Matthew 7:13-27
Picture the Sermon on the Mount. A great crowd is following Jesus because of his fame that was growing on his teaching/healing tour of Galilee. He had just called his disciples, and was trying to teach them about the Kingdom. He goes up a hill a ways, his disciples right there, and this large crowd is gathered all around to listen to the great one. In this crowd were Jewish people that had burden after burden piled upon them by the Pharisees in pursuit of righteousness. Jesus destroys everything the Pharisees had been teaching, causing the people to reevaluate their spiritual lives that the true way to righteousness might be pursued (Matthew 4:23-5:1).
The Pharisees could not stand our wonderful Lord Jesus. He brought into question all their motives, traditions, attitudes, interpretations, system of religion; Jesus called their bluff and now speaks as though they will not even be allowed into heaven.
As we read the words of the Sermon on the Mount, everything we have set up in pursuit of a heavenly afterlife is turned upside down. No longer is our salvation based upon walking an aisle, saying a prayer, and filling out a membership card in triplicate. It is based on our earthly, mundane lives being transformed into abundant, Kingdom lives. Jesus ends his message with a very challenging reminder that extreme care must be taken in the assumption that one is "saved" or of the Kingdom.
(Vs. 13-14) The narrow gate. Few find it. Be careful that you are not merely walking your own self-prescribed path. Luke tells us to "strive" to enter it (Luke 13:24). How can we reduce the Christian life to the simplicity of walking a narrow aisle?
(Vs. 15-20) Kingdom recognition by the fruit you produce. Diseased trees produce no fruit, and are worthless as far as the Kingdom is concerned. How can we reduce the Christian life to the simplicity of church attendance?
(Vs. 21-23) Not everyone who thinks they are saved really are. Those who have reduced the Christian life to nothing by rudimentary chores minus life-change, beware. The Sermon on the Mount teaches us that that is not the "will of the Father."
Only those who walk the narrow, hard way...only those who produce good fruit...only those who do the will of the Father...only those who build their lives on the solid rock--who really hear and do what Jesus is saying will survive the test of the Kingdom.
