Mat 7:12-29; Genuinely Good, Genuinely Strong – That’s You.

Class Outline:

Sunday October 13, 2024

Main idea: Jesus demands that we be genuine according to whom He has made us to be.

 

God changed you at the moment of salvation. He changed you from a lead balloon to gold through the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit, and He then gave you a first priority - the way of the kingdom, its narrow road, its righteousness. You must be genuine in your thinking and not a poser - alchemy is cool, but it does not do what it advertises. 

 

As we close the SOM today, we focus on genuine.

 

MAT 7:12 the Golden rule - a genuine heart of love and justice.

 

A desire for the Sermon on the Mount to be in the heart of all others. 

 

It is not a contract: you do to me and I’ll do to you. It is a preemptive desire to do for all others as you would have them do to you. 

 

How would you want others to treat you? 

 

Not self-love but the desire for blessings to self from God. 

 

MAT 7:13-14 the genuine acceptance of Eternal Life (source and way). 

 

“Small” gate and “narrow” road. “Narrow” - thlibo = pressing, narrow, trouble, tribulation - a narrow, confined road and therefore a source of trouble or difficulty for those using it. 

 

God did not promise ease. 

 

“Broad” street - spacious road (plateia; MAT 6:5) Imagery of the thoroughfare of the world. All the ways of deliverance and salvation that people think up.

 

MAT 7:15-23 False prophets: there are many cattle and some are false prophets who are leading them to destruction on the broad way. 

 

False prophets are motivated by pride and ignorance. Some have a love of money and lust for power; others are genuine but misguided. Eventually, they are all known by their fruit. 

 

They have not been made pure by Christ and so bad fruit will show itself. 

 

Clothed like sheep but within are ravenous wolves (dogs and swine; MAT 7:6). 

 

Do not give them holy things, rather enjoy the holy for yourself. They will only use holy things by twisting them for the purpose of deceiving. 

 

Some will be bold enough to use the Lord’s name (ACT 20:29-30). 

 

They never accepted Christ by faith: “I never knew you.” 

 

The true prophet and the genuine apprentice: he hears and acts upon it. 

 

“Hears these words of Mine” - the True Prophet; DEU 18:18-19. 

 

For us this means that we take in the Word of God consistently, while always having in mind that we must do what it says. We are on the tight road of the kingdom of heaven. 

 

Every person is going to face rain, flood, wind, and have it all beat on them. 

 

Deeper understanding:

 

Golden Rule: Proactive love and justice: It’s not a contract. 

 

Acceptance of Eternal life: Salvation by faith and then you’re on the road (new and living way). We have made the error of separating the gate and the road too much. The way is difficult while salvation is easy and in an instant. Why does it need to be hard? Testing of faith, JAM 1:2. It is a journey that requires endurance. 

 

False vs. true Prophet: False prophets always promise ease; to take away the problem while they always miss the problem. 

 

False prophets always promise to remove or fix the problem. 

 

The true Prophet promises to fix you. 

 

Application:

 

In what areas of your life have you been doing God’s will and what areas have you agreed that God’s will should be done, but you have settled for the broad thoroughfare of mankind? 

 

All of us have areas where doing (walking on the narrow way) has been put off. For some, the putting off will be permanent. 

 

Remember that the King is going to judge your works some day. 

 

Remember that it is a long journey and He is patient with you, but do not die in the wilderness! 

 

Examine your resolve. Are you genuine in all areas? Are you posing in some? 

 

Fool’s gold is for fools. Whatever you think you are saving (reputation, wealth, influence, entertainment, fun, etc.) because you are not doing God’s will as seen in this sermon, is costing you way too much.