The Most Dangerous Place to Stand Is Near the Truth

Jesus does not soften His words as He closes the Sermon on the Mount. He sharpens them. He turns from instruction to warning, from invitation to exposure. He speaks to a religious crowd that assumes safety because they listen to Him. He shows them that listening is not the same as obedience, and admiration is not the same as faith.

He warns first about false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravening wolves. They look harmless. They sound religious. They speak in God’s name. Jesus does not say to judge them by their claims, their charisma, or their following. He says, “Ye shall know them by their fruits” ~Matthew 7:16. Fruit is not appearance. Fruit is outcome. A corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit, and a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit. Nature produces according to what it is. Jesus is not talking about occasional sin. He is talking about what a life consistently produces. He presses the issue to its end when He says that every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire ~Matthew 7:19. This is not about loss of rewards. It is about judgment. False teachers are not merely mistaken. They are dangerous, and their end is destruction.

Then Jesus turns the light inward. He does not only warn about false prophets. He warns about false professions. He says many will say to Him in that day, “Lord, Lord,” and appeal to religious works done in His name. They prophesied. They cast out devils. They did many wonderful works. None of that saves them. Jesus does not argue with their résumé. He denies their relationship. “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” ~Matthew 7:23. Not once knew. Never knew. Their works were real. Their claims were loud. Their hearts were lawless. They practiced iniquity while speaking His name. Confession without submission is not faith. Calling Jesus Lord while refusing His authority is self-deception.

Jesus then gives a picture that strips away every excuse. Whoever hears His sayings and does them is like a wise man who built his house upon a rock. The rain came. The floods came. The winds blew. The house stood because it was founded upon the rock ~Matthew 7:24–25. Whoever hears His sayings and does them not is like a foolish man who built his house upon the sand. The same storm comes. The same pressures fall. The house collapses, and great is the fall of it ~Matthew 7:26–27. The difference is not exposure to truth. Both houses hear. The difference is obedience. One trusts Christ enough to obey Him. The other assumes hearing is enough.

Jesus ends without an altar call and without reassurance. He leaves the crowd with the weight of His authority. Matthew says the people were astonished at His doctrine, for He taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes ~Matthew 7:28–29. Astonishment is not salvation. Respect for Jesus’ teaching does not mean submission to Jesus’ lordship. He has just drawn a line that cannot be blurred. There are two trees, two claims, two houses, and two ends. One leads to life. The other ends in ruin. The question He leaves hanging is not whether you have heard Him, but whether you are doing what He says.

And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, Matthew 7:23

Genesis 20:1-22:24
Matthew 7:15-29
Psalm 9:1-12
Proverbs 2:16-22

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New Testament: Matthew 7:15-29

Summary:
A Tree and Its Fruit
I Never Knew You
Build Your House on the Rock
The Authority of Jesus

Today we’ll be reading about trees. Life produces fruit and good trees produce good fruit. There was a great deal of profession in the lives of the scribes and pharisees, but no evidence of spiritual fruit. Do you talk a good game? Well, you have to walk a good game as well. You not only have to talk the talk, but you got to walk the walk. And if you’re not walking the walk, your talk is hollow and cheap and people know it. We’ll read about builders. To build on the rock means to obey the word of God. Saying is not enough. There must be doing. If you claim to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, expect to have your profession tested in this life and the next. Fair weather faith will not pass the test.

Overview: Matthew 1-13 –  Click Here

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