Matthew 7:13-23 The Path of Discipleship

Intro:

We were on vacation the week after Easter

It was different from most of our vacations

Took our children to look at two colleges

Most of our vacations include long drives and long hikes

There were multiple times on this vacation our children expressed the appreciation we weren’t hiking

There was a similarity between the vacations

Both were about following a path

While we weren’t hiking some path in a national park, we were looking into colleges that would determine our children’s future

Our lives are filled with decisions—what to wear, what to eat, where to go, what to do, what to say, what to buy, whom to marry, what career to follow, and on and on.

Many decisions are trivial and insignificant, and some are essential and life-changing.

The most critical of all is our decision about Jesus Christ and His kingdom.

That is the ultimate choice that determines our eternal destiny.

It is that decision that Jesus here calls men to make.

Today we are going to look at the path of discipleship

Read Matthew 7:13-17

Transition:

This passage is more than a summons to choose a road less traveled

Jesus asks his audience to hear him correctly

However many rules there are, the essentials are simple

Serve God and seek His righteousness

Love our neighbor and treat others as you would have them treat you

The path of discipleship is harder, but better than drifting along with no purpose

Being a disciple isn’t robotic formula and you can’t control someone’s life to the point they become one

In fact, Jesus regularly offers choices to his disciples

He delights in presenting choices between one path or another

We’ve seen the choice to serve God or money, practicing righteousness to be seen by men or by God

This morning Jesus gives us three choices

Choose between two roads, two trees, and two ways to call on Jesus

In these three choices you will discover the path of discipleship

I. Go Narrow vs. 13-14

The first choice you are presented with this morning is between two gates, the wide and the narrow

Most cities and villages were built with houses acting as walls and with one or two gates that were shut at night

This kept the city safe from invaders

Next to the large gate which commerce entered through during the day was a small gate that was guarded at night and residents could enter thru

You may have heard of something called the Camel’s eye

For a camel to enter through the small gate it had to crawl through on it’s knees

Jesus starts by telling his disciples to enter by the narrow gate

Jesus’ command is not simply to enter some gate but to enter the narrow gate.

Every person enters one gate or the other; that is unavoidable.

Jesus pleads for men to enter the right gate, God’s gate, the only gate that leads to life and to heaven.

vs. 13 Avoid the Wide Gate

These are, of course, the way to heaven and the way to hell.

The broad way is the easy way; it is the popular way.

The fact that “everybody does it” is no proof that what they are doing is right

We can walk on the broad way and keep our “baggage” of sin and worldliness.

But if we enter the narrow way, we must give up those things.

Here, then, is the first test: Did your profession of faith in Christ cost you anything?

If not, then it was not a true profession.

Many people who “trust” Jesus Christ never leave the broad road with its appetites and associations.

They want an easy Christianity that makes no demands on them.

vs. 14 Search for the Narrow Gate

Yet Jesus said that the narrow way was hard.

We cannot walk on two roads, in two different directions, at the same time.

To follow Jesus you need to choose to go through the narrow gate

David asked the Lord to show his the right path to take

Psalm 16:11 ESV

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

II. Bear Good Fruit vs. 15-20

The second choice we are given is in inspecting fruit

Every disciple is to bear fruit

This is a sign of maturity and submission to Jesus

You judge a person not by what they say, or even do, but by the fruit that is produced

The fruit is the evidence of more love, knowledge of God’s Word, and humility

vs. 15-16 False Prophets

Jesus bases this on what prophets, or teachers, we listen to

There are true prophets and false prophets

Jesus mentions false prophets here because false prophets are notorious for telling their followers the way is easy

False prophets say “All is well” when disaster looms

True prophets wake people up to the dangers

Jeremiah 14:14 ESV

And the Lord said to me: “The prophets are prophesying lies in my name. I did not send them, nor did I command them or speak to them. They are prophesying to you a lying vision, worthless divination, and the deceit of their own minds.

False prophets misrepresent God and the Gospel

They deny we are saved by grace, through faith in Christ alone

They oppose God’s messengers and resist correction

They are wolves in sheep’s clothing and thorn bushes who produce no fruit

1 John 4:1 ESV

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

vs. 17-20 Recognized by Fruits

False prophets can deceive for awhile but eventually their words and deeds reveal their heart

III. Do the Will of God vs. 21-23

The final choice we see this morning is doing the will of God

The two roads illustrate the start of the life of faith

The two trees illustrate growth and the results of a life of faith

Now we see the end of a life of faith when God calls everyone to judgment

There are false prophets at the gate that leads to the broad way, making it easy for people to enter.

But at the end of the way, there is destruction.

The final test is not what we think of ourselves, or what others may think.

The final test is: What will God say?

How can we prepare for this judgment? By doing God’s will.

Obedience to His will is the test of true faith in Christ

vs. 21-22 Admission Not Guaranteed

The test is not words, not saying “Lord, Lord,” and not obeying His commands.

How easy it is to learn a religious vocabulary, and even memorize Bible verses and religious songs, and yet not obey God’s will.

When a person is truly born again, he has the Spirit of God living within (Rom. 8:9); and the Spirit enables him to know and do the Father’s will.

God’s love in his heart (Rom. 5:5) motivates him to obey God and serve others.

Words are not a substitute for obedience, and neither are religious works.

Many people have professed faith in Christ, only to deny their faith when life becomes spiritually costly and difficult

vs. 23 Depart from Me

In the end, there is one basis of salvation; it isn’t mere verbal confession, not “spiritual works,” but knowing Jesus and being known by Him.

It is our connection to Him – by the gift of faith that He gives to us – that secures our salvation.

Connected to Jesus we are secure; without connection to Him all the miracles and great works prove nothing.