mt7:15-20) - the picture of the trees being producing good fruit or bad fruit.

trees start with a seed and they grow, faith starts with a seed and it grows, the trees here illustrate the life of faith, a faith in God in which bears good fruit or in the world and ends in destruction.

There were the false teachers, prophets who were leading people astray (Mt7:21-23), leading them on the wide road through the broad gate that leads to destruction.

It will not matter what we think, it will matter what God says on that final day.

All of these are pointing to that final day when judgment comes, so how can we, kingdom dwellers be prepared?

How can we know our faith is true?

It’s easy to sit in a pew, it’s easy to memorize bible verses, to physically be here, to intellectually study and remember things but yet your heart is far from God. Obedience is needed, following God’s will is needed more than sacrifice of time and knowledge.

When a person is born again he has the Spirit of God living within him (Act2:38; Rom5:5) and that motivates him to know and live by the Spirit and do the things that please God, like keep His commands.

Words are not a substitute for obedience nor are religious works, you can see the two do the same thing here, but with different results.

So may we now look at the passage.

I’m holding off on the reaction until the end.

But now in our passage we see two house, two foundations, two outcomes

Another comparison, this time on foundations

In the previous section (Mt7:21-23) you saw the comparison of saying and doing and in this passage we see hearing and doing.

both show comparison of obedient and disobedient, wise and the foolish.

Similarities:

Both heard the Word (Mt7:24)

Both built houses and on the surface looked the same (1Pt2:5; Mt16:16-18)

A spiritual house is built on a foundation too, just like a physical house.

We are to built on the rock.

Both had storms come upon them (Isa43:1-2; Jn16:33; Act14:22)

Just because we are kingdom dwellers does not exempt us from trials, tribulations and the like.

Just like it did not exempt Israel.

In fact Jesus said there will be tribulation (in other words storms).

Paul speaks that there will be many

Both had results of the storms

We will get to the storms here in a couple of minutes

Thus ends the similarities

Two Houses

Both the houses in our passage on the surface look the same don’t they?

As we look at this passage let’s go beyond the visual, beyond the literal house.

What do the houses represent?

Houses represent a lives

Jesus is not addressing believers and unbelievers, he is addressing believers who are building spiritual houses.

Spiritual houses that are hearing the same thing, both going to assembly, both hearing the Word of God, which means they have the same ability and instruction for application.

Lives may look similar on the surface, on the outside, but may we remember that God is the discerner of the heart.

(Heb4:12 ref only)

You cannot tell the difference in the building from the surface, it is the foundation that is rooted, it is the foundation that is tested in the storms that will reveal the truth and the strength of the spiritual house.

John Calvin said:

“True piety is not fully distinguished from its counterfeit til it comes to the trial.”

Houses represent what is being built up

Jesus had previously looked at saying and doing before here it is hearing and doing.

Both require application.

Our spiritual house that is built on a foundation needs application, we need to apply what we are hearing so not to deceive ourselves (Jam1:22-25)

Foundation

A foundation matters doesn’t it?

Foundation: (noun) 1.

the lowest load-bearing part of a building, typically below ground level.

2. an underlying basis or principle.

Having defined it now lets look at the spiritual foundation that the houses are built on.

(Insert spiritual foundation picture here)

One is built upon upon the rock (Mt7:25); the other upon sand (Mt7:26).

One withheld the storms due to foundation (Mt7:25) the other had a great fall (Mt7:27)

So, we are building a spiritual house with a spiritual foundation to hold up our spiritual house, so what does this spiritual foundation consist of?

Spiritual foundation is the Word of God and application of it (Mt7:24, Mt7:26)

One heard, believed and applied (obedience)

One heard, believed but did not apply (disobedience)

Spiritual foundations matter for they will go through storms (judgment); be sure to dig deep for your spiritual foundation (Lk6:48)

(insert firm foundation picture here)

Many proclaim, profess the name of Jesus only to deny their faith when life becomes spiritually challenging, costly or difficult.

We need to be people who build on a firm foundation, that foundation starts with the Word of God.

In the closing of the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is driving home the point that our profession be it verbal, intellectual will be tested, our foundation will be tested and proved so it is more than intellect and more than words it is obedience that strengthens our spiritual foundation and helps our spiritual house to stand.

Our salvation is not based on good works, that would be the law and that cannot save us, our salvation is based wholly on grace through faith which results in faithful works from salvation not for salvation.

Strong foundation and a strong house come from obedience (application) (Mt7:24)

Why should we act on Jesus words?

May we consider his closing, the results of the sermon then go back and look at some application for us in summarizing the Sermon on the Mount.

As one having authority

At the close of the Sermon the people were astonished, amazed, and may we walk away encouraged and challenged as we look at the closing verses when it comes to Jesus as one having authority.

His teaching was not as one teaching from authority as the scribes did, but one who had authority.

His teaching astonished, amazed the crowds; but this is not the first time that happened (Mk1:22-23; Mk6:2)

Jesus inherit right of authority

He is the Creator of all things (Jn1:1-3; Heb1;2; Col1:16)

and add to that

and have to add

He was given all things (Mt28:18); heir of all things (Heb1:2)

and to firm, shore it up more

He is our Redeemer (1Pt1:18-19) purchased with His own blood (Eph1:7)

Redeemed according to the riches of His grace.

His authority was recognized (Heb1:6; Mk1:23-24; Rev7:9-10)

The angels worshipped him, there are other verses covering that too (Rev5:11-12) not on your outline

Demons recognized Jesus and His authority and even obeyed it if you read on in context in Mk1:25

Authority seen as He sits on the throne!

May we have Him sit on the throne of our heart, of our lives, in spiritual house that makes for a strong foundation when He does.

His authority was far reaching (Mt28:18; Eph1:20-22; Rev1:5)

I mentioned authority given before, heaven and earth, let me expand just a little

He has the authority and all things are given, in the heavenly places and are far above everything here in the physical and the spiritual relm.

His authority was put into action when we were forgiven our sins because of His precious blood that was shed for us.