A Professing Christian vs a True Christian
May 11, 2021
Commentary
The Scribes and Pharisees had fooled themselves into believing they were righteous and others were sinful. They believed they were righteous on account of their race and their circumcision. Jesus used three pictures to help demonstrate the choice between His kingdom and the world:
(1) Two Roads (vv. 13-14). The first road has a narrow gate. Each person must enter it alone. This way leads to heaven. The second road has a broad gate. People can enter it in groups. It leads to Hell. It is necessary to choose whether to follow God or not. There are only two options. False Prophets would say otherwise.
(2) Two Trees (vv. 16-20). Good fruit comes from a good tree and bad fruit comes from a bad tree. Man cannot produce good fruit out of his own sinful nature. Therefore, the normal production of fruit, whether good or evil in a person’s life will give evidence of whether he is saved or lost. Not everyone professing Christ is genuinely saved (vv. 21-23). Even the outward verbal acknowledgment of His lordship is not enough to save the unbeliever apart from true repentance and faith. Willing and eager obedience is the hallmark of true faith in Jesus Christ. They obey, not because they want to earn God’s favor, but because they feel delighted already to have received it.
(3) Two Homes (vv. 24-27). The two men in this story had much in common. Both desired to build a house. Both built houses that looked good and sturdy. But when the storm came one of the houses collapsed. What was the difference? It wasn’t in outward appearance. The difference was in the foundation (vv. 24-25). One was built on a big rock and the other on sand. The Rock is Christ, and the sand is man’s attempts to be righteous on their own. Those who hear and heed Jesus’ words are wise, but those who do not are foolish (vv. 26-27). Hearing must result in doing.
The crowds who heard the sermon were amazed at Jesus’s teaching (vv. 28). His authority was what amazed them. The Scribes and Pharisees got their authority from the rabbis and experts of the law. Jesus did not need a human teacher to add authority to His words (v. 29)
Application
The more I hear God’s Word the more I am held accountable. Can I think of any messages where God has spoken to me to do something and I haven't obeyed?
Matthew 7:13– 29 (NET)
13 “Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it!
15 “Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven—only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many powerful deeds in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’
24 “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, but it did not collapse because its foundation had been laid on rock. 26 Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the flood came, and the winds beat against that house, and it collapsed—it was utterly destroyed!”
28 When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed by his teaching, 29 because he taught them like one who had authority, not like their experts in the law.