The Weekend Word

Matthew 7:15-28

A Tree and Its Fruit

¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

• Note that it is given that there are false teachers – and they have invaded our TVs and radios.
• Way back when, it was harder for the false teachers to infect too many at a time. Usually just in their immediate area. Then as far as the print word would go
• Now radio and TV and the internet – you can have a worldwide following.
• They look like us – they sound like us
• Paul says in 2 Cor that they parade around like angels of light.
• 2 Cor 11:12-15 – “¹² And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. ¹³ For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. ¹⁵ So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.”
• If Paul can point them out – we can too.
• And note – these guys are the ones who act so pious and holy.

¹⁶ You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles?

• Note that we judge by their fruit – not by their motivation
• But we can tell who they are – and they are not just the ones who what to get their hands on your wallet – they want our minds!

¹⁷ So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

• The fruit is evidence of the quality of the tree – it is not about the fruit itself, but about the source
• Good tree = good fruit // bad tree = bad fruit

¹⁸ A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.

• It is not a hit or miss thing
• Where does out fruit come from – us? Or a greater source?
• John 15:1-4 – “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”
• So my question, can a Christian produce bad fruit? Can an unbeliever produce good fruit? It would seem not.

¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

• Another YIKES!! Verse
• Is this a judgment verse? Cut down so it doesn’t even use up the ground

²⁰ Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

• What are these fruits?
• Since we are talking about prophets – it must be his teachings.
• Who do they say Jesus is?
• Gallup could take lessons on polling from Matt 16
• Question #1 – Who do the people say Jesus is?
• Question #2 – Who do you say Jesus is?

I Never Knew You

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

• Still talking about the false prophets
• Lips and action
• Can someone say Lord Lord except by the Holy Spirit?
• No wonder he taught us to pray “thy will be done” – our will is corrupt.
• What is the will of the Father? That you believe in his son – simple.
• Those under judgment here are those who falsely make claims – but do not believe.

²² On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

• Compare to Matthew 25
• Those who did good didn’t even realize – the others kept a list.
• Didn’t we do all the good things for you Lord?
• How can we be so hard headed?

²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

• Serious question – how do we know that we are not amongst those?
• Matt 5 spoke of the rejection of the prophets and later we will see the rejection of the disciples
• This is what the church is up against today – rejection.

Build Your House on the Rock

²⁴ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

• Hears which words? The long Sermon on the Mount words.
• On the rock – Jesus
• Like a wise man – ‘blessed man’ if you want to bring in the language of the Beatitudes.
• What does it mean to build your house on the rock?

²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

• How? By remaining in the words of Jesus – by the reading / hearing it – by believing it and doing it.
• That way you build your life on a solid foundation, which will come through intact in the storm.

²⁶ And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.

²⁷ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

• Otherwise you will live a life that will most likely come crashing down.
• To many (us included) it is easier to look to outside stuff or outside people for advice.
• Why not go straight to Jesus and his word?

The Authority of Jesus

²⁸ And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, ²⁹ for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

• Have you ever been astonished at someone’s teaching?
• What did Jesus say different from previous speakers?
• Which would be better, me doing a review of a book or listening to the author?
• Anyone here ever watch Book Talk on CSPAN with Brian Lamb?
• They recognized authority – why didn’t it stick?
• How did they know authority?
• Have you noticed there were no miracles on the Mount? Unneeded
• Jesus speaks with the authority of God – because he is God.

The end of the Sermon on the Mount – the people were astonished.