Written by David Self Saturday, 16 January :00 - Last Updated Tuesday, 02 February :49

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview January 24, 2016 Two Paths, One Choice Background: Matthew 7:1-29 Lesson: Matthew 7: 13-21, Motivation: Life is full of choices. In fact, major decisions define our lives. However, only one decision is eternal: what will you do with the truth of Jesus Christ? In a series of vivid word pictures, Jesus poses two paths but only one right choice. I. Judging Versus Asking (7:1-12) A. Teaching About Judging (1-6) 1. Don t be presumptuous Do not judge (1) While Christians must make value & moral judgments (1 Cor. 2:15, 5:9; 2 Cor. 11:4; Phil 3:2; 1 John 4:1), we should not have a bitter, unkind spirit. 2. Don t be picky Let me take the speck out of your eye (4) It s always easier to be critical than to be self-aware. 3. Don t be pushy Don t give what is holy to dogs or toss your pearls before pigs, or they will trample them with their feet, turn, and tear you to pieces. (6) Don t try to pick unripe fruit. H CSB, p. 1624: 7:6 What is holy probably refers to sacrificial meat. Dogs would devour it insensibly without appreciating its sacredness. In Jesus allegory, this sacrificial 1 / 9

2 meat symbolizes His own sacred teachings. The dogs symbolize the wicked who disregard the value of His teachings. First-century teachers referred to pearls symbolically to speak of insightful and valuable teaching. Consequently, the pearls here symbolize Jesus teaching given by the disciples. Pigs were ritually unclean animals. They symbolize the wicked and unclean. Pigs eat spoiled food but have no appreciation for pearls, just as the wicked consume wicked pleasures but disregard the gospel. This contempt for the gospel is pictured by the pig trampling the pearls underfoot. That pigs may turn against the one offering the pearls shows that contempt for the gospel message can become contempt for the gospel messenger, as has often happened in history. B. Teaching Abut God s Generosity (7:7-11) 1. Our Action: Keep asking, Keep searching, and Keep knocking are action words. God expects us to act. (Acronym: A - S - K) HCSB, p. 1624: 7:7-8 While some people interpret these verses as a promise that God will give disciples whatever they pray for, linguistic connections between these verses and other portions of the Sermon on the Mount suggest that Jesus promised that those who ask, search, and knock will be invited to enter His kingdom. The command to keep asking is tied to the promise of good things to those who ask in verse 11. In the Lukan parallel, these good things are interpreted as the Holy Spirit who transforms the disciple and makes him fit for the kingdom. Keep searching uses the same Greek verb as 6:33, Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Since the word door is not in the Greek text of verse 7, and because ancient people knocked on gates as well as doors to request entrance (Ac 12:13), keep knocking likely refers to knocking on the gate of the kingdom (mentioned in vv ). 2. His Assurance: If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (11) If we take action through sincere prayer, God promises to be faithful and provide. God wants to provide for His children. 2 / 9

3 C. The Golden Rule Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them-this is the Law and the Prophets. (12) HCSB, p.1624: 7:12 The word therefore suggests that the Golden Rule of this verse draws an application from the preceding section. Since the preceding verse describes God s gracious and loving provision for others, the conjunction probably implies that following the Golden Rule shows the disciple s resemblance to the heavenly Father. II. Narrow Versus Wide? (13-14) Enter through the narrow gate.for the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. (13-14) A. One s Salvation is not Automatic - In contrast to those who believe in universalism, the supposition that everyone will go to heaven, Jesus offers two gates. B. One s Salvation is Precious - In contrast to the many who take the easy road to destruction, Jesus taught that few find the narrow gate to life. C. One s Salvation Must be Purposeful - A person will not wander into heaven; he/she must know the way and enter the proper gate. More will be lost than saved. (Matthew 13:4-23, Parable of the Soils implies only 25% will be saved). HCSB, pp : 7:13-14 The narrow gate symbolizes the exclusive nature of Christ s kingdom. Entrance requires the disciple to do the will of the Father in heaven (v. 21). The gate 3 / 9

4 that is wide indicates that hell grants unrestricted entrance and that many will enter through its gates. The difficult (lit. narrow ) road may symbolize the life of hardship and persecution that the disciple must face. However, since Jewish literature often used the symbol of the road to represent a moral path (Jdg 2:22; Is 30:21; Jr 6:16; 2 Jn 6) and because the law was portrayed as a narrow road from which a person was not to deviate (Dt 5:32; 17:20; 28:14; Jos 1:7; 2 Kg 22:2), the narrow road probably represents Jesus morally restrictive teaching. The wide road permits travelers to meander and pursue worldly desires, but the narrow path requires travelers to stick to God s will (Mt 7:21). III. Good Versus Bad? (15-21) Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16 You ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So you ll recognize them by their fruit. 21 Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord! will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven. (15-21) A. One s Salvation must be based on Truth - The image of false preachers as wolves is echoed by Paul in Acts 20:29. The imagery is a stark reminder of the danger of false teachers. The devious nature of false teaching, wolves in sheep s clothing, reminds us of the necessity of discernment. HCSB, p. 1625, 7:15-20 False prophets don sheep s 4 / 9

5 clothing to disguise the fact that they are ravaging wolves masquerading as true disciples. However, a prophet s character and behavior (his fruit ) indicates whether he is true or false. Other NT texts insist that a teacher s doctrine must also be examined (1 Jn 4:2-3). True disciples bear the fruit of good works, and this confirms their identity as Jesus disciples (Mt 7:21-23). The image of cutting down and burning a bad tree portrays the judgment and eternal punishment of false disciples. B. One s Salvation Must be Productive You ll recognize them by their fruit 1. Works do not lead to eternal life; 2. Faith plus works do not lead to eternal life 3. Faith leads to eternal life plus works (fruit-ephesians 2:8-10; Rev. 22:3) C. One s Salvation Must be Correctly Professed Not everyone who says to Me, Lord, Lord! will enter the kingdom of heaven, but 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, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name? 23 Then I will announce to them, I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers! (21-23). Things that seem to us to be good will be seen by God to be worthless. Good deeds are recorded in books; but professions of faith are recorded in The Book, The Lamb s Book of Life, the only book that matters (Rev. 20:11-15; Prov. 16:25, 29:1). HCSB, p.1625: 7:21-23 By referring to Himself as Lord and depicting Himself as the ultimate Judge of humanity, Jesus implied His deity. True 5 / 9

6 disciples affirm Jesus lordship, submit to His authority, and obey His commands. Jesus insisted that a person is confirmed as a true disciple not by prophecy, exorcism, or working miracles but by living a transformed life made possible by God. The disobedient lifestyles of lawbreakers are inconsistent with genuine discipleship. Jesus words, I never knew you, show that these were never truly disciples. IV. Rock Versus Sand (24-27) Therefore,everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great! (24-27) Salvation is available only by faith in Jesus Christ s atoning work on the cross as evidenced by repentance (Eph. 2:8-9). Building on the wrong foundation, no matter how sincere, will lead to disaster. HCSB, p. 1625: 7:24-27 The adjectives sensible and foolish describe a person s spiritual and moral state, not his intellect. Whether one is considered sensible or foolish is determined by his response to Jesus teaching. Since OT writers described God s wrath using the image of a great storm (Is 28:16-17; Ezk 13:10-13), the storm that destroys the house on the sand is a picture of divine judgment. Hence, the person who hears and acts on Jesus teaching is prepared for judgment. The one who hears 6 / 9

7 but doesn t act on Jesus words will be destroyed in the storm of judgment. V. Acceptance Based on Authority (29) He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes. (2 9) Rabbis normally taught by claiming scribal authority. Jesus taught as the Son of God. HCSB, p : 7:28-29 Jesus amazed the crowds with an authority that surpassed that of other teachers. First-century Jewish teachers appealed to the authority of their rabbinic predecessors. However, Jesus introduced His teachings with the contrast, You have heard that it was said but I tell you (5:21, 27, 31, 33, 38, 43). By this Jesus made clear that He had the authority to interpret the law independent from and even contrary to the Jewish oral tradition and the most esteemed rabbis. The words when Jesus had finished are important for understanding the structure of Matthew s Gospel. Application 1. Attitudes that prompt good works must be correct. 2. Satisfaction, significance and security can only be gained in the spiritual realm. 3. Salvation is only available through Jesus and faith in His finished work on the cross. Leader Pack item 14 Poster: Matthew 7:13 7 / 9

8 No Illustrator Article Notes: **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: g ; also, the Highpoint Bible Study (Downtown) is available on MP3 at the HFBC site under the Highpoint link/downloads. Dates: /24 Fitness EXPO; 1/29 Midnight Madness; 1/31 SPF Mentor Celebration. 2/7 SPF Birthday Bash; 2/15-16 Next Gen Retreat; 2/21 MIYCO; 2/27 - Men:Serve; 2/28 Parent Commitment; 3/6 SPF Mentor Kickoff; 3/12-17 RUSHMORE 2016; 3/13 SPF Birthday Bash; 3/24 Lord s Supper (Broken for You); 3/25 Good Friday Church offices closed; 3/26 SPF Hippity Hoppin Easter; 3/27 Easter No LBS; 3/28 Staff Wives Fellowship. 8 / 9

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