Matthew 7:13-29
Jesus instructs on recognizing false prophets, the importance of doing God’s will, and compares those who hear and do His words to a wise man who builds his house on a rock.
- Pathways of Life:
- Jesus presents two paths: a narrow gate leading to life and a wide gate leading to destruction.
- The narrow gate symbolizes the difficult path of following Jesus and living righteously.
- The wide gate represents the easier path of worldly pursuits and sinful living.
- Fruits of False Prophets:
- Jesus warns against false prophets who come disguised as sheep but are actually ravenous wolves.
- He advises discerning these false prophets by their fruits, meaning their actions and teachings.
- A good tree bears good fruit, while a bad tree bears bad fruit, reflecting the sincerity of one’s faith.
- True Discipleship:
- Jesus emphasizes that not everyone who claims to follow him will enter the kingdom of heaven.
- True discipleship involves not only professing faith but also doing the will of God.
- Many will be shocked on Judgment Day when Jesus declares he never knew them due to their lawlessness.
- The Wise and Foolish Builders:
- Jesus compares those who hear his words and act upon them to wise builders who construct their houses on a solid foundation.
- Conversely, those who hear his words but do not act upon them are like foolish builders who build their houses on sand.
- When storms come, only the house built on the rock withstands, symbolizing the stability found in following Jesus’ teachings.
7:13 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: 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
7:21 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.
7:22 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? 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
7:24 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: 7:25 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.
7:26 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: 7:27 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.
7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 7:29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.