Sermon # 16 Series: Matthew

 

            Title:              A MESSAGE FOR EVERYBODY
            Text:              Matthew 7:1-29
            Subject:        General Exhortations and Warnings from The Savior

            Date:             Tuesday Evening – October 11, 1994
            Tape:            # Q-55

 

Introduction:

 

            Sometimes when preaching the gospel a message is prepared to specifically meet the needs of one group of people and sometimes another. Tonight, I am not addressing a specific group. But do not think I am aiming at nothing. Tonight I have A Message for Everybody. Taking the last part of our Lord’s sermon on the mount, using his words, I take dead aim at every heart here. If you will give me your attention, I know I have a message to meet the specific needs of your heart right now.

 

            The entire thrust of the Sermon on the Mount is to draw a clear, unmistakable distinction between true religion and false religion, between outward ceremonialism and inward godliness, hypocrisy and spirituality.

 

            In chapter 5, our Lord showed us the character of his people and the necessity of holiness.

 

            In chapter 6, he showed us the character of true worship and the necessity of faith.

 

            In chapter 7, he brings his sermon home to all who heard him by making general, but pointed exhortations and warnings that all people need to hear and be aware of continually.

 

            I want you to keep your Bible open to Mathew 7 and follow me through these 29 verses of instruction. I want to divide the chapter into seven parts and show you seven things that our Savior gives us in this instructive portion of Holy Scripture.

 

I.  An Exhortation to Kindness (vv. 1-5).

 

            I do not know of any text in all the Bible that has been more twisted, abused, and misapplied by men than Matthew 7:1. Those who despise absolute values, absolute standards of right and wrong, absolute doctrinal truths and dogmatism, even if they cannot quote any other text in the Bible, recite these words to condemn as divisive bigots all who press upon them the doctrinal and spiritual demands of Holy Scripture. With sweet sounding piety and complete seriousness they will look you right in the eye and say, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”

 

A.  Our Lord does not here teach us that we ought never to exercise judgment about anything – We are to “prove all things” (I Thess. 5:21).

 

B.  He is not here telling us that we must never condemn as evil the doctrines of men.

 

            If the sermon on the mount teaches anything, it teaches us the necessity of spiritual discernment (vv. 15-16).

 

  1. We are to “try the spirits” (I John 4:1).
  2. We are to mark those who cause division.
  3. We are to be a people of decided values and dogmatic doctrine.

 

C.   In these verses our Lord is condemning a censorious fault-finding spirit.

 

            “A readiness to blame others for trifling offences or matters of indifference, a habit of passing rash, hasty judgments, a disposition to magnify the errors and infirmities of our neighbors, and make the worst of them, - this is what our Lord forbids.” J.C. Ryle.

 

I Corinthians 13:7

 

  1. We must not put ourselves in the place of God (v. 1) (Rom. 14:4).
  2. We set ourselves up to be judged when we make ourselves judges over others – (v. 2).
  3. We have enough to do to take care of our own vineyard (3-5).
  4. We do not have the ability to judge the motives of others!
  5. In all your judgments of others, be kind, gentle, lenient! (v. 12).

 

II.  A Word of Wisdom (v. 6).

 

            Dogs and swine are terms which are used in the Scriptures to referred to unclean things and to refer to wicked, reprobate men. Just after telling us not to be rash in judgment, our Lord tells us that in preaching and witnessing to men, we must make a judgment, deciding when to work with men in patience and when to dust off our feet as a witness against them.

 

 

III.  A Promise of Grace (vv. 7-11).

 

            Here our Lord encourages us to pray. There is nothing so plain and simple as prayer. But men and women who will do almost anything in the outward practice of religion often neglect prayer!

 

            vv. 7-8 – A Promise

            v. 10 – An Illustration

            v. 11 – An Affirmation (Rom. 8:32).

 

            Here our Lord assures us of God’s readiness to hear and answer the prayers of his children (Heb. 4:16).

 

IV. A Call to Sinners (vv. 13-14).

 

A.  The strait gate is exactly as wide as one Person – Christ!

B. The wide gate is as broad as anything and everything added to that one Person (Gal. 5:2, 4).

C.  Most people are on the broad way to destruction.

D.  Strive to enter in at the Strait Gate, Christ the Door.

 

 

V.  A Caution to Seekers (vv. 15-20).

 

A.  “Beware of “false prophets!”

B.  False prophets are known by their fruits.

 

1.  Prophetic Fruit – The prophet’s word always comes to pass.

                                    His message is true!

2.  Personal Fruit – (Gal. 5:22-23).

3.  Doctrinal Fruit – Look at the people who follow him!

·        Legality Produces Pharisees!

·        Works Produces Immorality – Licentiousness!

·        Arminianism Produces Hypocrisy!

·        Grace Produces Grace!

 

VI.  A Warning Against Presumption (vv. 21-22).

 

            Grace that does not make a person obedient to God is not the grace of the gospel. Faith that does not make a man faithful is not the faith of God’s elect. Salvation that does not transform sinners into the image of the Savior is not Bible salvation! But…Salvation is more than…

 

·        A Religious Profession!

·        An Experienced Power!

·        A Duty Performed!

 

Salvation is doing the will of God, believing on, trusting the Lord Jesus Christ (John 6:29).

 

VII. A Comparison of Faiths (vv. 24-27).

 

A.  Faith is the building of a house of refuge – (v. 24).

 

·        On Christ the Rock!

·        Or On Sand!

 

B.  Sooner or Later, Our House will be Tested (v. 25).

 

·        Earthly Trials!

·        Spiritual Trials!

·        Rains of Trouble!

·        Floods of Sorrow!

·        Winds of Adversity!

 

C.  If your House is Built on Christ the Rock – It will endure The Trial and Stand The Test of Time!

 

D.  If your House is Built on The Sand, Anything other Than Christ – Sooner or later the rains and floods, and winds will bring it down around you!

 

Application: (vv. 28-29).

 

1.      He didn’t propose questions for debate – He gave answers!

2.      He didn’t offer an opinion – He taught doctrine.

3.      He didn’t defend a religious system – He taught a righteous salvation.

4.      He didn’t mutter with uncertainty about speculative theories – He taught as one having authority matters of absolute certainty.

 

·        An Exhortation to Kindness – (1-5, 12).

·        A Word of Wisdom – (6).

·        A Promise of Grace – (7-11).

·        A Call to Sinners – (13-14).

·        A caution to Seekers – (15-20).

·        A Warning Against Presumption – (4-23).

·        A Comparison of Faiths – (24-29).