WEBVTT 00:00:07.280 --> 00:00:12.800 This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:22.640 Well, good morning. 00:00:22.879 --> 00:00:25.519 Glad to have you joining us this morning. 00:00:26.160 --> 00:00:31.519 This is our sixth or seventh Sunday morning live stream. 00:00:31.679 --> 00:00:34.320 I feel like I've lost count already. 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:41.520 And thankfully, we are in the process of beginning to work out what it means to gather together again. 00:00:41.679 --> 00:00:55.520 And this morning we are live streaming only, and we will continue that again next Sunday as we seek to find that balance between being careful and being fearful. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:01:04.959 So we are, Lord willing, aiming to have on-site openness and welcoming people again in a couple of weeks. 00:01:05.359 --> 00:01:09.519 As we look forward to that time, we're trying to figure out what all of that means. 00:01:09.680 --> 00:01:14.719 How do we go about setting some standards in place and preparing for that day? 00:01:14.879 --> 00:01:25.439 So we would appreciate it if you would pray with us as we seek to set some boundaries and some standards in place for bringing everyone back together again. 00:01:25.840 --> 00:01:36.799 So we are live streaming today and again next Sunday, but don't forget, in between, this evening we are meeting to look at Psalm 23 together, our last study in Psalm 23. 00:01:36.879 --> 00:01:44.719 And then Wednesday evening is our family evening, where we have a children's element at the beginning, and then Pastor Anton in the middle. 00:01:44.799 --> 00:01:50.400 And I think the last time that I knew and talked to him, he was looking forward to looking at Jonah together. 00:01:50.560 --> 00:01:51.840 Is that still right, Anton? 00:01:51.920 --> 00:01:57.920 Alright, looking at Jonah on Wednesday evening, and then Jeremy will be leading our students following that. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:02.319 So don't forget those live streams are coming up again this week. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:09.120 I'd like you to take your Bible if you have it or your device and open it this morning to Matthew chapter 7. 00:02:09.680 --> 00:02:11.599 Matthew chapter 7. 00:02:14.879 --> 00:02:27.840 About 130 years ago, Charles Spurgeon began what was perhaps the greatest controversy of his life. 00:02:28.159 --> 00:02:30.719 Called the downgrade controversy. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:38.240 He would enter his eternal home about five years later. 00:02:40.080 --> 00:02:49.840 But there was an element of his world and his society that was so important that he felt as though it must be addressed. 00:02:51.120 --> 00:02:59.439 What was it that would be so important to spend the last five years of his life consumed with what he called this downgrade? 00:03:00.560 --> 00:03:06.080 Well, the word itself is a picture of exactly what he meant. 00:03:06.560 --> 00:03:11.759 He meant that the perception of Scripture was on a hill and it was going down. 00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:23.919 That the views and the support and the trust given to the inspiration and the authority of Scripture was on its way out, not just in the world at large, but in the Lord's church. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:30.080 Here's what was printed in his paper, The Sword and the Trowel, nearly 130 years ago. 00:03:32.080 --> 00:03:44.000 Let a man question or entertain low views of the inspiration and the authority of the Bible, and he is without chart to guide him. 00:03:44.400 --> 00:03:46.960 He is without anchor to hold him. 00:03:47.759 --> 00:04:13.039 And looking carefully over the history of the times and the movement of the times, this fact is apparent that where ministers and Christian churches have held fast to the truth that the Holy Scriptures have been given by God as an authoritative and infallible rule of faith and practice, they have never wandered very seriously out of the right way. 00:04:15.439 --> 00:04:27.439 But when, on the other hand, reason has been exalted above revelation, all kinds of errors and mischiefs have been the result. 00:04:30.959 --> 00:04:36.879 I have many concerns that the exact same thing is happening today. 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:51.360 That we've returned not to a better place, but to the downgrade, to the downward progression away from a trust and a reliance upon the word of God. 00:04:53.199 --> 00:05:00.079 God Himself says through the psalmist that he has exalted his word above his name. 00:05:00.319 --> 00:05:01.680 That's significant. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:09.759 When God says, My word is so important, I want it to be known, I want it to be praised above my very name. 00:05:11.120 --> 00:05:13.120 What are we going to do with that? 00:05:13.439 --> 00:05:18.639 There are some challenges throughout the Old Testament that kind of picture this. 00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:29.519 One of them is at the end of Joshua, where Joshua, after reviewing some truth, says to the people of Israel, You must choose this day whom you will serve. 00:05:30.000 --> 00:05:33.759 He says, As for me in my house, we will serve the Lord. 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:41.360 But one that I would like to point out to you before we get into Matthew is Deuteronomy chapter 30, beginning in verse 19. 00:05:41.519 --> 00:05:42.879 I know you're in Matthew. 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:44.480 I'll just read this for you. 00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:51.120 The end of Deuteronomy, Moses is at the end of his life, having recounted all of God's law to God's people. 00:05:51.279 --> 00:05:57.680 So there's this long, long drawn-out expression of truth, of God's truth, of God's word. 00:05:58.399 --> 00:06:00.560 And here's what Moses says at the end. 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:10.160 I call heaven and earth to witness against you today that I have set before you life and death. 00:06:14.079 --> 00:06:16.000 Blessing and curse. 00:06:16.160 --> 00:06:35.439 Therefore, choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and holding fast to him, for he is your life and your length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers. 00:06:37.600 --> 00:06:39.680 Choose life. 00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:49.439 Jesus issues a similar challenge at the end of his sermon on the mount in Matthew chapter 7. 00:06:49.680 --> 00:06:57.759 Matthew chapter 5, chapter 6, and chapter 7 are devoted to this sermon that Jesus gave while sitting on top of a hillside. 00:06:58.800 --> 00:07:02.319 And Jesus concludes that entire sermon with these words. 00:07:02.560 --> 00:07:11.600 He says, Everyone, then, who hears these words of mine and does them, will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:22.000 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. 00:07:22.959 --> 00:07:43.680 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like the foolish man who built his house on the sand, 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. 00:07:44.000 --> 00:07:50.560 And when Jesus had finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching. 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:51.360 Why? 00:07:51.759 --> 00:07:59.040 Because he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. 00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:00.079 Amen. 00:08:00.959 --> 00:08:04.480 Well, again, this is the conclusion of Jesus' sermon. 00:08:04.720 --> 00:08:06.480 We know that for a couple of reasons. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:10.720 It says in verse 28 that Jesus had finished these sayings. 00:08:11.199 --> 00:08:17.680 We also know it because the crowds responded, and Matthew hasn't given us the response of the crowds yet. 00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:22.480 This is the first time that we see the reaction that the crowds give. 00:08:22.959 --> 00:08:30.319 And that reminds us that we need to remember that we have two sets of listeners, of first-time hearers. 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:41.919 Jesus is speaking directly, if we look back at chapter 5, to his disciples, to those who have been following him in discipleship, who have said, We believe in you, we are following you. 00:08:42.000 --> 00:08:45.200 That's his first set of hearers. 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:51.440 But then beyond that are the crowds surrounding him on the hillside that day. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:09:02.159 There are crowds and disciples, and it was the crowds Matthew records for us, not the disciples who were astonished at his authority. 00:09:03.120 --> 00:09:06.320 I know it's a little detail, but it's a significant detail. 00:09:06.720 --> 00:09:14.879 The crowds were astonished at his authority, and crowds are consistently distinguished from disciples in the book of Matthew. 00:09:15.039 --> 00:09:19.279 For example, you can look back at chapter 4 and verse 25. 00:09:19.759 --> 00:09:28.159 Great crowds followed him, and seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, he opened his mouth with his disciples sitting before him. 00:09:28.399 --> 00:09:33.759 Chapter 7, here in verse 28, is the next set mention of crowds. 00:09:33.919 --> 00:09:38.960 Chapter 8 and verse 18, Jesus saw a crowd around him. 00:09:39.200 --> 00:09:49.600 Chapter 9, verse 8, when the crowds saw it, and on and on and on throughout the Gospel of Matthew, the crowds are distinct from the disciples. 00:09:49.840 --> 00:10:00.399 So why does Matthew mention specifically that it was the crowds who were astonished, and not the disciples? 00:10:00.799 --> 00:10:02.879 And what does he mean by that? 00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:11.200 Well, the disciples were already on the narrow road of faithful commitment and obedience. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:24.960 They at least have some awareness of who Jesus is, some awareness of his level of authority, of his position in the universe, of his lordship and rule. 00:10:25.120 --> 00:10:28.399 They were already following him as their king. 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:36.159 So we need to ask, what's the challenge? 00:10:36.639 --> 00:10:42.320 What's the verdict of the sermon to each of those groups of people? 00:10:43.440 --> 00:10:51.039 Jesus has concluded his sermon, beginning back in verse 13 of this chapter, all the way through the end of the chapter is his conclusion. 00:10:51.200 --> 00:10:57.600 And he's driving it home to a verdict that they must hear and then receive a challenge from. 00:10:57.759 --> 00:11:04.480 What's the verdict and what is the challenge to the disciples and to the crowds surrounding him that day? 00:11:04.960 --> 00:11:21.200 And just as those ancient Israelites heard God speak through Moses and through Joshua, and the disciples and the crowds heard Jesus speak, so we too must hear the verdict of this sermon that Jesus spoke and received the challenge to respond to Christ. 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:22.639 So what is it? 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:26.720 We need to understand what Jesus is teaching here. 00:11:28.480 --> 00:11:37.919 Jesus in verse 29 was teaching them as one who had authority, and as a result, the crowds were astonished. 00:11:38.720 --> 00:11:45.919 The scholar has said that that word astonished, we put it into modern language, could be translated dumbfounded. 00:11:46.240 --> 00:11:51.600 Sort of sat there with their jaws dropped, open-mouthed, thinking, who is this guy? 00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:56.399 He's not saying things like anything we've ever heard before. 00:11:56.639 --> 00:12:00.559 That's because Jesus was teaching with authority. 00:12:00.720 --> 00:12:02.240 And that's an intended contrast. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:10.399 We might not get that in our world today, but it's an important contrast in the time that Jesus was preaching on this hillside. 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:17.840 Because speaking with authority, teaching with authority was not the common method. 00:12:18.639 --> 00:12:27.039 Scribes, when they taught the people in the synagogues, did not claim to have authority within themselves. 00:12:27.279 --> 00:12:36.399 That's because they were all divided into various camps or traditions, religious Judaism traditions in Israel. 00:12:36.960 --> 00:12:44.399 And so they would all point back to the founders, to the originators, to the significant voices within their tradition. 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:51.120 So they would go back, they would search their own sets of commentaries, what their own teachers had written. 00:12:51.759 --> 00:12:58.159 They would look for, almost like a judge will look for precedence in previous law cases. 00:12:58.320 --> 00:13:03.120 They would go back and see where can we, where can we base our authority? 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:06.080 Because they didn't have authority. 00:13:06.240 --> 00:13:11.360 Their authority came from their tradition, from their camp within Judaism. 00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:15.360 So they had to quote somebody else saying, so-and-so said. 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:20.960 But what does Jesus do? 00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:28.720 He says throughout the sermon, you've heard that it was said, but I say. 00:13:30.399 --> 00:13:31.919 It was unheard of. 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:40.960 For Jesus to say, I am telling you this is the way it is, was unheard of. 00:13:41.600 --> 00:13:57.120 But Jesus, this Jesus, we will see in chapter 10, verse 1, is the one who possesses authority over demons, over the spirit world, so much so that he can give that authority to others, to his disciples. 00:13:57.600 --> 00:14:05.840 This is the same Jesus who will say at the end of this book of Matthew, all authority has been given to me. 00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:09.600 All authority, whether it's in heaven or on earth, it belongs in me. 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:11.440 It's been given to me, it's been granted to me. 00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:16.639 Jesus is the one in whom all authority exists. 00:14:17.919 --> 00:14:21.279 He holds all authority in his hands. 00:14:23.840 --> 00:14:30.320 Now let's not miss what Matthew is saying here about the response of these crowds. 00:14:31.519 --> 00:14:37.519 They are astonished at the authority of the Word of God. 00:14:39.679 --> 00:14:41.360 Let that sink in for a moment. 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:44.720 Who is Jesus according to the Gospel of John in chapter 1? 00:14:44.879 --> 00:14:49.120 It says the word, the Lagos, became flesh and dwelt among us. 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:56.480 This is the eternal word of God who is taking on flesh and living and teaching among us. 00:14:56.639 --> 00:15:03.919 Therefore, that word that has ultimate authority is being felt, is being heard, is being sensed. 00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:08.480 Some are saying, Yes, that's it. 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:11.679 I resonate with that, I'm going to follow it, I'm going to obey it. 00:15:11.759 --> 00:15:14.240 The rest of them are thinking, who is this guy? 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:20.559 We're not told that the disciples are astounded. 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:28.080 We're told that the crowds are astounded. 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:41.279 The disciples were aware at some level and in some way in submission to the authority of the Word of God in the person of Jesus Christ. 00:15:42.240 --> 00:15:51.759 And we are told that those who are not yet in a position of discipleship were in some way taken aback by the authority of the Word of God. 00:15:53.200 --> 00:16:04.080 At the very least, they did not expect the Word of God in the person of Jesus Christ to speak to them with the authority of God Himself. 00:16:06.399 --> 00:16:16.080 And so the verdict that we sense from Jesus' sermon here, I think, is found in verses 21 to 23 that we've already covered. 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:25.360 Jesus said to those who believed that they had access to heaven, that they were doing everything right, I will declare to them I never knew you. 00:16:25.519 --> 00:16:28.399 Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness. 00:16:28.639 --> 00:16:31.039 Here is the verdict to Jesus' sermon. 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:40.320 Christ alone possesses the right and the authority to exclude and to admit people into his kingdom. 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:42.480 That's what the sermon is all about. 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:51.600 If we go back to chapter 5, beginning in verse 2 with the Beatitudes, it's all about what Jesus is doing. 00:16:51.919 --> 00:16:59.200 He's proclaiming his kingdom, and he's saying, anyone who wants to come in must come in by these standards. 00:16:59.360 --> 00:17:03.360 They must have this focus, they must have this trust in me as their king. 00:17:03.440 --> 00:17:07.359 They must be poor in spirit, they must be mourning over their sin. 00:17:07.759 --> 00:17:16.079 And so Jesus is now saying at the end of his sermon, listen, if you don't follow it my way, I will say to you, I never knew you. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:20.240 How can he say that if he does not have the authority to do it? 00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:28.000 So these crowds are hearing this and are astounded. 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:39.200 They're astounded in part because of their Abrahamic lineage back in chapter 3 of Matthew and verse 9. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:52.799 John the Baptist is still preaching, and he's saying to the Pharisees and the Sadducees, the rulers of the day, do not presume to say to yourselves, we have Abraham as our father. 00:17:53.359 --> 00:17:58.880 For I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:02.880 And so he says, Go on bearing fruit, keeping with repentance. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:06.640 He's saying, Listen, unless you repent, it doesn't matter if you're a child of Abraham. 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:27.920 Later on in chapter 8 of this same book in verse 11, Jesus will say, I tell you, many will come, I'm sorry, chapter 8, verse 11, I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the sons of the kingdom, the sons of Abraham, will be thrown out. 00:18:29.920 --> 00:18:33.039 Jesus said, lineage doesn't do you any good. 00:18:33.279 --> 00:18:38.960 A human connection to God, a human connection to God's church doesn't do you any good. 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:40.559 So what if you've grown up in church? 00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:43.920 So what if you've gone to Sunday school and church all of your life? 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:45.839 Oh, yeah, you've gone through confirmation. 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:47.839 Maybe you've even been baptized. 00:18:48.079 --> 00:18:50.240 That doesn't make a difference. 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:59.279 God's kingdom is under the authority of God's word. 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:13.039 Jesus says, I have authority to admit or to reject people from my kingdom. 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:24.480 That tells us that Jesus is claiming a right and an authority that belongs only to God. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:34.240 That means he's either crazy, he's lying, or he is God. 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:41.839 And so we we hear then an echo of Deuteronomy at the end of Jesus' sermon. 00:19:42.160 --> 00:19:50.079 A challenge issued through his sermon that we hear from Moses and Joshua, choose whom you will follow. 00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:56.880 If you're going to follow me and enter my kingdom, choose wisely, because there's only one way, and it's a narrow way. 00:19:57.359 --> 00:19:59.200 And it's only through me. 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:12.720 At the end of his sermon, Jesus says, the end of the matter, the verdict, is this I am God and I am King. 00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:17.200 Hear me and obey me. 00:20:20.400 --> 00:20:26.400 Our challenge today is you better hear the Lord Jesus speak. 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:32.480 And you better hear in a wise way because your choice will have consequences. 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:44.160 Now, from here, I want to highlight for us four elements of this illustration that Jesus gives about these builders. 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:59.039 Four elements that I hope will help us see why Jesus and why Matthew is focusing in on Jesus having authority, on the word of the living God possessing this authority. 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:11.359 So I'd like you to notice with me first the patterns that identify the intention of Jesus' illustration, the patterns that identify the intention of his illustration. 00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:16.319 There's a pattern that we see here, and if you mark up your Bible, I would encourage you to do this. 00:21:16.640 --> 00:21:23.759 Going back to verse 21, you will see not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:25.839 Verse 24. 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:36.240 Everyone, then, who hears the words of mine, and verse 26, everyone who hears the words of mine. 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:39.920 Everyone, everyone, everyone. 00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:43.039 But each of the everyones is different, isn't it? 00:21:44.000 --> 00:21:50.400 First it starts out with everyone who says to me, then it's everyone then who hears. 00:21:52.559 --> 00:21:56.319 And then it's everyone who hears but does not do. 00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:59.599 So let's start first in verse twenty one. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:09.759 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. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:13.920 This is pointing back to the false shepherds of verse 15. 00:22:14.960 --> 00:22:20.079 Some false shepherds are simply not identifiable in this lifetime. 00:22:20.880 --> 00:22:27.759 They look good, they look like proper shepherds because they're clothed like shepherds would be, they sound like shepherds would sound. 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:35.759 And sometimes, even though we might be extremely discerning, still they are so crafty that we can't identify them. 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:41.680 But Jesus will eventually expose them. 00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:49.680 All false shepherds will be exposed when they stand before the Lord Jesus, no matter what excuse they give. 00:22:49.920 --> 00:22:57.440 Whether the excuse is, Lord, I know you, or whether the excuse is, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? 00:22:57.519 --> 00:23:01.200 Or whether the excuse is, Lord, look what we've done in your name. 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:18.880 Those who seek entrance into the Lord's kingdom by means of sincere devotion, but without authentic faith, will never experience the joy of the king. 00:23:19.599 --> 00:23:21.119 They won't. 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:24.799 There's an emphasis here on doing. 00:23:25.039 --> 00:23:27.839 We saw that back in the bearing of fruit. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:28.799 That's the same word. 00:23:28.960 --> 00:23:36.319 Bearing fruit is the same as does the will of my father in verse 21 and do the mighty works in verse 22. 00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:43.599 And the one who does or does not do the works of the Father in the illustration that we're looking at this morning. 00:23:45.279 --> 00:23:52.079 Only genuine faith can produce good fruit. 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:56.000 Only genuine faith can produce good fruit. 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:58.000 Now remember, there's several kinds of fruit. 00:23:58.079 --> 00:24:01.279 There's good fruit and there's rotten fruit on the extremes, right? 00:24:01.359 --> 00:24:05.359 And then there's the fruit in the middle that says, this looks really, really good. 00:24:05.920 --> 00:24:11.759 It looks ripe, it looks healthy, but in the middle there's a worm. 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.640 Right? 00:24:13.279 --> 00:24:14.559 It looks good. 00:24:15.599 --> 00:24:19.440 But there's something on the inside that says, I don't want to have that. 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:25.920 And sometimes, sometimes we won't see the worm until the people stand before Jesus. 00:24:26.160 --> 00:24:33.920 But we need to remember also that a genuine disciple who bears good fruit is still a sinful person, right? 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:35.039 We all sin. 00:24:35.599 --> 00:24:38.079 Sometimes, moment by moment, we sin. 00:24:38.319 --> 00:24:53.920 And while God is working within us through his spirit to produce good fruit, we can still produce rotten fruit or wormy fruit when we're working through our own strength. 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:59.920 But Jesus says, you have to have genuine faith. 00:25:00.240 --> 00:25:07.279 Genuine faith will be worked out in genuine, real, healthy fruit. 00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:14.960 Anyone who doesn't fit that category will hear the words, I never knew you. 00:25:17.119 --> 00:25:18.559 Verse 24. 00:25:19.519 --> 00:25:21.119 Everyone then. 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:25.839 That word then tells us he's concluding something. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:27.440 He's summarizing something. 00:25:27.759 --> 00:25:32.400 He's saying, I've said all of this, now let me tell you what that means. 00:25:32.559 --> 00:25:36.640 And in telling us what he means, he gives us a picture, an image. 00:25:37.920 --> 00:25:44.480 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them. 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:46.880 He says, here's the healthy fruit. 00:25:47.039 --> 00:25:48.960 Here's the good fruit. 00:25:50.319 --> 00:25:59.599 This word then is key because it identifies the intention of Jesus' illustration of the builders. 00:26:01.039 --> 00:26:02.480 Why does he tell this story? 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:03.440 What is his intent? 00:26:03.599 --> 00:26:18.480 His intent is to demonstrate for us in an image that genuine faith in Jesus, genuine faith in the king, is shown by obedience to the king's word. 00:26:19.680 --> 00:26:25.920 Everyone who hears the words and does them is like this. 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:30.079 A wise man who built his house on a rock. 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:36.160 So Jesus is making some divine claims here. 00:26:37.839 --> 00:26:46.400 He determines, he alone determines who has genuine faith to be granted entrance into his kingdom. 00:26:47.839 --> 00:26:56.720 And his word is so authoritative that it must be obeyed by those who have genuine faith. 00:26:59.920 --> 00:27:03.200 Our third everyone is in verse 26. 00:27:03.839 --> 00:27:08.400 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them. 00:27:09.119 --> 00:27:20.480 Everything is really the same with the wise man except obedience to the word and the result of that obedience. 00:27:22.640 --> 00:27:26.720 Not everyone, everyone then, and everyone who. 00:27:27.599 --> 00:27:40.880 That's a pattern that helps us see that Jesus is honing in on this idea, this concept of genuine faith producing genuine fruit. 00:27:41.440 --> 00:27:50.000 And that is characteristic of all who have entrance into his kingdom, of all who have found the narrow road. 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:58.160 Now I'd like you to notice with me the reminders of the authority of Jesus' word. 00:27:58.559 --> 00:28:04.240 Remember, the crowds are astonished because he's teaching as one who has authority. 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:10.319 What reminders do we have in this passage of the authority of the word of God? 00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:17.599 Well, if we go back to verses 13 and 14, again, this is the conclusion, so it's appropriate to go back to this. 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:21.359 Our immediate context here is the whole conclusion of the sermon. 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:24.240 Verse 13 through the end of the chapter. 00:28:25.200 --> 00:28:35.039 And if we go back to that point in verse 13, we see that Jesus' word established the narrow way as the way. 00:28:36.559 --> 00:28:40.160 He's the one who says, This is the way. 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:42.960 That's authority. 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:51.519 If we look in verse 15, we will see that the word of Jesus gives a warning to be heeded. 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:58.000 A warning that in the end will determine a destiny. 00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:05.279 And Jesus himself, his word, determines eternity. 00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:10.079 These false shepherds will hear Jesus say. 00:29:10.240 --> 00:29:14.640 They will hear the word of God say to them, Depart from me, get away from me. 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:16.240 I never knew you. 00:29:17.920 --> 00:29:21.039 His word determines eternity. 00:29:21.359 --> 00:29:27.839 His word in verses 24, 25, 26, and 27 demands obedience. 00:29:28.000 --> 00:29:33.759 Whoever does them, whoever hears them and does them, whoever hears them and does not do them. 00:29:34.799 --> 00:29:37.920 His word demands obedience. 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:47.599 And his word generates astonishment among those not expecting his authority. 00:29:49.200 --> 00:29:55.920 There are reminders here all along that Jesus has authority. 00:29:57.839 --> 00:30:01.680 My friends, we have we have to sit there for a minute. 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:10.079 The word of God bears an unequal authority. 00:30:11.440 --> 00:30:15.680 Because it's the word of the King. 00:30:16.640 --> 00:30:19.680 The divine King, God, the Son. 00:30:21.920 --> 00:30:37.039 And at the beginning of his ministry, here with his first lengthy sermon, the response, the reaction was astonishment at his authority, at the words that bear his authority, at his teaching, what comes out of his mouth. 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:39.279 It has authority. 00:30:39.839 --> 00:30:47.680 We have to notice that the emphasis Matthew is making at the end of his sermon is on the authority of the Word of God. 00:30:47.839 --> 00:30:52.079 That's going to become very significant as we go throughout the rest of this book. 00:30:53.200 --> 00:31:10.880 But I'd like you to notice with me the third element, and that is notice the illustration of these builders emphasizes differing responses to the call of discipleship. 00:31:11.759 --> 00:31:14.559 Jesus tells a story about a wise man and a foolish man. 00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:15.839 Yes, they build a house. 00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:19.440 But the emphasis is on the result. 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:27.039 It's on the result of the one who heard and obeyed versus the one who heard and did not obey. 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:32.880 But let's remember the context of the sermon. 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:52.720 If we go all the way back to chapter 5, we are reminded with the Beatitudes in chapter 5, verse 2, verse 3, and so on, that Jesus is talking as the King, granting access to his kingdom. 00:31:54.640 --> 00:32:08.559 And he tells us that if we want access to his kingdom, we must come as poor spiritual beggars to the king, beggars who have nothing to offer him but our sin and our brokenness. 00:32:09.519 --> 00:32:14.559 We must come as poor beggars to the king, seeking his righteousness. 00:32:14.720 --> 00:32:18.000 And it's those who will gain the kingdom of heaven. 00:32:18.079 --> 00:32:27.759 It's those who will be comforted, it's those who hunger and thirst for his righteousness who will be satisfied, because the righteousness of the Pharisees is not sufficient, is it? 00:32:28.400 --> 00:32:36.160 Verse 20 of chapter 5, Jesus said, Unless your righteousness exceeds, goes beyond that of the scribes and the Pharisees, you'll never get in. 00:32:38.799 --> 00:32:48.000 But blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is, they have obtained the kingdom of heaven. 00:32:50.720 --> 00:33:05.680 Those who come to the King, Jesus, in humble faith, and who follow him in obedience are now pictured as wise builders. 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:12.480 The wise builder describes those who are hearers and doers. 00:33:13.200 --> 00:33:22.400 They hear the word of God, they've heard Jesus' teaching, and now they go and they construct a home on a solid foundation. 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:27.200 We see this image here sort of as a completed action. 00:33:28.079 --> 00:33:32.960 They hear and they obey, and the obedience is they've built a house. 00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:35.359 Just any old house. 00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:38.880 They built a house and they built it on a rock. 00:33:41.440 --> 00:33:43.119 And the storm comes. 00:33:45.359 --> 00:33:46.880 The rain fell. 00:33:48.880 --> 00:33:59.440 And we might be able to just magnify this and just say that the image that Jesus is intending here is it's not just any storm, but a hundred-year storm. 00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:02.960 Storm that just beat on the house. 00:34:03.680 --> 00:34:05.599 The rain just plummeted. 00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:15.280 And the flood waters just rose up and crashed against the side of the house, and the winds blew and beat on the house. 00:34:15.360 --> 00:34:24.639 And the result of this test, the result of this trial, is that the house did not fall because it was founded upon an immovable foundation. 00:34:25.440 --> 00:34:27.840 It was founded on the rock. 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:51.360 The house, the life of those whose foundation is established on faith in Christ and faithful obedience flowing out of that faith, they hold firm when the trials and the tests of life crash against them. 00:34:52.480 --> 00:34:56.000 Oh, yeah, the house may sway a bit. 00:34:56.400 --> 00:35:00.639 It may creak from the wind seeking to blow it to bits. 00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:07.119 But when the storm passes by, the house remains. 00:35:09.840 --> 00:35:17.440 These builders, the wise builders, are the same people described by the Beatitudes. 00:35:18.559 --> 00:35:24.960 Jesus has returned to the beginning and sort of summarizing everything along the way. 00:35:25.920 --> 00:35:33.519 He said, the wise builders are the ones who start in humility and humble faith coming to me for righteousness. 00:35:34.239 --> 00:35:38.880 And that righteousness lives itself out in obedience to me. 00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:45.920 And that faith and lived out obedience looks like wisdom. 00:35:47.199 --> 00:35:53.360 Wisdom that sustains a person through the trials and the tests of life. 00:35:53.599 --> 00:36:05.519 And they will ultimately stand firm before Christ, the judge, when the test of eternity arrives, not because of his or her own strength or obedience, but because of the right foundation. 00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:18.719 You see, everyone will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ, the false prophets, the false shepherds, and those who have been granted access to the kingdom. 00:36:20.320 --> 00:36:24.800 Some will be told, Go, leave me. 00:36:26.000 --> 00:36:30.320 And others will be told, Enter into the joy of your master. 00:36:33.039 --> 00:36:44.239 Those who come to the king as curious listeners, but who do not follow in obedience are pictured as foolish builders. 00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:50.239 I enjoy the way that Matthew wrote this. 00:36:59.760 --> 00:37:00.880 It's moros. 00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:05.679 A foolish builder is a moron. 00:37:08.400 --> 00:37:10.079 He builds on the sand. 00:37:11.199 --> 00:37:15.360 And the idea here is that, yeah, he doesn't work real hard on the foundation. 00:37:15.840 --> 00:37:22.079 He doesn't work to see where I should build and how should I set the house up so it lasts a long time. 00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:27.119 But he sincerely believes that he's doing the right thing. 00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:30.000 He's heard the word of God. 00:37:31.119 --> 00:37:33.920 He's heard Jesus' teaching. 00:37:34.159 --> 00:37:39.840 But his lack of obedience shows that he does not follow Christ in genuine faith. 00:37:40.079 --> 00:37:46.480 You know, for all practical purposes, this house of the foolish person looks the same as the other house. 00:37:48.639 --> 00:37:50.880 The foundation, though, isn't visible. 00:37:53.760 --> 00:38:02.880 This follows then in the idea that the theme of the fruit of the false shepherds not being visible. 00:38:03.920 --> 00:38:10.880 You can't necessarily see that rotten fruit, that wormy fruit that false shepherds feed you with. 00:38:12.159 --> 00:38:18.320 In the same way, you can't necessarily see the foundation that the foolish people build on. 00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:26.320 As much as we can tell, the foolish person looks just like the wise person during the building of the house. 00:38:28.000 --> 00:38:34.239 The foolish builder hears the same word of God and seeks to build a similar house to the wise man. 00:38:34.400 --> 00:38:36.559 Everything seems to be proper and good. 00:38:36.800 --> 00:38:41.920 Their labor is the same, their diligence is the same, their dedication may be the same. 00:38:44.719 --> 00:38:46.719 And then the storm comes. 00:38:48.480 --> 00:38:50.239 The rain falls. 00:38:52.559 --> 00:38:54.239 The floods rise. 00:38:55.760 --> 00:38:58.719 And the winds blow and beat on the house. 00:38:59.440 --> 00:39:01.519 Everything is the same as the wise builder. 00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:05.679 They face the same trial, they face the same test. 00:39:08.159 --> 00:39:12.079 We might say that they've all read the Bible. 00:39:12.559 --> 00:39:15.280 The wise man read the Bible and the foolish man read the Bible. 00:39:15.760 --> 00:39:18.000 They both went to the same church. 00:39:18.320 --> 00:39:20.880 They both listened to the same sermons. 00:39:21.119 --> 00:39:23.360 They read Christian books. 00:39:25.599 --> 00:39:30.079 But remember, the issue is not whether they've heard the word. 00:39:30.559 --> 00:39:31.199 Right? 00:39:32.239 --> 00:39:34.559 That's what Matthew emphasizes here. 00:39:35.199 --> 00:39:38.480 They both have heard the word of God. 00:39:38.800 --> 00:39:42.159 The issue is whether they do his words. 00:39:43.920 --> 00:39:49.199 And sometimes only the power of the storm will reveal the difference. 00:39:51.119 --> 00:39:58.400 The house on the rock stands, but the house on the sand collapses in a gigantic implosion. 00:39:58.639 --> 00:40:04.159 The winds blow in the walls, the rush of the waves carry away the bits of the building. 00:40:04.480 --> 00:40:05.119 Why? 00:40:06.880 --> 00:40:14.559 They heard the word of God, but did not consider it authoritative enough to obey. 00:40:16.559 --> 00:40:17.840 That's why. 00:40:21.119 --> 00:40:29.199 Maybe they just explained it away as the ramblings of a of a deluded man who thought more of himself than he should have. 00:40:29.760 --> 00:40:35.599 Maybe they they explained it that Jesus didn't really just, he didn't understand their life. 00:40:36.800 --> 00:40:40.639 Maybe they explained it away as the ramblings of a lunatic. 00:40:41.119 --> 00:40:42.239 Maybe they just didn't believe him. 00:40:42.880 --> 00:40:45.440 Maybe they said, oh, that doesn't apply to my life. 00:40:46.480 --> 00:40:50.079 Maybe they just didn't believe that the narrow way was the only way. 00:40:51.440 --> 00:40:54.559 Maybe they thought that Jesus' way was too hard. 00:40:57.599 --> 00:41:06.079 But in the end, the fool was just like the false shepherd. 00:41:07.199 --> 00:41:10.400 Everything they built up was washed away. 00:41:13.920 --> 00:41:24.880 Several decades ago, there was a television news report that was surveying the destruction in southern Florida after Hurricane Andrew. 00:41:26.000 --> 00:41:33.360 And in one scene of this news report, it was just devastation everywhere, just houses destroyed. 00:41:33.840 --> 00:41:38.159 Just a strip of them, all up and down along the coast. 00:41:38.719 --> 00:41:45.119 And then all of a sudden, you see this image and this news report of a house standing. 00:41:46.079 --> 00:41:52.639 And out in front of the house is the house's owner, the home's owner, clearing up debris from his front yard. 00:41:53.519 --> 00:41:59.440 So the reporter went up and asked him and said, Sir, why is your house the only one standing? 00:42:01.760 --> 00:42:05.199 And the man said, I built this house myself. 00:42:06.000 --> 00:42:09.119 I built it according to the Florida State Building Code. 00:42:09.360 --> 00:42:14.880 So when the code called for two by six roof trusses, I used two by six roof trusses. 00:42:15.679 --> 00:42:20.320 I was told that a house built according to code could withstand a hurricane. 00:42:21.280 --> 00:42:23.760 I did, and it did. 00:42:25.519 --> 00:42:29.599 I suppose no one else around here followed the code. 00:42:33.039 --> 00:42:35.840 That's illustrative of Jesus' sermon. 00:42:37.039 --> 00:42:42.639 In essence, he said, here's the code for building your life for eternity. 00:42:43.920 --> 00:42:52.960 If you follow the code, you will one day face me, and I will say to you, Welcome, enjoy your master's joy. 00:42:54.079 --> 00:42:57.360 If you don't follow the code, your house is gonna crash. 00:42:58.079 --> 00:43:02.559 And you will hear me say, I never knew you. 00:43:04.079 --> 00:43:08.480 Now notice with me finally the lessons in this account. 00:43:09.760 --> 00:43:21.199 And we begin with the fact that there are certain identifying marks of discipleship. 00:43:22.400 --> 00:43:28.880 There are certain identifying remarks or marks of genuine discipleship. 00:43:30.800 --> 00:43:36.719 Now we could go throughout the pages of Scripture and say, this is a mark, and this is a mark, and this is a mark, and this is a mark. 00:43:37.519 --> 00:43:42.880 But Jesus really only speaks of two in this conclusion to his sermon. 00:43:43.760 --> 00:43:45.679 The major one is fruit. 00:43:46.000 --> 00:43:49.599 The fruit of obedience to the word of God. 00:43:49.840 --> 00:43:59.039 Do I submit my life to the absolute authority of the word of God, seeking his help, the king's help, to live it out in obedience? 00:43:59.199 --> 00:44:00.400 Do I do That? 00:44:00.480 --> 00:44:06.800 Do I consider the Word of God to be absolutely authoritative for my life and seek his help to live it out? 00:44:06.960 --> 00:44:09.360 That is the fruit of obedience. 00:44:09.599 --> 00:44:12.480 It is genuine fruit, it is real fruit. 00:44:15.039 --> 00:44:20.880 Of course, there's also the fruit of leading others to walk in obedience to Christ. 00:44:20.960 --> 00:44:25.039 And that's what's implied by the false shepherds back in verse 15. 00:44:27.280 --> 00:44:44.719 Do I trust in the absolute authority of the word of my king so that others who listen to me, who hear me talk, are drawn away from the deception of sincerity and towards humble submission to the word of Christ. 00:44:45.920 --> 00:44:52.159 Now we know, of course, that there's a list of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians chapter 5, right? 00:44:53.760 --> 00:44:57.280 All of that flows out of the fruit of obedience. 00:44:58.880 --> 00:45:06.960 So we see a lesson that there are certain identifying marks of genuine discipleship. 00:45:08.239 --> 00:45:13.760 There are also, though, clear eternal ends of all people. 00:45:15.760 --> 00:45:22.960 There's destruction and there's life and blessing in the presence of Christ. 00:45:23.920 --> 00:45:36.320 There's life and blessing and joy in the presence of the king, and then there's being cast out of the king's blessed presence to be in the presence of demons for all of eternity. 00:45:40.079 --> 00:45:47.519