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In this lesson:
The Sermon on the Mount ends. False versus true teachers (7:15-20) A parable (7:24-27) According to the NavPress Bible Study (part of the "Life Change Series," our attitude towards rules influences how we read the Sermon on the Mount and its instructions on how to live. Consider this: Do you adhere strictly to rules, or do you test their boundaries? Your answer could shed light on how you interpret the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus' instructions on how to live. Go back and re-visit lessons 7-12. Which passage spoke loudest to you? Study Tip: Whenever you encounter a challenging passage, scroll between the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation" below. |
Sermon on the Mount
By British artist and illustrator Henry Coller (1886-1950) |
The Gospel According to St. Matthew
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Matthew 7:13:29
More teachings 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. 15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. |
Margin notes:
"Enter ye in the strait gate." (7:13) - "Enter by the narrow gate." The narrow door leads to paradise, the wide door to destruction. Jesus reinforces this message in Luke 13:24. "Narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life." (7:14) - "The road leading to (eternal) life is difficult." Being a believer is hard, but those who live according to God's word will be blessed (Psalm 1:1-6). "Beware of false prophets." (7:15) - Jesus repeatedly warns us about false teachers (Matthew 24:11; Mark 13:22-23) and predicts their final fate in 2 Peter 2:19-22. "The most devastating obstacle to the progress of Christianity among men has been its ruthless corruption at the hands of its own promoters." ("Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 435). "Ye shall know them by their fruits." (7:16) - Even a child "is known" by their deeds (Proverbs 20:11). This warning is so crucial, Jesus repeats it four verses later (7:20) and again in Matthew 12:33 and Luke 6:43-45. "Tree." (7:17) - In this passage, Jesus uses trees as a metaphor for people. "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven." (7:21) - Some say they are believers, but they live contrary to Jesus' teachings (Titus 1:16). "Many will say to me in that day." (7:22) - "Many will say to me on judgment day." "Have we not prophesied." (7:22) - "Have we not preached." "I will liken him unto a wise man." (7:24) - "I will compare him to a wise man." "Built his house upon a rock." (7:24) - "Built his life on a rock." "It was founded upon a rock." (7:25) - "It was built on a rock." Jesus elaborates on this point in Luke 6:46-49 "The people were astonished at his doctrine." (7:28) - "The people were astonished by His teachings." People were frequently astonished by Jesus (Matthew 13:54; Mark 10:24; Luke 2:47; 4:32) or marveled at him (Matthew 8:27; 9:8; John 7:15). Why? Read John 7:46. |
New Living Translation
Matthew 7:13:29
The Narrow Gate
13 "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.
14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
The Tree and Its Fruit
15 "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
18 A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit.
19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.
20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
True Disciples
21 "Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
22 On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.'
23 But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.'
Building on a Solid Foundation
24 "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock.
26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash."
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
29 for he taught with real authority-quite unlike their teachers of religious law.
The "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
The Narrow Gate
13 "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.
14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.
The Tree and Its Fruit
15 "Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.
16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit.
18 A good tree can't produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can't produce good fruit.
19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire.
20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
True Disciples
21 "Not everyone who calls out to me, 'Lord! Lord!' will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.
22 On judgment day many will say to me, 'Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.'
23 But I will reply, 'I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God's laws.'
Building on a Solid Foundation
24 "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.
25 Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock.
26 But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn't obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand.
27 When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash."
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching,
29 for he taught with real authority-quite unlike their teachers of religious law.
The "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word-for-word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." (7:15)
"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." (7:17)
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock." (7:24)
"Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves." (7:15)
"Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit." (7:17)
"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock." (7:24)
Today's Questions:
1. Why is the road to heaven described as narrow? (7:13-14)
2. Are we permitted to judge false prophets? (7:15-16)
"No man is uneducated who knows the Bible and no one is wise who is ignorant of its teachings."
Samuel Chadwick, Scottish minister (1860-1932)
1. Why is the road to heaven described as narrow? (7:13-14)
2. Are we permitted to judge false prophets? (7:15-16)
"No man is uneducated who knows the Bible and no one is wise who is ignorant of its teachings."
Samuel Chadwick, Scottish minister (1860-1932)
Answers: (Do you agree?)
1. "The narrow road and narrow gate symbolize the challenge presented by the way of the kingdom." ("The Quest Study Bible," published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 1394). Just because the road is narrow doesn't mean it's hard to become a Christian, but rather that many choose not to. Traveling the path to heaven takes faith, discipline, obedience, and the strength to withstand temptation. Unfortunately, it is a road not everyone is willing to travel.
2. Yes, we are allowed to judge and avoid false prophets. Jesus described them as "ravening wolves" (7:15), He warned us not to judge others (Matthew 7:1), but as we learned in lesson twelve, it was a warning not to judge people's intentions. Condemning those who distort the Bible is not judging the motives of others but identifying false teachings. In this passage, Jesus urges us to be wary of those who place money, glory, and power over the word of God.
Application thought for the day:
"This closing section of the Sermon on the Mount is a gospel application. Here are two gates, two ways, two destinations, and two groups of people (vv. 13, 14); two kinds of trees and two kinds of fruit (vv. 17-20); two groups at the judgment (vv. 21-23); and two kinds of builders, building on two kinds of foundations (vv. 24-28). Christ draws the line that leads to destruction and the way that leads to life."
("The MacArthur Bible Commentary" pg. 1134, by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee)
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen, published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur, published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham, published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Atlas of the Bible" edited by Joseph L. Gardner, published by Readers Digest, Pleasantville, New York; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The New Testament" Recovery Version published by Living Stream Ministry, Anaheim, California; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The New Scofield Reference Bible" published by Oxford University Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2025 evolke
© 2025 evolke