Final Warnings From Our King Matt.7:13-29
I. Vs 13-14 The Narrow Gate: Narrow— #4728/stenos’—“narrow from obstacles standing close about, used figuratively of the gate that provides entrance to eternal life; narrow because it runs counter to natural inclinations” (flesh). New Strongs Expanded Dictionary Difficult--#2346/thlee’bo—“to suffer affliction, to be troubled,” has reference to suffering due to the pressure of circumstances, or the antagonism of persons. Translated “affliction” in II Cor. 1:6; Heb.11:27. Almost invariably refers to affliction that comes upon believers from without.” (NSED) A. These two descriptive adjectives describing the gate leading to eternal life bring to mind our Lord’s parable of the soils in Matt.13:1-23. What characterizes the good ground hearer? He has strong roots, withstands tribulation, perseveres in the midst of the cares of this life and shuns the deceitfulness of riches. 1. In our text, that is the description of the narrow gate into and the path of eternal life. In reality, this gate is only wide enough to admit One Man, the Man Christ Jesus. John 14:6 “I am the WAY, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” Phil. 3:7-9 “and be found IN HIM, not having my own righteousness……….but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” Vs 9 Col. 2:9-10 “For IN Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete IN HIM.” B. The broad way is as wide as the flesh, whatever our “brand of flesh” may be. John 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I say unto you, You must be born again.” Remember, Jesus said this to a self righteous, “good” Pharisee! Rom. 7:18 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells.” This was said by the Pharisee of the Pharisee’s. He was a really good guy!! C. We conclude therefore, that the path to eternal life is surrounded by every possible conflict and difficulty that the world, the flesh, and the devil can throw at it, and only those born from above, those placed in Christ Jesus by His Redemptive Blood and Righteousness shall be able to enter in. This is the perilous path marvelously described in Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress”.
II. Vs 15-20 “Beware of false prophets.” A. These are “flesh generated” teachers, governed by fleshly lusts for power and glory and who use whomever they can seduce to get it by making merchandise of them. II Pet. 2:1-3 Col. 2:8 (Read with the narrow gate context in mind) “Beware lest anyone cheat you through (their methodology) philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, AND NOT ACCORDING TO CHRIST.” B. “Therefore by their fruit you will know them”. 1. Follow the “Price Chopper” method. Their ads say that they triple inspect their fruit three times! Do these "prophets" allow people to praise them or their achievements? (Remember Paul in Phil. 3:7-8) Do they look to earthly standards as evidence of God’s blessing, size and glamor? Are they emphasizing the need for finances “to do the work of God”? Have they found some “secret” that we need to know to be “successful” either materially or spiritually? This may be through emphasizing some obscure scripture or isolating a passage from its context. Is the Blood and Righteousness of Jesus Christ the very core of their life and teaching or is His Name merely “window dressing” to make them sound “spiritual”?
III. Vs 21-23 This is the “end” of the false prophets. A. Note that they are very religious, and probably think they are doing God a great service! “In your name” phrase repeated 3 times. B. “but he who does the WILL of My Father in heaven”. This alone is God’s passport. All else is wood, hay, and stubble. And what is that Will? Matt. 22:36-38 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
And how do we sinful creatures do this will? John 6:29 “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him Whom He has sent.” II Tim. 2:19 “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
John 6:40 “And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
IV. Vs 24-29 So make sure of your foundation!!! What are you built upon??? Eph. 2:20 “Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF (not just stuff about Him) being the chief cornerstone, in Whom the whole building being joined together into a holy temple in the Lord.” (Rev. 21:9-14) I Cor. 10:1-14 The Rock is Christ Jesus!!! “let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
Vs 29 “For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Beware of scribes who see a job to be done, and not a Lord to be loved! Christ’s authority came from His heart, not his head. He delighted in His Father’s will in His innermost being.
I. Vs 13-14 The Narrow Gate: Narrow— #4728/stenos’—“narrow from obstacles standing close about, used figuratively of the gate that provides entrance to eternal life; narrow because it runs counter to natural inclinations” (flesh). New Strongs Expanded Dictionary Difficult--#2346/thlee’bo—“to suffer affliction, to be troubled,” has reference to suffering due to the pressure of circumstances, or the antagonism of persons. Translated “affliction” in II Cor. 1:6; Heb.11:27. Almost invariably refers to affliction that comes upon believers from without.” (NSED) A. These two descriptive adjectives describing the gate leading to eternal life bring to mind our Lord’s parable of the soils in Matt.13:1-23. What characterizes the good ground hearer? He has strong roots, withstands tribulation, perseveres in the midst of the cares of this life and shuns the deceitfulness of riches. 1. In our text, that is the description of the narrow gate into and the path of eternal life. In reality, this gate is only wide enough to admit One Man, the Man Christ Jesus. John 14:6 “I am the WAY, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father but by me.” Phil. 3:7-9 “and be found IN HIM, not having my own righteousness……….but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.” Vs 9 Col. 2:9-10 “For IN Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you are complete IN HIM.” B. The broad way is as wide as the flesh, whatever our “brand of flesh” may be. John 3:6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I say unto you, You must be born again.” Remember, Jesus said this to a self righteous, “good” Pharisee! Rom. 7:18 “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells.” This was said by the Pharisee of the Pharisee’s. He was a really good guy!! C. We conclude therefore, that the path to eternal life is surrounded by every possible conflict and difficulty that the world, the flesh, and the devil can throw at it, and only those born from above, those placed in Christ Jesus by His Redemptive Blood and Righteousness shall be able to enter in. This is the perilous path marvelously described in Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress”.
II. Vs 15-20 “Beware of false prophets.” A. These are “flesh generated” teachers, governed by fleshly lusts for power and glory and who use whomever they can seduce to get it by making merchandise of them. II Pet. 2:1-3 Col. 2:8 (Read with the narrow gate context in mind) “Beware lest anyone cheat you through (their methodology) philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, AND NOT ACCORDING TO CHRIST.” B. “Therefore by their fruit you will know them”. 1. Follow the “Price Chopper” method. Their ads say that they triple inspect their fruit three times! Do these "prophets" allow people to praise them or their achievements? (Remember Paul in Phil. 3:7-8) Do they look to earthly standards as evidence of God’s blessing, size and glamor? Are they emphasizing the need for finances “to do the work of God”? Have they found some “secret” that we need to know to be “successful” either materially or spiritually? This may be through emphasizing some obscure scripture or isolating a passage from its context. Is the Blood and Righteousness of Jesus Christ the very core of their life and teaching or is His Name merely “window dressing” to make them sound “spiritual”?
III. Vs 21-23 This is the “end” of the false prophets. A. Note that they are very religious, and probably think they are doing God a great service! “In your name” phrase repeated 3 times. B. “but he who does the WILL of My Father in heaven”. This alone is God’s passport. All else is wood, hay, and stubble. And what is that Will? Matt. 22:36-38 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment.”
And how do we sinful creatures do this will? John 6:29 “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him Whom He has sent.” II Tim. 2:19 “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."
John 6:40 “And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
IV. Vs 24-29 So make sure of your foundation!!! What are you built upon??? Eph. 2:20 “Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF (not just stuff about Him) being the chief cornerstone, in Whom the whole building being joined together into a holy temple in the Lord.” (Rev. 21:9-14) I Cor. 10:1-14 The Rock is Christ Jesus!!! “let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
Vs 29 “For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Beware of scribes who see a job to be done, and not a Lord to be loved! Christ’s authority came from His heart, not his head. He delighted in His Father’s will in His innermost being.