“ “ Choices, Contrasts & Choices, Contrasts & Warnings” Warnings” Religion vs. Religion vs. Spirituality” – p.9 Spirituality” – p.9 Matthew 7:13-29 Matthew 7:13-29
Dec 31, 2015
““Choices, Contrasts & Choices, Contrasts & Warnings”Warnings”
Religion vs. Spirituality” – p.9Religion vs. Spirituality” – p.9
Matthew 7:13-29Matthew 7:13-29
A choice between the A choice between the narrownarrow and and broad broad
““Enter through the narrow gate. For Enter through the narrow gate. For
wide is the gate and broad is the road wide is the gate and broad is the road
that leads to destruction, and many that leads to destruction, and many
enter through it. But small is the gate enter through it. But small is the gate
and narrow the road that leads to life, and narrow the road that leads to life,
and only a few find it. and only a few find it.
(Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)(Matthew 7:13-14 NIV)
A choice between the A choice between the narrownarrow and and broad broad
For the LORD watches over the way of For the LORD watches over the way of
the righteous, the righteous,
but the way of the wicked leads to but the way of the wicked leads to
destruction. destruction. Psalm 1:6 (NIV)Psalm 1:6 (NIV)
A choice between the A choice between the narrownarrow and and broad broad
……they are not of the world any more they are not of the world any more
than I am of the world. My prayer is not than I am of the world. My prayer is not
that you take them out of the world but that you take them out of the world but
that you protect them from the evil onethat you protect them from the evil one. .
John 17:14b-15 (NIV)John 17:14b-15 (NIV)
A choice between the A choice between the narrownarrow and and broad broad
• Their Their charactercharacter
For wide is the gate and broad is the For wide is the gate and broad is the
road …But small is the gate and narrow road …But small is the gate and narrow
the road.the road.
A choice between the A choice between the narrownarrow and and broad broad
• The broad way describes a life The broad way describes a life
unrestrainedunrestrained; without ; without boundariesboundaries. .
• The narrow way describes a life of The narrow way describes a life of
disciplinediscipline and willful and willful restraintrestraint..
A choice between the A choice between the narrownarrow and and broad broad
• Their Their popularitypopularity
• Jesus said thatJesus said that many enter through many enter through the the
wide gate and travel the broad road.wide gate and travel the broad road.
• ““The terms “wide” and “broad” are The terms “wide” and “broad” are
spatial, but they also evoke a sense of spatial, but they also evoke a sense of
easeease and and comfortcomfort” ”
A choice between the A choice between the narrownarrow and and broad broad
• Their Their destinationdestination
• The broad road “The broad road “leads to destruction”leads to destruction”. .
• The narrow road “The narrow road “leads to life,”leads to life,”
A A dangerousdangerous threatthreat to those who to those who travel the narrow road…travel the narrow road…
• ““Watch out for false prophets. (v.15)Watch out for false prophets. (v.15)
• By their fruit you will recognize them.By their fruit you will recognize them.
(v.16) (v.16)
A A dangerousdangerous threatthreat to those who to those who travel the narrow road…travel the narrow road…
• They are members of the “flock” but They are members of the “flock” but
they are intentionally they are intentionally destructivedestructive. .
• Jesus said “Jesus said “they come to you in they come to you in
sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are
ferocious wolves…”(15b)ferocious wolves…”(15b)
A A dangerousdangerous threatthreat to those who to those who travel the narrow road…travel the narrow road…
• They do They do spectacularspectacular things to things to impressimpress
people.people.
A A dangerousdangerous threatthreat to those who to those who travel the narrow road…travel the narrow road…
• The test of The test of subsequentsubsequent eventsevents
(Deuteronomy 18:21-22) (Deuteronomy 18:21-22)
• The The theologicaltheological test (Deuteronomy test (Deuteronomy
13:1-6) 13:1-6)
• The The ethicalethical test (Jeremiah 23:9-15) test (Jeremiah 23:9-15)
A A dangerousdangerous threatthreat to those who to those who travel the narrow road…travel the narrow road…
• How do we keep from being deceived? How do we keep from being deceived?
We examine the We examine the lifelife not just the not just the worksworks
of the prophet.of the prophet.
• Jesus said it is “Jesus said it is “by their fruit you will by their fruit you will
recognize themrecognize them”.”.
A A dangerousdangerous threatthreat to those who to those who travel the narrow road…travel the narrow road…
Do people pick grapes from Do people pick grapes from
thornbushes, or figs from thistles? thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Likewise, every good tree bears good Likewise, every good tree bears good
fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A
good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a
bad tree cannot bear good fruit. bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
- Matthew 7:16-18 (NIV)- Matthew 7:16-18 (NIV)
A A dangerousdangerous threatthreat to those who to those who travel the narrow road…travel the narrow road…
A A dangerousdangerous threatthreat to those who to those who travel the narrow road…travel the narrow road…
Every tree that does not bear good fruit Every tree that does not bear good fruit
is cut down and thrown into the fire. is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Thus, by their fruit you will recognize Thus, by their fruit you will recognize
them.them. – Matthew 7:19-20 (NIV) – Matthew 7:19-20 (NIV)
A A delusionaldelusional group of travelers group of travelers
““Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord,
Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven,
but only the one who does the will of but only the one who does the will of
my Father who is in heaven. Many will my Father who is in heaven. Many will
say to me on that day,say to me on that day,
A A delusionaldelusional group of travelers group of travelers
‘ ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in
your name and in your name drive out your name and in your name drive out
demons and in your name perform demons and in your name perform
many miracles?’ Then I will tell them many miracles?’ Then I will tell them
plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from
me, you evildoers!me, you evildoers!’ ’
– – Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)
A A delusionaldelusional group of travelers group of travelers
• Jesus introduces us to a new group of Jesus introduces us to a new group of
people; people; falsefalse disciplesdisciples. .
only the one who does the will of my only the one who does the will of my
Father.Father.
A A delusionaldelusional group of travelers group of travelers
• Notice the phrase ‘Notice the phrase ‘I never I never knewknew you you… …
(v.23)(v.23)
• When Jesus said “When Jesus said “I never knew youI never knew you…” …”
“he used a verb meaning to “know by “he used a verb meaning to “know by
experienceexperience” ”
A A delusionaldelusional group of travelers group of travelers
• Here is righteousness that exceeds Here is righteousness that exceeds
religion – religion – embracingembracing Jesus as our Jesus as our
SaviorSavior..
Our Bottom Line:Our Bottom Line:
• Life Life transformationtransformation requires requires applicationapplication
of Biblical truth.of Biblical truth.
Two builders; one builds on Two builders; one builds on rockrock and one builds on and one builds on sandsand..
Two builders; one builds on Two builders; one builds on rockrock and one builds on and one builds on sandsand..
Both builders “Both builders “keepkeep on on hearinghearing””
• ““Therefore everyone who hears these Therefore everyone who hears these
words of mine … is like a wise man words of mine … is like a wise man
who built his house on the rock. (v.24)who built his house on the rock. (v.24)
• But everyone who hears these words of But everyone who hears these words of
mine … is like a foolish man who built mine … is like a foolish man who built
his house on sand (v.26)his house on sand (v.26)
Both builders have different Both builders have different responsesresponses
• ““Therefore everyone who hears these Therefore everyone who hears these
words of mine and puts them into words of mine and puts them into
practice is like a wise man who built his practice is like a wise man who built his
house on the rock. (v.24)house on the rock. (v.24)
Both builders have different Both builders have different responsesresponses
• But everyone who hears these words of But everyone who hears these words of
mine and does not put them into mine and does not put them into
practice is like a foolish man who built practice is like a foolish man who built
his house on sand (V.26)his house on sand (V.26)
Both builders Both builders facedfaced the the consequencesconsequences
The rain came down, the streams rose, The rain came down, the streams rose,
and the winds blew and beat against and the winds blew and beat against
that house; yet it did not fall, because it that house; yet it did not fall, because it
had its foundation on the rock. (v.25)had its foundation on the rock. (v.25)
Both builders Both builders facedfaced the the consequencesconsequences
The rain came down, the streams rose, The rain came down, the streams rose,
and the winds blew and beat against and the winds blew and beat against
that house, and it fell with a great that house, and it fell with a great
crash.” (v.27)crash.” (v.27)
Jesus is telling us to Jesus is telling us to putput into into practicepractice what He said. what He said.
When Jesus had finished saying these When Jesus had finished saying these
things, the crowds were amazed at his things, the crowds were amazed at his
teaching, because he taught as one teaching, because he taught as one
who had authority, and not as their who had authority, and not as their
teachers of the law.teachers of the law. (vv.28,29) (vv.28,29)
ApplicationApplication
• Healthy choices require respecting Healthy choices require respecting
Christ honoring Christ honoring disciplinesdisciplines..
• Healthy choices sometimes make you Healthy choices sometimes make you
look look crazycrazy to other people. to other people.
• Healthy choices focus on Healthy choices focus on eternaleternal
consequences.consequences.
ApplicationApplication
• Healthy choices are based on good Healthy choices are based on good
advise from advise from trustworthytrustworthy counselorscounselors
• Healthy choices come out of a desire Healthy choices come out of a desire
for good for good charactercharacter not good not good worksworks..
• Healthy choices reflect a Healthy choices reflect a desiredesire to do to do
God’sGod’s willwill..