This is the Way
Week six - True or False
Matthew 7:15-28
Bottom line: “Getting it right” isn’t the difference between knowing things and knowing things, it’s the difference between knowing things and doing things and knowing God.
Life is hard and you want to get it right. Jesus is the Master Teacher who came to help us.
“But what if I still get it wrong?”
- What if I get it wrong because I believe the wrong thing or the wrong person?
- What if I get it wrong because I can’t get out of my own way?
- What if I get it wrong because no one has any clue what is right or real or true anymore?
“Who can I believe?”
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. —Matthew 7:15-20
Check the fruit - what is their life producing?
Look for the people whose lives are producing more goodness, and kindness, and faithfulness, and joy in the world around them.
Jesus said people would know us by the ways we love one another.
Are you following people who are loving well - their neighbors, their friends, their family, and even their enemies?
Lots of people can talk a good game, but Jesus is looking down deep -
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 who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ —Matthew 7:21-23
Jesus wants us to take this seriously.
You want to be on the narrow path, but how do you know if you’re there?
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” —Matthew 7:24-27
It’s not the difference between knowing things and doing things - it’s the difference between knowing things and knowing God!
False prophets and hypocrites are the ones who like to just know things.
The “spiritual elite” are the ones who like to know things and do things, but often for the wrong reasons.
Wise followers are bent on knowing Jesus, and obeying Him because we love Him, not because we just want what we think He has to give us.
Are you with Jesus?
- Desire it - when we know Jesus and trust that He loves us, our desire to obey grows
- Search the Scriptures
- Listen to your heart - God changes our hearts and works through our hearts when we give ourselves to Him (new heart and a new spirit)
- Pursue community wisdom
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. —Matthew 7:28-29
*Over the course of the next two weeks, I want to invite you to take a more intentional walk with Jesus:
- Meet me back here next Sunday for a special Good Friday service
- Sign up for the 5-day Holy Week devotional
- Invite some friends to sit with you for Easter