Sermon on the Mount: Two Claims
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Sermon on the Mount – Two Claims
Matthew 7:21-23
1. Introduction – Two roads, two trees give way to two claims.
a. In many ways the final 2 paragraphs of the SM are quite similar.
i. Jesus turns from false prophets to false professors…from unsound teachers to unsound listeners.
1. The final two paragraphs both contrast the wrong and right responses to Jesus’ teaching and they both show that neutrality is impossible.
a. A definitive decision has to be made.
b. What we are about to read and study this morning are some of the most solemn and terrifying words ever spoken – and these are words spoken by the Son of God himself.
i. And the passage follows a similar structure the last couple of paragraphs.
1. Jesus makes a bold assertion – enter by the narrow gate, beware of false prophets…
a. And the assertion made in today’s passage is even bolder.
i. He starts with an assertion, then he illustrates it, elaborates on it and amplifies it.
1. So, what are these solemn and terrifying words? What is this bold assertion that Jesus makes?
a. Hear God’s Word – Matthew 7:21-23.
2. Who is Jesus – Aren’t those difficult words to hear?
a. And what makes them more astonishing and more difficult to hear is that they come from Jesus’ mouth.
i. Now, before we dive into what the text says and means and how it applies to us…
1. I want us first to take note of what this passage tells us about Jesus.
a. Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord…”
i. That right there is a radical statement.
1. Jesus is Lord? To us living in the 21st century…yes that’s how we know him….
a. But think of how a 1st century audience thought of Jesus.
i. Who was he to them?
b. Well, he was Mary’s son, he was a carpenter who was just becoming known as a teacher.
i. To his first century audience Jesus wasn’t Lord…at least not yet…he was Jesus from the hick town of Nazareth.
1. Remember, Jesus didn’t come to earth with huge fanfare and pomp and circumstance…Jesus didn’t come declaring all that he is and all that he would do.
a. We have to remember and keep in mind how his original audience viewed him.
ii. Jesus’ divinity, his Messiahship was slowly revealed over time.
1. Through this teaching and that teaching…through this conversation and that conversation…
a. Through this healing and that miracle…it was slowly revealed to his followers that he was more than Mary’s son, more than a carpenter…more than simply a good and provocative teacher…
i. And right here…at the beginning of his earthly ministry – when people were still getting to know Jesus…
1. Jesus gives his listeners a clue about who he is…he is Lord.
iii. And what we see throughout the Gospel is this Messianic secret slowly being revealed to people.
1. People coming to the realization that Jesus is the Son of God…that he is Lord.
a. Peter said at Caesarea Philippi that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God.
i. The centurion at the cross said, “Truly this man was the Son of God…”
1. Peter, again, on the day of Pentecost told a large crowd… “This Jesus, whom you crucified…God made him both Lord and Christ.”
2. So Jesus, in Matthew 7, makes a claim about himself…He is Lord.
a. And just a few short years later – people who saw what he did…
i. Witnessed his death and resurrection with their own eyes…are confessing with their own mouths that Jesus is Lord…that he is the Christ and the Son of God.
c. So first, there’s this provocative statement – Jesus is Lord.
i. But as the paragraph goes on – look at where Jesus places himself.
1. V.22 begins this way…”On that day, many will say to me…”
a. What day is Jesus referring to? Presumably he’s referring to the day of judgment.
i. The day when the kingdom of God is established in its full power…the day when God will make his dwelling with his people….
1. Revelation tells us it’s the day when the books are opened and the records are read…
2. Now, in 1st century Jewish thought, the judging on judgment day was something that would be done by God and God alone…
a. But look at what Jesus does here…Many will say…to God??? Nope. Jesus says, “Many will say to me…
i. Another radical statement about who Jesus is.
1. Lord, and now he is saying he is equal with God and will participate in the judging on judgment day.
ii. And in v.23 – Jesus is the one who expels people from the kingdom.
1. This is a radical paragraph because in it we get a glimpse of who Jesus is.
a. The paragraph is full of high Christology – exalting Jesus for who he is and the work he will accomplish.
i. He is Lord…and he is Judge…and how one responds to Jesus determines where one will spend eternity.
3. Not Everyone – So we’ve looked at who said these words…not let’s look at what Jesus said.
a. These are solemn and sobering words…Jesus says – not everyone who says to me “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom….
i. Not everyone who does mighty works in the name of Jesus is actually working for Jesus.
1. We’ll explore what that means and how this could be in just a bit.
b. But first – look at the claims that are being made.
i. On the day of judgment – when they stand before Jesus – many will make this claim.
1. Did we not prophesy in your name?
a. Cast out demons in your name?
i. Do many mighty works in your name?
1. And take note that Jesus doesn’t deny their claim.
2. He doesn’t deny that they prophesied, exorcised demons and performed mighty act.
a. Their rejection on the day of judgment isn’t based on these acts.
i. In fact, these mighty acts often accompany and serve to strengthen and confirm the presence and reception of the Gospel.
1. Prophecy, exorcisms and miracles don’t replace the Gospel message, but enhance and show the power of the Gospel.
ii. Jesus doesn’t deny the claim of mighty acts…and neither should we. So, we aren’t going dissect these claims to find their veracity…
1. Instead, I want to take some time and examine the character of this group, then we’ll look at the reasons for their rejection.
a. and we’ll do this by comparing this passage with one that is quite similar – Jesus’ parable about the sheep and the goats.
c. The 2 passages are similar in that they both take place on Judgment Day.
i. Jesus divides people into 2 groups – one group is welcomed into eternal paradise, while the other is ushered into eternal damnation.
1. In the parable, found in Matthew 25 – the sheep represent the righteous while the goats represent the damned.
a. And what we should take not of when comparing these stories is the character of the sheep and the character of those who Jesus rejects.
i. In the parable, Jesus welcomes the sheep into his eternal kingdom.
1. Jesus says to the sheep – I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me something to drink…
a. Naked and you clothed me, imprisoned and you visited me…
b. And if you know the parable – do you remember the sheep’s response?
i. They puffed up their chests and patted themselves on the back and strutted into the kingdom…
1. Oh wait – that’s not what happens at all.
2. Do you know their response? It was actually shock…they were surprised.
a. When did you do all of those things, they ask? It’s almost as if they didn’t even now or realize they were doing these things.
ii. But contrast that with the character of those we met in Matthew 7:21-23.
1. They are all too aware of the things they have done.
a. In the passage before us this morning – those who Jesus rejects are pretty quick to list all of their accomplishments.
i. We did this and that the other. We did some pretty crazy and spectacular things.
1. A series contrast to those who Jesus welcomes into his kingdom in the parable of the sheep and goats.
b. The sheep had no clue about the things they had done in Jesus’ name…and seemed surprised to gain entrance.
i. But in the passage in front of us today – the people are well aware of all their accomplishments and are shocked to hear of their rejection.
d. So that begs the question – if these people did things in Jesus’ name – how could they be rejected?
i. Well, here’s the reason for their rejection – Jesus said, “I never knew you.”
1. Yes, they did miracles in Jesus’ name, yes, they prophesied in Jesus’ name, cast out demons in Jesus’ name…
a. They were in church every week, they sang the hymns and recited the creed…but when it came down to the very heart of the matter – Jesus never knew them.
i. They never knew Jesus as their Saviour and Lord.
2. They did great things in Jesus’ name, but they never submitted their lives to him.
e. Think about this word “know” for a second.
i. To ‘know’ in the Bible is a word of intimacy. Adam knew Eve – Joseph knew her not until she brought forth her first born son.
1. Know is a word used to describe the intimacy between a husband and wife.
a. But it is also a word used to describe the relationship between God and his people.
i. It was more than acquaintances or recognition.
1. It’s not that God knows about his people….no, no, no – he knows his people.
a. He knows what makes you tick, your desires, your strengths…your inner most thoughts.
b. And in the same we are to know God – not simply know about God – but submit every aspect of our lives to him.
f. But that brings up the question – how could they do great things in Jesus’ name…but Jesus doesn’t know them?
i. Actually, the Bible shows us that even successful miracles can be traced to other sources.
1. Or God used ungodly men to accomplish great things.
a. Think of Balaam – he delivered the right message, but he wasn’t a child of God.
i. He gave the right answer and the right teaching, but he was still an unrepentant reprobate…but God used him.
ii. And think about Judas…for 3 years he followed Jesus.
1. He was sent out by Jesus and undoubtedly did great things in Jesus’ name. People probably came to believe in Jesus as the Messiah because of Judas.
a. Judas cast out demons, performed miracles and taught people in Jesus’ name…
i. But ultimately proved that he only gave lip service to Jesus never fully submitted his life to Jesus’ Lordship.
g. Here’s what Jesus said to his disciples.
i. There’s an incredible scene in the NT where Jesus sends his followers out to the surrounding countryside.
1. And in his name, they do some seriously amazing things.
a. And when his followers come back, they are pumped up and excited about all the things they saw and did…
i. And do you recall what Jesus said to them???
1. He said, “don’t rejoice over the great experience you had or the crazy things you did…but rejoice that your name is written in heaven.”
2. They people who are rejected on Judgment Day did crazy things – but didn’t take the fundamental step of knowing Jesus as Lord…of submitting themselves to his rule and reign in their lives…
a. And they bragged about their accomplishments, not about their submission.
h. There is one last reason for their rejection…and with it we are going to switch gears and begin to look at the marks of a true disciple of Jesus.
i. Jesus said – not everyone who says Lord Lord will enter the kingdom…but only…who?
1. Those who what??? Do the will of my Father.
a. So those who are rejected did and said a lot things…but they didn’t do the things that God called them to.
4. True Disciples – so then, what are the marks of true disciples?
a. Well, as just stated, true disciples DO the will of God. It’s not loud professions or spectacular spiritual tirumphs or great spiritual experiences that God is after…
i. The marks of a true disciple aren’t those things…Rather the chief characteristic is this…it can be boiled down to a kid’s song – O-B-E-D-I-E-N-C-E. Obedience is the very best way to show that you believe. Doing the will of God.
1. God’s will isn’t simply admired or thought about or talked about or praised and debated.
a. It is done.
i. It’s not theological analyzed or intellectually dissected…it is done.
1. It is not congratulated for its high ethical ideals…God’s will is done.
ii. Don’t get me wrong – we aren’t saved by doing things for God.
1. We are saved by God’s grace through faith – believing in our hearts and confessing with our mouths that Jesus is Lord.
a. However – that’s not the end…it’s the beginning.
i. And evidence of that verbal confession is actually doing God’s will.
2. Both parts must be there – a private confession of sin before…a public profession of faith in baptism…
a. And obedience and submission to God’s will.
iii. The people in the passage today elevated external acts as the be all and end all of the Christian life.
1. But Jesus never does that…he demands our inward allegiance to God’s will, which will produce the fruit of a changed life.
b. And what is that fruit? Less sensational and more simply…though we can’t neglect the sensational.
i. What’s the fruit of changed life of a disciple of Jesus?
1. Revering Scripture’s commands, casting out one’s anger. The miracle of sexual purity and marital fidelity.
a. The careful speech that doesn’t misuse God’s name and the heart that extends itself even to persecutors and enemies.
i. Those who are true authentic disciples of Jesus are those who submit to his Lordship and as a sign of his rule and reign in their lives – true disciples obey and od God’s will.
1. They don’t simply give mental assent to it…but physical obedience.
c. And finally as we close, we’ll touch on this…are you known by God? The many were rejected by Jesus because he never knew them.
i. So…does he know you? Are you rejoicing in accomplishments or because your name is written in heaven?
1. Do you give verbal assent to God’s will…or do you do it? Have you submitted your life completely to the Lordship of Jesus?
a. Make certain for yourself – it is your heart that matters. Test yourself…do you know and are you known by God?
d. The Puritans wrote often about the subject of false peace. I pray that everyone here this morning has true people…a real assurance of salvation…and not a false sense of security.
i. And we can test ourselves…we look below the surface.
1. Don’t look at results or wonders…but whether or not you conform to the Beatitudes…to the teachings in the SM.
a. Are you poor in spirit, meek, do you groan in your spirit when you look at the world?
i. Do you uphold God’s law? Do good works in secret?
1. Are you doing to others…actively initiating?
a. Are you walking the narrow and hard road and bearing good fruit?
ii. Are you doing…not just thinking about or talking about but actually doing God’s will?
1. This is the test of the SM – the test of authentic discipleship.
e. May God grant us honesty as we face this truth.
i. And I pray that we can all find true peace because we have submitted to Jesus’ Lordship and our names are written in heaven.