WORDS CONTRASTED WITH WORKS
MATTHEW 7:21-29; Lk. 6:47-49
Reading:
Song:
Theme:
A. Jesus cannot be separated from his teaching. Still, there are many who by their living or teaching would have us believe the contrary. Those who claim fellowship with God must take heed or they may fall.
B. The key to fellowship with the Father is Jesus and the key to fellowship with him is the obedient practice of God's word (Mat 6:10; Mar 14:36; 1Jo 2:17).
In it not only important in the faith to guard ourselves against the influence of false teachers but we also need to guard ourselves against self-deception through which we may convince ourselves
Discussion
I. HEARING CONTRASTED WITH SAYING - WORDS(7:21-23).
Words
A. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven ... (7:21-22).
KJV
21 ¶ Not <3756> every one <3956> that saith <3004> (5723) unto me <3427>, Lord <2962>, Lord <2962>, shall enter <1525> (5695) into <1519> the kingdom <932> of heaven <3772>; but <235> he that doeth <4160> (5723) the will <2307> of my <3450> Father <3962> which is in <1722> heaven <3772>.
1. Jesus made it clear that not every one who has a form of believe is acceptable to God the Father.
a. This statement refers to one two ways to practice religion, as here in word or as further down, in work.
b. Faith without works is dead (Jam 2:26) therefore, works are important to the faith.
c. However, just doing works, though perhaps good and needed, will not result in God’s acceptance (cf. Mat 7:24; Ti 3:3-7).
d. The works which will receive God’s approval are those which he has given for us to do (Eph 2:10).
e. Though a doctor may prescribe medicine for us, gives us the directions for the proper amounts to take, if we take too much of it at a time or too little, we will either get sicker or fail to recover properly. We have to do as he directed if we want happy results.
f. The same is true spiritually about following God’s word.
22 Many <4183> will say <2046> (5692) to me <3427> in <1722> that <1565> day <2250>, Lord <2962>, Lord <2962>, have we <4395> <0> not <3756> prophesied <4395> (5656) in thy <4674> name <3686>? and <2532> in thy <4674> name <3686> have cast out <1544> (5627) devils <1140>? and <2532> in thy <4674> name <3686> done <4160> (5656) many <4183> wonderful works <1411>?
2. The reference to “that day” is the judgment at the end of time.
a. Though those who would be speaking to Jesus as such on “that day” would claim he was their Lord (“Lord, Lord”), and though they would point out their good works; outstanding achievements on his behalf:
(1) prophesied in his name - taught and were evangelistic
(2) cast out devils in his name - opposed evil
(3) did many wonderful works in his name - mighty deeds
(4) there was more to receiving God’s approval than simply pronouncing his name over their activities (cf. Act 19:13-16; 1Co 13:1-3).
(5) Clearly in the judgement there will be many people who will have fully expect to ascend to heaven with Jesus but who will be told to depart from him, for as he will tell them, he never knew them.
b. There are many things we might find ourselves guilty of iniquity if we are not careful:
(1) check point religion - keeping a list of things done for the day.
(2) hypocritical religion (Eze 8:5-12; Mat 23:1-7).
(3) incorrectly religion
(4) ignorant religion - not knowing you are worshiping incorrectly.
(5) All of this would include those who claim they practice God's word but in reality do not (Jam 1:22, 27; 2:14-15).
3. The made clear the results of a saying religion over a doing religion.
B. ... then will I profess unto them, I never knew you ... (7:23; cp. Mat 25:11f; Luk 13:23-28).
23 And <2532> then <5119> will I profess <3670> (5692) unto them <846>, <3754> I never <3763> knew <1097> (5627) you <5209>: depart <672> (5720) from <575> me <1700>, ye that work <2038> (5740) iniquity <458>.
1. That Christ didn’t know them didn’t mean he had been unaware of their existence but rather, that he refused to recognize them according to their claim - that he was their Lord.
a. Telling them to depart indicated he had totally rejected them.
b. Though it was their practice to do the things they had been doing, because Jesus called it “iniquity,” what they were doing, as it was with Cain, was not according to God’s will; that is it was without his authority (1Jo 3:4).
c. This same idea of judgment for misdeeds appears in the scriptures many times (cf. Mat 5:21; 7:2; 10:15; 11:22-24; 12;36, 41; 13;36-42, 47-50; 21:28-22:14).
d. We need to realize from this that there are some people who with all their good deeds are not producing fruit of the Spirit.
(1) How is it possible to perform good deeds yet not produce the fruit God expects from us?
(2) Doing as a matter of record - check points
(3) Doing to be praised by men (Mat 23:27-28).
(4) Doing but not doing what is required (Mic 6:8; Mat 11:20-24).
(5) Any time we do beyond or come short of doing what God commands, we are breaking his law.
(a) Breaking the law we are practicing sin (1Jo 3:4; cp. 5:17).
(b) Though such people would have thought they had fellowship with God they would have learned they did not have it.
(c) When people practice sin, God will not acknowledge them.
(d) They may thought they couldn’t loose the grace that God had given them but they were mistaken.
Transition: Therefore, we can understand the need to follow God’s word faithfully.
II. HEARING CONTRASTED WITH DOING - WORKS (7:24-27).
Obeying God's Will
A. ... whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man ... (7:24-25)
24 Therefore <3767> whosoever <3956> <3748> heareth <191> (5719) these <5128> sayings <3056> of mine <3450>, and <2532> doeth <4160> (5719) them <846>, I will liken <3666> (5692) him <846> unto a wise <5429> man <435>, which <3748> built <3618> (5656) his <846> house <3614> upon <1909> a rock <4073>:
25 And <2532> the rain <1028> descended <2597> (5627), and <2532> the floods <4215> came <2064> (5627), and <2532> the winds <417> blew <4154> (5656), and <2532> beat upon <4363> (5627) that <1565> house <3614>; and <2532> it fell <4098> (5627) not <3756>: for <1063> it was founded <2311> (5718) upon <1909> a rock <4073>.
1. With this parable Jesus draws our attention to whom it is we are hearing by considering our actions.
a. To whom are you listening?
b. What was/is good enough for your parents, spouse or friends may not be good enough for God.
c. What a preacher preaches does not receive God's acceptance unless it is found in the scriptures and is a truthful application.
2. It is notable that Jesus declared it was not those who hear his words, that is those who acknowledge them as from God who are wise but those who hear them and properly follow them.
a. The clear implication of building on a rock is a reference to hearing and acting upon the words Jesus taught (1Co 15:1-2; 1Jo 2:3)
b. One of the devil’s most effective forms of deception is to lead us into a “false sense of security” by tempting us to think that having obeyed the gospel is much like many thing in having had a vaccination - once done we never have to again consider it.
c. We should make no mistake about it; there will be elders, deacons, preachers, Bible school teachers, television evangelists, along with countless others Christians turned away, who did not continue in obedience to God’s word.
Those who live faithful to God or who remain obedient to his word are those who survive the devil’s temptations which he uses to attempt to destroy us. Those who are unfaithful will be destroyed.
Disobeying God's Will
B. ... every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man ... (7:26-29).
26 And <2532> every one <3956> that heareth <191> (5723) these <5128> sayings <3056> of mine <3450>, and <2532> doeth <4160> (5723) them <846> not <3361>, shall be likened <3666> (5701) unto a foolish <3474> man <435>, which <3748> built <3618> (5656) his <846> house <3614> upon <1909> the sand <285>:
27 And <2532> the rain <1028> descended <2597> (5627), and <2532> the floods <4215> came <2064> (5627), and <2532> the winds <417> blew <4154> (5656), and <2532> beat upon <4350> (5656) that <1565> house <3614>; and <2532> it fell <4098> (5627): and <2532> great <3173> was <2258> (5713) the fall <4431> of it <846>.
1. It is not enough to hear the word of the Lord preached but we must also implement it into our lives as it is applicable.
2. Foolish does not mean the man was unable to understand but that understanding he choose another way instead of the correct way (Luk 8:11-12).
Transition: Therefore, we must understand the authority that is behind what Jesus taught.
III. HEARING CONTRASTED TO AUTHORITY (7:28-29).
28 And <2532> it came to pass <1096> (5633), when <3753> Jesus <2424> had ended <4931> (5656) these <5128> sayings <3056>, the people <3793> were astonished <1605> (5712) at <1909> his <846> doctrine <1322>:
29 For <1063> he taught <1321> (5723) <2258> (5713) them <846> as <5613> one having <2192> (5723) authority <1849>, and <2532> not <3756> as <5613> the scribes <1122>.
A. What Jesus had taught astonished the people (v 28).
1. They noticed that his “sayings” were different from that of the scribes.
2. The scribes taught citing the previous conclusions of the rabbis but Jesus taught as an authority “I say unto you” (cp. Mat 28:18).
3. Only in him is found salvation.
Conclusion:
Each of us is a builders of a spiritual house. In the parable both houses looked the same but only one remained. What does the house look like which you are building for yourself? The foolish fall apart in the storms of life or when difficulties assail them, their faith falters (Pro 1:20-33). It is not so for the wise builder (Jer 6:16-21; Col 2:8).
Other Sermons In This Series:
SOWING AND REAPING: THE PRINCIPLE OF
in charity through Christ, Ra ym ond W is em an