Matthew 7:13-29 Lesson 13

Matthew 7:13-29 Lesson 13

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this Lesson

The Sermon on the Mount ends.

According to the NavPress Bible study (part of the Life Change Series published by NavPress), our attitude towards rules can influence the way we read the Sermon on the Mount with all its instructions on how to live. Do you generally follow the rules or do you always push the limits? Knowing how we approach rules will help us better understand our response to the lessons taught on the Mount. Go back and re-visit reading 7-13 and select your favorite part of the Sermon or a passage that spoke loudest to you. If you need a copy of a past lesson, let me know.

Study Tip:

Consulting two Bibles is helpful. Whenever you encounter a challenging passage scroll back and forth between the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation" below.

The Gospel According to St. Matthew

The King James Bible

Matthew 7:13:29
More teachings

13Enter 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:

14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21Not 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.

22Many 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?

23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25And 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.

26And 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:

27And 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.

28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Margin notes:

"Enter ye in the strait gate." (7:13) - "You enter in the narrow gate." Jesus reinforces this message in Luke 13:24.

"Narrow is the way." (7:14) - "The way is difficult."

"Beware of false prophets." (7:15) - Jesus repeatedly warns us of false teachers (Matthew 24:11) 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 that Jesus repeats it four verses later (7:20) and again in Matthew 12:33.

"Tree." (7:17) - In this segment, trees are a metaphor for people.

"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) - Jesus elaborates in Luke 6:46-49.

"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."

"The people were astonished at his doctrine." (7:28) - "The people were astonished at 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.

This second Bible text from 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."

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)

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). Because the road is narrow doesn't mean it's hard to become a Christian, but that many chose not to. Staying on the path to heaven takes faith, discipline, and the strength to withstand temptation. It is a road not everyone is willing to stay on.

2. Jesus warned Christians not to judge others (Matthew 7:1), but as we learned in lesson twelve, this was a warning not to judge people's intentions or their heart. 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 vigilant of those who place money, glory, and power for themselves 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)

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; 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; "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; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
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