Matthew 7:13–21, 24–27

Matthew 7:13–21, 24–27

Explore the Bible
Dean, School of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile

FOLLOWING THE KING

Matthew 7:13–21, 24–27

In this age of postmodernism, the first portion of this chapter is taken out of context more often than any other that comes to mind. “Judge not” has been reinterpreted by unbelievers and some uninformed followers of Jesus to mean: “Christians are not allowed to say that anything is wrong, because that would be judging someone else.” They ignore the fact that in this chapter the Master refers to certain individuals as dogs, pigs and wolves as well as thorn bushes, thistles and bad trees. Jesus’ values are more than His own personal perspectives. He is our Sovereign and He differentiates between the wide and narrow ways, the bad and good fruit, the sandy and solid ground.

An honest overview of Jesus’ teaching throughout Matthew 7 leads to the conclusion that Jesus taught His disciples to be discerning and that He makes righteous judgments. To avoid hypocrisy Jesus warns that the units by which we measure others will be the same units by which we are measured.

Narrow versus Wide? (13–14)

The neon lights may be bright on Broadway or the Vegas strip, but the narrow way is lit by a hand-held oil lamp. “Your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path” (Ps. 119:105). One would think that a well-lit, well-worn path that many people travel would be safe, with firm footing and security from marauding robbers. And so it is. But if you take that path you will be headed in the wrong direction. Destruction is straight ahead if there is no repentance.

Robert Frost wrote of the road less traveled, and that choosing this path “has made all the difference.” Long before the poet laureate penned those words, however, the Master explained that only few find the narrow path that leads to life.

Keep in mind that Thomas asked Jesus to tell the disciples how to get where He was going (John 14:5). In essence Thomas was asking for a map: “How can we know the way?” Jesus is the Way, He explained. If we want the narrow path that leads to life, we must follow Jesus.

Good versus Bad? (15–21)

Jesus clearly delineates false prophets (wolves) from true believers (sheep). He also distinguishes good trees from bad trees based upon their fruit. Far from holding to an “anything goes” mentality, Jesus tells His listeners that the character of the individuals is found in the fruit that they bear. “So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.”

Rock versus Sand? (24–27)

Anyone who has built waterfront property on the Gulf Coast will tell you that hurricanes are merciless. The rains fall, the winds howl and the backwaters swell. Building a structure on the beach often turns into an expensive investment. By contrast some of the old lighthouses up the coast of the Northeast have been battered by many storms for decades, yet they continue to stand. The difference is their foundation; they’ve been built on bedrock.

Jesus contrasts two groups of hearers: those who receive His words and those who reject them. People hear the words of Jesus, but that is not enough. The person who hears Jesus’ teaching but ignores Him has a weak foundation. The storms of life will come and his house will come crashing down. Those who hear the Master and respond in obedience face the same kinds of storms, but their house stands. They have built on the bedrock of His Word.