Jesus' Sermon On The Mountainside: Wrong Gate

Jesus’ warnings begin with two gates,

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many." (Matthew 7:13)

God the Father will become the of each person who believes in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Narrow Gate.

Watch out for the wrong gate, it won't lead you into the kingdom of heaven, it will lead you to destruction.

Jesus is saying, "Make the right decisions because it will affect the whole rest of your life."

We all have a bias for sin, inherited from Adam, we all have the tendency to act out that sin, every day. Those who come to Christ for forgiveness in this life will never have to face judgment, they entered the narrow gate of Jesus. Those who reject Jesus Christ as savior from sin and Lord of life will be judged for all their sin, including the sin of unbelief.

There are only two gates, there’s no neutral zone. Not deciding is really deciding to enter through the broad gate.

"For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." (Matthew 7:14)

The word “narrow” in the first quote does mean “narrow.” But in the second quote “narrow” means “tribulation.”

“The way of discipleship is narrow, restricting, because it is the way of persecution and opposition”

Entrance into the kingdom of heaven is through this narrow gate, under the strict authority of Jesus, through persecution and tribulation.

Jesus says there is no way to the Father but through Him. When you want to begin a new phase of your life with the Lord, as a Christian, you want to go deeper, a new level of a life of faith, then it will mean denying yourself and taking up your cross to follow Jesus.

* Living out the Gospel is the narrow way.

* Being permissive is the broad way.

It's hard to obey Jesus' teachings; it's easy to be permissive and tell people what they like to hear, and indulge their wants.

As parents, you know what that kind of parenting leads to. The Bible says "The Lord corrects the people He loves and disciplines those He calls His own."

The Bible continues this teaching by saying "Be patient when you are being corrected! This is how God treats His children. Don't all parents correct their children? God corrects all of His children, and if He doesn't correct you, then you don't really belong to Him."

Jesus pointed out that any one of us earthly parents, as flawed as we are, feed our children with good food and; we don't give them what is bad for them, or dangerous for them.

Scripture teaches that "Our human fathers correct us for a short time, and they do it as they think best. But God corrects us for our own good, because He wants us to be holy, as He is. It is never fun to be corrected. In fact, at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by being corrected, we will do right and live at peace."

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Blended Gospels: Jesus' Sermon On The Mountainside, Warnings

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits, for each tree is known by its own fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.

"A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

"The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you? 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.

"On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'

"And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

"Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a wise man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, it did not fall because it had been well built and because it had been founded on the rock.

"And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand -- ground without a foundation. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and when the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and great was the fall of it, and the ruin of that house was great.

"And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes."

[Blended Gospels: Matthew 7:13-29, Luke 6:44-49, ESV]

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Jesus' Sermon On The Mountainside: Fourth Command, The Golden Rule

4) The Lord Jesus’ fourth command was to reverence God the Father, Creator of us all by doing to others what we would have them do to us,

"In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets." (Matthew 7:12)

Just as you and I ask God for good gifts, and He gives them, so we must share those good things with others:
* Love,
* Forgiveness,
* Grace and
* Mercy

Who in your life are you having a relationship problem with?

After reviewing Jesus' four commands in Matthew 7:1-12, what on your own side is the Lord showing you, you might change?

1) Are you judgmental of them right now?

2) Are you talking about things that frustrate them, and draws the worst out in them?

3) Do you need discernment in what they need, and wisdom in how to help them?

4) Are you loving them the way you would like them to love you?

God’s wisdom comes with prayer

What have you given up praying about?

Would you be willing to start praying about it again, and this time not only ask God for what you need, but keenly search for His response, and keep knocking until He opens the door and gives you the good thing you need?

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Jesus' Sermon On The Mountainside: Third Command, Ask-Seek-Knock

How do you and I gain discernment to tell who to talk with and what to talk about?
3) The Lord Jesus’ third command was to pray,
Since He is the Sustainer of all things by the power of His word, it is wise to pray to your Father in heaven, Who will give you the good you need

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." (Matthew 7:7)

Ask – The word “pray” means to ask, ask for the specific things you need.

* You know that you can’t get whatever it is for yourself.

* If God doesn’t give it, you know you will have to live without it.

* So you ask in expectation, in faith, continually, waiting for God to give wisdom, discernment (James 1:5-7)

Seek – Is to look for.
* You are alert to where God’s hands will be at work, providing for you what you are asking of Him.

* You are determined not to miss it, no matter how unexpected a place it might come.

* Look for God’s will about the things you are asking Him for. As you search you will discover what the good is that God is answering your prayer with

Knock – Is the active, diligent pursuit of God’s way.

* As you seek out and find God’s will on a matter, go and knock on that door.

* You don’t throw the door open and take what’s inside, but you knock until God opens that door for you and gives you what He has for you. Knock patiently and expectantly, trusting in God’s timing.

This is what Jesus does with you, knocking on the door of your heart, patiently and lovingly, until you open the door of your heart and invite Him in to fellowship with you.

The actual verb tense in the Greek holds the meaning that we are to be continually praying:
- Keep on asking,
- Keep on seeking,
- Keep on knocking
............reverently.

Jesus promises that God, Who is good, wise, loving and powerful, He will certainly give you what you need to live for Him.

"For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:8-11)

Jesus was referring to the little round limestone stones on the shore of Lake Galilee which were exactly the shape and color of little loaves; and to eels, which were often drawn up along with other fish, in the nets, but which were considered unclean to eat, since they had no scales.

The Father will give you what you need, and what your heart desires for, deep down. He won’t give you counterfeit bread, and counterfeit meat, He will give you the real thing.

God never changes. He is completely good, without any shadow of meanness or darkness in Him, and God is consistently good.

God’s goodness is not arbitrary or capricious, God’s goodness flows from the perfection of His character. The Bible explains that every good and perfect gift comes from God.

He is not only the standard for goodness, He is the source of all goodness.

What are you asking God for right now?

God will always answer your prayers, but He will answer in His way. God’s way is perfect wisdom and perfect love.

God will sometimes allow suffering, trouble, grief, all kinds of things you didn’t realize you were praying for, but don’t be discouraged. The Father is answering your deep need:
1) For the sense of His presence,
2) For His comfort and courage,
3) For His strength and spiritual power,
4) For maturity in your character,
5) For depth in your personality,
6) For a capacity to love and forgive that begins to match His own.

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Jesus' Sermon On The Mountainside: Second Command, Keep What Is Sacred

2) The Lord Jesus’ second command was to Reverence the Father by not giving what is sacred to those who despise God,

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces." (Matthew 7:6)

Pearls are formed slowly over time, layer by beautiful layer, covering a grain of sand that started out as an irritant in the oyster. The pearls in our lives start out as something that hurts, and as we hear God’s word and obey it He begins to layer that hurt with His comfort and wisdom.

Pearls can refer to personal insight into God’s word, God’s enabling and equipping, what you receive from God in prayer; your life in Christ. What is sacred can refer to what belongs to God, such as being involved in God’s work.

Dogs and pigs in ancient times referred to people who had given clear evidence that they rejected God with scorn and had a hardened contempt towards the things of God. In this verse that includes the rejection of God’s Son

The dogs and swine Jesus was referring to were wild creatures, not pets or farm animals. They were usually ravenously hungry, and often dangerous. If you got close enough to a dog or a pig to give them something it better have been something they could eat. Pearls would just frustrate them and make them turn on you.

– Be wise in choosing your audience for quoting a particular scripture, sharing a deep personal insight from God’s word, or a burden God has placed on your heart.

– Be wise in offering something sacred, like the Lord’s table, or a leadership position to someone who is not a Christian, or who is not dealing with some sin in their life, even if in every other way they seem like nice, capable people.

God’s wisdom is expressed in humility and love

We need to use wisdom in love and tenderness when we help other people.
* Don’t judge, but do use sober thinking, guided by God’s word and His Spirit, discerning what is right or wrong, true or false, good or bad.

* Humbly receive God’s conviction and correction in your own life and gently help to restore fellow believers from sin.

* Be wise about what you share with people who clearly reject Jesus and are turned off by the things of God. They may not be ready to receive the gospel in words, but you can love them with God’s love.

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Jesus' Sermon On The Mountainside, How Not To Judge

The Lord Jesus Christ's command not to judge has often been misinterpreted to mean accepting people in every condition without any thought of what is good or bad, true or false, right or wrong.

We’re afraid of being called "intolerant" or "phobic."

"Not judging" has become, in our society, a completely permissive attitude, afraid to use sober discernment in the matter of right and wrong.

That is not what Jesus is saying here. The apostle Paul gave some further insight,

"Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:1)

Those of you who are spiritual should gently lead the person who is trapped in sin back to the right path. You and I obey the law of Christ when we offer each other a helping hand in this way. How do we do this?

“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye" (Matthew 7:3-5)

We not only need God’s wisdom in recognizing sin, we also need God’s compassion in order to truly help someone.

--> You and I can’t help someone else when we’re blind to our own problems and issues, and when we’re busy feeling superior, or dislike the other person.<-- The desire to correct needs to be transformed into the desire to help, encourage and restore.

Let the Holy Spirit bring to your mind some of the people you might be judging in your heart.
1) Put yourself in the place of the other person you are tending to judge

2) Give that person the benefit of the doubt

3) Try and see yourself from that person’s point of view

4) Ask God to remove any bit of dislike and superior attitude by flooding you with His agape love for that person

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Jesus' Sermon On The Mountainside, Judging Others

If I were to ask you what you thought the biggest need in the Christian community were today, what would you say? What do Christians today need more than anything else?

What would you say to wisdom?
* Wouldn’t you like to know how to respond to the people in your life in a way that would actually help them?

* Wouldn’t you like to know when you should speak, and when you should keep quiet?

* Who to listen to and who not to?

* What things you should do and what you shouldn’t in a given situation?

In this last section of the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord Jesus gives four commands and four warnings.

The commands come in the first half, the warnings in second half, and all have to do with right conduct in relationship with others, and with God the Father, the first Person of the trinity.

1) Jesus first command was to: Reverence God the Father, Judge of all people, by not judging others,

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged." (Matthew 7:1

“Few activities in life rival the thrill of passing judgment on another human being.” That’s one author’s comment. Think about it.
- “Oh, the nerve of that person!”

- “Well, I wasn’t raised like that!”

- “Who died and made him king?!”

In our minds we condemn people who thwart us, get in our way, annoy us, irritate us. The chief reason judging people is so satisfying is that I’m affirmed as being the better person – I know better than they do, I do better than they do. No matter what I’ve done, or how bad I am, I can always find someone else who is worse.

If they seem better than me, then with just a little bit of hunting, I’ll be able to find some flaw in them that I don’t see in myself, which automatically makes me better than they are in my mind.

- “She thinks she’s so perfect, but I wouldn’t go out in public with my bra strap showing, like she does!”

- “Everyone thinks he’s so nice, but I saw him be rude just yesterday morning!”

- “I wouldn’t let my children do what they let their children do.”

That’s why we love to read about famous, beautiful, perfect people toppling, or hear about some spiritual giant falling into sin. They seemed better than me, but now that they’ve fallen, it turns out I’m better than even that person! Without having improved in any way at all, I am all of a sudden better than them, and boy does that feel good.

But there’s a consequence to all this forbidden pleasure,

"For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Matthew 7:2

+ Give love and you’ll receive it,
+ Give mercy and you’ll receive it, you and I reap what we sow.

BUT

If we indulge in judging, we better get ready to be judged and if we want to escape judgement then we better not judge at all.

Instead, you and I need to remind each other all the time of God’s grace.

Wisdom finds its source, the Bible says, in a reverent awe of God. He alone can read hearts and knows the true motives, and He alone has the right to judge, since He really is pure, perfect, all-wise, all-knowing and the Creator of us all.

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