Matthew 7:13-28 The Choice Produces the Result Two Ways / Two Results

Picture of High 5 in Dallas / 75 and 635

Have you ever driven on the High 5 in Dallas. Quite an interchange. Very high in the air. It did an amazing job of reducing the backups at the interchange. You get right where you want to go.

Picture of road to nowhere. Embarcadero Freeway in downtown San Francisco.

If you had gotten on this road there would be a real problem.

Use to connect to a bridge I believe.

Conclusion: Be sure you are on the road that leads to your desired destination

Picture edible mushrooms

Ever eaten wild Russian mushrooms. Outstanding – just sauted in butter. Even better when picked fresh from 2 feet of snow.

Picture poisonous mushrooms

Now I am sure you have never eaten these Russian mushrooms.

Not quite so good. Poisonous. These mushrooms cause severe gastrointestinal problems, liver failure, coma and, eventually, death

Conclusion: Look closely at the fruit your life depends on it.

Picture Leaning Tower of Piza

Ever visit the Famous Tower of Piza. Built in 1173. It was to celebrate the power of the city state.

Height – 186 feet. Weighs 16,00 tons

It was built with a 9 foot foundation on top of soft clay

Five years later while still under construction it began to shift and lean. Today it leans at an angle of 4 degrees. And this is after many attempts to stabilize the structure.

Picture of Freedom Tower

Compare that to the Freedom Tower in New York City. It opened on November 3, 2014.

104 stories / 1,792 feet – the largest building in the Western Hemisphere. 4th in the world. Each of the original World Trade Center buildings weighed ½ million tons.

It is set on bedrock. 400 cubic yards of concrete then was poured as the base foundation.

It is literally as solid as a rock.

Conclusion: Build on solid foundations

Three comparisons. Three conclusions. Your choices matter. Ultimately the choice yields its end. It’s only a matter of time. So choose well.

In like manner when Jesus concludes his famous sermon on the mount. He uses contrasting images. He describes choices. He makes it clear that the choices you make produces results.

Matthew 7:13-23

I. The choice produces the result: Life or destruction

(ESV) Matthew 7 13 “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. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

A. Two gates / two ways Matthew 7:13-14

1. Wide/broad – the way most everyone is going

(ESV) Matthew 7 13 “… For the gate is wideand the way is easy… and those who enter by it are many.

a. Most heading this way

b. The path of greatest companionship

c. An easy path to walk

2. Narrow – the way a few travel

(ESV) Matthew 7 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. … 14 For the gate is narrowand the way is hard… and those who find it are few.

a. Only a few

b. Opposition for others

c. A hard path / obstacles / opposition / not as easily laid out

B. Result: Two different destinations Matthew 7:13-14

1. Destruction

(ESV) Matthew 7 13 “… For the gate is wideand the way is easythat leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.

2. Life

(ESV) Matthew 7 13 “Enter by the narrow gate. … 14 For the gate is narrowand the way is hardthat leads to life, and those who find it are few.

Get on highway 83 go north – 19 hours later you arrive at the end of highway 83 Swan River, Manitoba, Canada. Bitter cold. Flat and wet.

If you don’t like cold / marsh / bitting bugs of all kinds / snow and ice don’t head north of highway 83 – that’s where it goes

Head south – 15 hours later you arrive at Brownsville, Tx – hot. End of Texas.

If you don’t like heat/ hurricanes/ humidity don’t head sounth of highway 83 – that’s where it goes

We want to go on the road, but we don’t like where it takes us. But it is a fun road. We like the scenery. We like the others on the road. – But its only a matter of time and we will arrive at the destination.

3. Life

a. True joy / satisfaction / purpose / lack of regrets

4. Destruction

a. The destination is clearly laid out – you complete this path you will arrive

b. The bridge is out – certain death / signs / warning / blockades / but if you choose to travel this way you die

Jesus’ point: Now is the time to choose what path you want to be on.

II. The choice produces the result: Good or badfruit

(ESV) Matthew 7 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

A. Two different trees Matthew 7:17-20

Everyone produces fruit based on the tree you are

1. Unhealthy tree

(ESV) Matthew 7 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. … 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits

2. Healthy tree

ESV) Matthew 7 17 So, every healthy treebears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. …

B. Result: Two different fruits produced Matthew 7:17-20

1. Bad fruit - Diseased tree – bad fruit

(ESV) Matthew 7 17 … the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 … nor can a diseased treebear good fruit. … 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

a. Try to look similar to good fruit

b. A result of a bad tree

Russian intervewed in the hospital after picking deadly mushrooms that killed his father-in-law, his wife and his daughter and who himself suffered severe kidney and liver damage. "It is very stupid to bring home and cook your own poison," he said grimly in an interview after returning to the hospital. "But we have been picking and eating mushrooms all our lives, and nothing ever happened."

Commonly over 100 people a year die in Russia from poisonous mushrooms – and many would never be reported as such.

2. Healthy tree - Good fruit

(ESV) Matthew 7 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, … 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, … 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

My experience in Russia – no other mushrooms I have ever eaten compare with the ones I ate in a home in Russia.

a. A result of a good tree

b. Apple trees in Nebraska – planted years before – not real care for them – yet the produce great apples – that is what they are.

3. Not a question of mere external acts.

4. One who does not really know the Lord – just looks like it on the outside

The real question is what type of thing are you – whatever you are you will produce its fruit and destination.

It’s only a matter of time before you produce the fruit associated with what you are. It will reveal whether you have a real relationship with Christ.

The result will determine if you will be with Him in eternity.

Now is the time to be sure you are the right type of tree / that you truly know Him.

A. Fruit more than external Matthew 7:20-23

(ESV) Matthew 7 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 21 “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.

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demonsin your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; departfrom me, you workers of lawlessness.’

III. The choice produces the result: Built to stand or be swept away

(ESV) Matthew 7 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 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. 26 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.

A. Two foundations Matthew 7:24

1. Building on something

2. Sand

(ESV) Matthew 7 26 And everyone who hearsthese words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

3. Rock

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

B. Result: Two different results from trouble Matthew 7:25, 26-27

1. Destruction

(ESV) Matthew 7 26 … foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blewand beat againstthat house, and it fell, and great was the fallof it.”

2. Security

(ESV) Matthew 7 24 … wise man who built his house on the rock 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blewand beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

It’s only a matter of time before your house will be tested and it will fall or stand based on what you have done with Jesus and His words

IV. The choice produces the result: Based on certain authority

A. Choose based on the authority of Jesus Matthew 7:28

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

It’s only a matter of time before His authority becomes obvious to all.

It’s best to embrace His authority now.