Matthew 7:13-29 “The Two Ways”

Message Details

Passage: Matthew 7:13-29

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

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

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. 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. 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.”

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.

Intro: Jesus must be our foundation and goal. Not self-glorification. Not self-satisfaction. It is easy to stray into these faulty paths and foundations.
Because God’s words alone lead to life, we reject all other foundations and paths for living.

Outro: God in heaven, you’ve called us to hear and obey Your words. Father, in your words alone are true wisdom and insight and perfect direction. Thank you for your word.

Jesus, we thank you for coming down to a human level and speaking to our fallen race. Thank you for warning us against the broad and easy path. Thank you for not just telling us the way to the narrow gate, but for being the way to the narrow gate. Life is found only in you. Thank you.

Spirit of God, we make no movements toward God and His will without you. Thank you for indwelling us and for giving us hearts that find their motivation and satisfaction in God and His will. Help us to proceed on the hard path that leads to life. We also ask you to bring to conviction those who are striving to get to God on their own terms. Please show them the folly of their struggle. Reveal Jesus to them that they might have life.

God, we love you and ask you to imprint these truths on our hearts. Amen.