Parables: Built on the Rock Matthew 7:24–29 [24] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. [26] 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. [27] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” “You have heard that it was said…but I say to you…” Was Jesus correcting the law itself? No. Matthew 5:17 [17] “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. (ESV) All of these instances are in no way contradicting the law that God gave His people. Rather, Jesus takes time to correct incorrect understanding and implementation of certain aspects of the law, rebuke the abuse of it, teach what the life of faith looks like through imagery and parables, and train his disciples on how to live it out. 2 Timothy 3:16–17 [16] All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, [17] that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. That’s what Jesus did during the sermon on the mount. Matthew 7:28-29 [28] And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, [29] for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes. (ESV) May we continue to find ourselves astonished at his words. BIG IDEAS: ● Beware ● Believe ● Build Matthew 7:13–14 [13] “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. [14] For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. There are MANY ways to live this life on earth, but only one leads to true life. John 10:7–10 [7] So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. [8] All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. [9] I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. [10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. (ESV) He tells us two truths. 1, there is one way to life; himself. 2, we have a deceptive, stealing, murderous, destructive enemy. So, like any good friend would do, Jesus warns us. 1, Beware To be cautious and alert to the dangers of something or someone. Matthew 7:15–20 [15] “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. [16] You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? [17] So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. [18] A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. [19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. (ESV) Jesus calls out false prophets, religious leaders, scribes, pharisees throughout this sermon and warns against them. Ezekiel 22:27–29 [27] Her princes in her midst are like wolves tearing the prey, shedding blood, destroying lives to get dishonest gain. [28] And her prophets have smeared whitewash for them, seeing false visions and divining lies for them, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD,’ when the LORD has not spoken. [29] The people of the land have practiced extortion and committed robbery. They have oppressed the poor and needy, and have extorted from the sojourner without justice. (ESV) Ezekiel 13:10–15 [10] Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace, and because, when the people build a wall, these prophets smear it with whitewash, [11] say to those who smear it with whitewash that it shall fall! There will be a deluge of rain, and you, O great hailstones, will fall, and a stormy wind break out. [12] And when the wall falls, will it not be said to you, ‘Where is the coating with which you smeared it?’ [13] Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: I will make a stormy wind break out in my wrath, and there shall be a deluge of rain in my anger, and great hailstones in wrath to make a full end. [14] And I will break down the wall that you have smeared with whitewash, and bring it down to the ground, so that its foundation will be laid bare. When it falls, you shall perish in the midst of it, and you shall know that I am the LORD. [15] Thus will I spend my wrath upon the wall and upon those who have smeared it with whitewash, and I will say to you, The wall is no more, nor those who smeared it, (ESV) What are these false prophets/princes/leaders of the people of God guilty of? 1. Misleading God’s people for personal gain. 2. Presenting false and deceptive hope through fake visions and fake words from the Lord. 3. Adding sub-par whitewash over the imperfections of a poorly built wall. A metaphor for spiritual neglect and abuse, the covering up of sin, putting on a facade of holiness. Self-righteousness And God warned he was going to break down that façade, deal with the spiritual abuse, and pour wrath out on those false prophets. The wall that is built incorrectly and covered with whitewash will fall. That whitewash is a façade replacing true faith. An attempt to cover over imperfection and sin by our own methods. Psalm 127:1 [1] Unless the LORD builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. (ESV) Jesus uses this whitewashed terminology later, as does Paul. Matthew 23:27–28 [27] “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. [28] So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. (ESV) 2 Peter 3:17–18 [17] You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. [18] But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…. (ESV) From the beginning of human history, Satan has been at work to mislead, deceive, and steal us AWAY from the living God; from life, holiness, purity, from the good gifts God has given to us. He also deceives people to help him with the misleading. There is judgment and wrath stored up for him, and for those who have “misled God's people.” Jesus warns against false teaching and false prophecy SO intently because of the carnage that follows. Beware of What? 1. False Prophets/False Teachings 2. The enemy 1 Peter 5:8 [8] Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (ESV) **Interestingly, the same animal metaphor is used to describe false prophets/teachers 3. Sin Ephesians 2:1-3 [1] And you were dead in the trespasses and sins [2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—[3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (ESV) Because of the deception of the enemy, the allure of the flesh and self-righteousness, our enemy has convinced multitudes of people that they don’t need God, that they are ok, and their goodness or social justice initiatives or generous donations to charity, or even their mighty works and prophecies in His name are enough to save them. But that is not the case. Matthew 7:23 [23] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ Oh, how loving is the heart God has for people, that he warns us to beware of the deceiver, the deceived, and what deceives us. And that He does not wish that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9) That’s why he sent his one and only Son into the world. So that the world might believe in Christ and not perish. Matthew 7:21–23 [21] “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. [22] 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?’ [23] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (ESV) What is the will of the Father? John 6:40 [40] For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.” (ESV) 2. BELIEVE This is not just a hand in the air because everyone else is doing it and it makes me feel like a part of the club type belief. Nor is it I believe that God exists. Even demons believe that. This is true faith we’re talking about. He wants us to find the narrow gate and walk on the path of Christ. He wants us to believe in Him for salvation. To believe in the good news is that Jesus came to save sinners, to defeat the works of the enemy, to die a brutal death, INNOCENT of any sin, on the cross in our place. To believe that Jesus paid the ransom with his life for all of our sins so that we could be forgiven and restored back into good and right standing with the Father, and through the power of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, enter into the newness of eternal life with him. 3. BUILD Matthew 7:24–29 [24] “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. [26] 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. [27] And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.” What was the first thing Jesus taught in the sermon on the mount that he tells us to hear and do? Matthew 5:3 [3] “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (ESV) Who is it that inherits the kingdom? The spiritually bankrupt. The beggingly dependant. Those who recognize their separation from God and that faith in Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. Everyone who hears the truth of Matthew 5:3 and responds to it is like the wise man who built his house upon the rock. His soul is secure, anchored into the foundation of Jesus Christ. That person has received the gift of salvation by God’s grace through faith. Everyone who hears the truth of Matthew 5:3 and rejects it is like a foolish man. His life will crumble and fall in the storm. And unless that person comes to hear and do the will of the Father, to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, they remain a soul unanchored, without foundation, bound for the wide door leading to destruction. Ptokos is necessary. Faith in the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Matthew 5:4-7:24 Jesus gives us a LIST of how to live as sons and daughters of God in response to His grace. Ways that are completely countercultural, selfless, and seemingly impossible. He doesn’t want us to hear the list of to-do’s he taught and religiously obey. No, the true marks of a Christian that Jesus spends three chapters teaching on are a result of true heart transformation, when Jesus brings us from death to life, and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, called sanctification, as we daily keep in step with the Spirit. Healthy fruit that lasts is only grown in me and shared with others as I remain connected to the vine. Galatians 5:19–24 [19] Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, [20] idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, [21] envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. [24] And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (ESV) All I can produce on my own is a sub-par whitewash that doesn’t sustain and cannot save. It’s rotten fruit. A facade. It’s foolish. Luke 6:46–48 [46] “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? [47] Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: [48] he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. (ESV) It’s a lot easier to take the easy way. The way that leads to life though, is hard. It requires digging deep, and building upon that foundation of Christ. And each time we respond to the word of the Lord by faith, when we obey his words, he builds us up. And when storms come, the fruit of the Spirit in us and the fruit grown through faithful obedience sustains us. Without that foundation, though our houses may look pretty on the outside, they are completely unstable and WILL not last. It all hinges on Jesus. He IS enough. He IS our firm foundation. And as we remain in him, as we hear from him, and obey his word in response, we bear fruit, our house is built up, and when the storm comes, and it will for every person, it will last. **This does not mean we will not get windblown, or remain unaffected by the wind, waves, storm, floods, fires, trials, tribulations, persecutions. Jesus promises that. But we are sustained through it, and in all things, it is well with our souls. Takeaways: ● Are you built and anchored into the rock of Christ? ● What does obedience look like in your life? Where do you need to begin doing the word? ● Where are you depending too much on the flesh to build, rather than the Spirit?