The 4 Warnings of Jesus - Matthew 7:13-28
Intro
- The Green text are direct quotes from the Bible. Unless otherwise noted they are from the NLT (New Living Translation)
- In this Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us how to live in a way that God can bless here on earth and that will also result in spending eternity with God and not in Hell. There is nothing more important for anyone to know and follow then this message by Jesus.
- A great way to check out the value of a message is to see what the applications are at the end of it so we'll first skip to the end of his Sermon to see the take aways (warnings) Jesus wants ABOVE all for us to know. These truths will change how we live. Then we'll go through this greatest sermon ever given (Matthew chapters 5 - 7).
--Warning #1--
Most people take the wrong road to heaven. They refuse the difficult way of making Jesus their REAL Lord & Master
Most people are going to hell. Why? Because refuse the difficult road of making Jesus their REAL Lord & Master.
The difficult road is living to obeying Jesus' teachings in these chapters. Do this and the rewards are incredible (having God as your father (6:9), having his blessings (6:33, 7:11) and going to heaven).
Matthew 7:13-14 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it."
(A1) Where does Jesus say those who take the non difficult road end up at?
(A2) What does Jesus say those who take the difficult road and narrow gate enter?
Luke 13:23-24 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied, 24 “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.
(A3) What is required to enter God's Kingdom?
--Warning #2--
Don't be deceived by others to take the easy road to heaven. Instead, know the Bible well enough to detect all false messages. Your very life depends on it. You can identify false prophets by their actions (what they teach and how they live). They will tell you to take the easy way.
Matthew 7:15-20 "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions."
(B1) What is Jesus teaching in this passage?
(B2) What is Jesus saying will happen to those who do not produce good fruit (actions)?
Galatians 5:4 "For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace."
(B3) What is the end result of following the false teachings of the false prophets?
Acts 17:11 "And the people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul’s message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to see if Paul and Silas were teaching the truth."
(B4) How did the people of Berea protect themselves from false prophets?
(B5) So what do you need to do to protect yourselves from false prophets?
--Warning #3--
Don't deceive yourself that Jesus is your lord when you are not living to serve and obey Jesus. People start on the difficult road but then revert back to living for themselves (the easy road - living the way they want). In 7:21-23 Jesus is giving us a preview of what will soon happen. Including that many will be surprised that they can't enter heaven because they did not obey God.
Matthew 7:21-23 "Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws. "
(C1) What is Jesus teaching in this passage?
(C2) Who determines who gets into heaven?
(C3) Who will be allowed to enter heaven?
(C4) Who will not be allowed to enter heaven?
(C5) How can I know if I'm a real Christian and not just fooling myself? Remember: Obedience is not how we are saved but the proof of our salvation. "
(1) The deeds of the redeemed are not the basis of their salvation, but the evidence of it. They are not perfect and are prone to sin, but there is undeniable evidence of righteousness in their lives" John MacArthur study note on Romans 2.6-10
(2) The proof of conversion is not a past event, or a past prayer, or past experience. It’s a present righteousness. Ah, it’s not perfection, but it’s direction.
(3) It’s what you do with the Jesus’ words that gives evidence of your spiritual condition. ... What is the evidence of true conversion? What is the evidence of true repentance? It is a life of obedience, submission to the lordship of Christ. It’s not a profession. It’s not empty words. It’s obedience. ...
(4) If you love the truth and you love to obey the truth, even though you fall short, those are the evidences of true conversion."
(Source of quotations) John MacArthur LINK
which quote explains this the best?
---Warning #4---
The ONLY way to escape destruction is a life of daily learning AND OBEYING God's word. Especially what Jesus just taught in this sermon. This is the narrow road of having Jesus as Lord.
