Kingdom Mindset: Matthew 7:13-27

Intro: Our culture likes to teach that there are many paths people can take in this life and that they all eventually lead to the same place. That as long as you live a life that is happy and healthy in a way that you choose then that’s all that matters. But today Jesus gives a world shattering message to that train of thought.

CIT: Jesus tells us to choose life and warns us what will happen if we do not.

Two gates (Matthew 7:13-14)

Two teachers (Matthew 7:15-20)

Two followers (Matthew 7:21-23)

Two foundations (Matthew 7:24-27)

One choice (Deuteronomy 30:19)

Two gates (Matthew 7:13-14)

There are only two paths in life

Our culture likes to teach that there are many paths people can take in this life and that they all eventually lead to the same place, but that is not what we see here in the text. That’s not what Jesus tells us. That’s not what is factually true.

In reality there are only two possible paths we can take in this life.

The wide gate and path is easy but leads to death

A man approaches these two gates and is having trouble deciding which to walk through. As he is deliberating another man comes up beside him and says that the choice should be easy for him. If you look to the left there is a narrow gate where only a few have gone in and on the front it says sorrow and death and the gate on the right is a wide gate with lots of people going in and on the front it says freedom and fun. It’s obvious the second man says, I’m going through the wide gate! Only once he has crossed the gate and is walking on the wide path can he turn back and see that the back of the gate says warning, this is leading to your death.

The narrow gate and path is hard but leads to life

As the first man stands there still deliberating he sees another man come up weeping while smiling, a confusing sight he thought. He asked why he was weeping and smiling at the same time. The third man answered, I am weeping because I am sorrowful over my sin, I have rebelled against the gracious King. But I’m smiling because now I get to go be with the King, even if it means that I have to die to myself along the way. The choice is obvious for me here! Even though this way is going to be hard the glory that I will see in the end makes it all worth it!

We find out what path we are on by looking down

Friends, do you want to find out which path you are on today? Look down. Our current life style tells us what path we are on. If you are currently living in unrepentant sin and supporting those around you to live in sin then this means that you are walking down the wide path that leads to destruction.

The question is are you going to repent and go back onto the narrow path that leads to life?

Two teachers (Matthew 7:15-20)

Jesus warns us that there will be false teachers

Why is it important that we know about false teachers? Because they are coming to deceive and destroy.

Deceive: dressed in sheep’s clothing. They are coming pretending to be fellow Christians

Destroy: but inwardly are ravenous wolves. Because they have never really come under Kingdom authority the, and because there are only two paths that someone can be on in life, these false teachers will endanger their followers.

Jesus tells us how we can distinguish between a false teacher and a true teacher.

You will know them by their fruit

From a distance berries on a thorn bush might look like grapes, but when examined up close it becomes obvious that they’re false and will hurt you.

Someone’s fruit is their whole being, what one consistently says and does on a regular basis is the fruit of their lives.

Judging if someone is bearing good fruit in the Kingdom of God or bad fruit in the Kingdom of the world is not always easy or quick, but it must be done **that’s why last week’s sermon was so important**

False teachers ultimately tear down people’s faith, promote division and bitterness in the church, and promote ungodly living.

Two followers (Matthew 7:21-23)

Just because you have correct doctrine does not mean that you are a Christian

Many of you sitting here today might know a lot of doctrine and theology. But Jesus tells us that just because someone recognizes that Jesus is Lord does not mean they have entered the Kingdom of God.

James 2:19 “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!”

Just because you go to and participate in church/Christian school does not mean that you are a Christian

Many of you sitting here today may have done a lot of good things. you may have gone on missions trips and you may have done plenty of service projects, but that does not guarantee our entrance into the Kingdom of God!

Matthew 7:22 “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?’”

What matters is not what you know or what you have done but who you know

What matters is whether or not you know Jesus personally. Whether by God’s grace you have become truly sorrowful over your sin and have submitted to Jesus Christ as your King and Savior.

Matthew 7:23 “And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”

Two foundations (Matthew 7:24-27)

In order to be a true follower of Christ and to walk along the narrow path our foundation must be on the rock, it must be on Christ Alone!

There is going to be a storm in your life, or there may be one raging right now. You may lose someone, you may struggle with depression and anxiety, or it may be something else entirely. But one thing is for sure, that if your foundation is not build on Jesus then your life will come crashing down, and it will lead to eternal death.

That is the warning that Jesus gives you today. That if you do not submit to his Lordship in his Kingdom then you are going to eternal death. So you’ve seen the two paths, the two teachers, the two followers, and the two foundations, but today you have ONE CHOICE.

One choice

The Old Testament is very explicit in telling us to choose life in God

Joshua 24:14-15 ““Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.””

Psalm 1 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

Deuteronomy 30:19 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live,”

Jesus presented this to you for you to make a choice today so what will you do? Choose life or choose death?