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. 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.' 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. Matthew 7:15-26 (ESV)
A man who lived on Long Island could satisfy a lifelong ambition by purchasing an expensive barometer. When the instrument arrived at his home, he was disappointed to find that the indicating needle appeared stuck, pointing to the sector marked "HURRICANE." After shaking the barometer vigorously several times, its new owner wrote a scathing letter to the store where he had purchased the instrument. On the way to his office in New York the following morning, he mailed the letter. That evening, he returned to Long Island to find
Not only is the barometer missing, but his house is also missing. The barometer's needle had been right—there was a hurricane! God is the Christian's barometer in life. Trust that He will give you direction. Today, we will study the three ways we can lead the Holy Spirit to build an unshakeable life.
Step One: Choose the right path.
"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." - Matthew 7:13–14
Building an unshakable life—a house built on rock, not sand—begins by choosing the right path out of two available options.
The wrong path is "broad" and found through the "wide" gate. It's easy to find, and any traveler on this road will always have company as "there are many who enter.
In this context, this path is one of worldly living. It's populated by those who ignore God's standard of living and, instead, follow another. This wrong path leads to one place: "Destruction."
The right path, on the other hand, is "narrow" and found through the "small" gate. Because it's a less obvious choice and a more consistently tricky journey, "few find it."
Dr. Martin Luther's commentary on this passage says:
As Christ says here: "The way to destruction is broad, and those who walk upon it are many; the gate is vast, to let the crowd pass through it."
That is the great offense that disconcerts many people and causes them to fall away from us. It gave headaches to the prophets and the saints, as David often complains in the Psalter. He does so in great detail in Psalm 73:3–5: "It vexed me when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They are not in danger of death but stand adorned like a palace. They are not in trouble as other men; they are not stricken like other men." In other words, he says: "They are successful on earth; they get rich, they have their house and home full, they live riotously, and they do whatever they please or whatever comes to their mind. But what do I do, by contrast?" "I must be pious and suffer, and I am stricken all the day long, I am chastened every morning" (Ps. 73:14). That is: "If I transgress the least little bit, He is immediately behind me with the rod. That is all I get for being pious. Over there, they have nothing but honor and joy. That is why the whole world sides with them, and everybody praises and exalts them."
Luther, M. (1999). Luther's works, vol. 21: The Sermon on the Mount and the Magnificat (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald, & H. T. Lehmann, Eds.; Vol. 21, pp. 241–242). Concordia Publishing House.
Jesus does not say what makes the one portal narrow and the other wide. Of course, both passageways are like their portals. He states only where they lead and leaves it to us to deduce why one is necessarily narrow and the other most naturally broad. Repentance, faith, and a Christian life are like a narrow portal and passage. We cannot ride into it with our sins, self-righteousness, false notions, vices, and follies. We could not even get them through the portal. The broad portal and the spacious passage are different. There, we may cart in anything we please. More than abundant room invites us to do so. But this portal and this passage "lead to the destruction," εἰς τὴν ἀπώλειαν, "to utter, final ruination." In the New Testament, this negative term refers to the state after death and the complete loss of the true, heavenly life (ζωή), C.-K. 789. Step One is choosing the right path.
Step Two: Listen to the right voices
"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves." - Matthew 7:15
These people claim to speak for God. They pretend to care about the good of God's people and the adoration of God's glory. But, while they look like they belong in the flock, they're actually hungry predators who, when allowed to remain, attack, wound, and kill the true sheep. Jesus says, as you strive to build an unshakable life, beware of these false prophets; they will tear your house down.
It is important to remember that Unbiblical teaching steals hope, joy, and peace (which we need when the storms come!) and instead brings confusion, disillusionment, and doubt. "Beware of the false prophets."
Jesus, thankfully, tells us how to spot them. When wolves pretend to be sheep, we ought to beware. These prophets "come to you" and make it their unique business to do so, but they only come; God never sends them. Much has been written about the phrase "in garments of sheep," but in this case, it is more about them appearing to be gentle and harmless versus a disguise. These false prophets, who are fierce wolves, pretend to be gentle, harmless sheep.
Some think that Jesus especially had the scribes and Pharisees in mind and regard that as the historical interpretation, but note what Jesus himself adds in v. 21, etc. He is thinking of the future and all the false prophets who will try to mislead the disciples. They come claiming their message is from God saying, "Thus saith the Lord!" when he did not speak thus, or "God did not say so!" when he did. Either way is to utter false prophecy. Some prophets are entirely false, others are false in part only, but no matter, it's still false. The innocent appearance of all false prophets is necessary; if they revealed what they were, all true disciples would flee from them. The innocent appearance of their persons and their prophecy induces many to receive what they offer, but the fundamental nature of what they are in their prophesying always becomes evident sooner or later. Thus, the clothing of sheep used by these wolves is conduct and preaching, seemingly in harmony with God and his Word but, in reality, in conflict with both. This deviation from the divine Word makes all false prophets wolves whose nature it is to rend, tear, and kill, ἅρπαξ, from ἁρπάζω, to seize, snatch at, i.e., in this case with cruel fangs. Drastically, Jesus pictures the destructive effect of all false preaching: it rends and tears the spiritual life like the fangs of a wolf. Despite this drastic language, men persist in considering deviations from the true prophecy (the Word of God as it is) as relatively harmless.
"You will recognize them by their fruits. 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." Matthew 7:16–20
"Fruit" refers to a final product, that is, what's ultimately produced. Scripture often uses "fruit" to describe the heart made observable by either actions (i.e., the fruit of the Spirit) or words (Matt 12:33–37).
If someone claims to speak for God—they may carry a Bible, stand behind a pulpit, enjoy popularity among other Christians, publish books, be on RightNow Media, and speak at conferences—we must ask: Are they for real? Are they a voice that will help me build an unshakable life and help me stay on the narrow path? Or are they just biding their time before they tear me apart? Jesus says, look at their fruit. What do they say? I don't care if they have a Bible with them. Is what they are saying in line with the teachings of the Bible? Many use the Bible to support their agendas. Scrutinize their teachings—not maliciously but intentionally. What do they say?
Also, what is their life like? Is how they live consistent with what they say (which is consistent with God's Word)? To be candid, this assumes you know the teacher to a certain degree.
If we want to build unshakable lives, Jesus teaches us to choose the right path and listen to the right voices. There are countless examples of people who, by needing to be more cautious with their ears, find their houses built on sand.
What teachers do you listen to? Are you inspecting their fruit, testing them by carefully considering what they say and what they do? We must guard our ears.
Building an unshakable life means choosing the right path and listening to the right voices.
However, there's a final step Jesus adds in this text.
Step three: Trust the proper measurements
Continuing from his warning about false prophets, Jesus says this:
"23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.' - Matthew 7:23
Notice that Jesus is pointing to a future day of judgment on which he will be the Judge.
"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." - Matthew 7:22–23
The two builders represent two men in this life. They use the same materials and plans, and the world cannot tell the difference between their houses. But when the storm comes—the testing time—the house not founded on the rock crumbles and falls. The faithful Christian is founded on the Rock, Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 3:11). Righteousness is not based on a church, a creed, or a "good life" but on Jesus Christ, who died for the believer. A child of God is proven by lasting through the storms that test him or her. A faithful Christian is proven by obeying Christ. One is not merely a hearer of the Word but is also a doer (James 1:22–25). Review your Bible and note how false believers always fall away during testing. The mixed multitude in Israel wanted to go back to Egypt when things became difficult in their journey. Many of Rome's so-called Christians deserted Paul in his time of need (2 Tim. 4:9–18). Yet, note how the true believers stand regardless of the test. Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, Peter, Paul, and many others proved the reality of their faith by standing through the storm. They were built on the Rock!
On the future day of judgment, a group of people will stand before Jesus—perhaps like those false prophets—and receive the devastating news that they measured their lives wrongly and, because of that, will be sent away. The Greek is strong (v. 23): "Never did I have an intimate relationship with you! Depart from me!"
These people say the right things—"Lord, Lord!"—and do the right things—"prophesy … cast out demons … perform miracles" in Jesus's name! But therein lays the reason for their rejection. They stand before the judgment seat and present their impressive religious resumes, expecting entrance, not realizing that they've missed the one thing necessary to enter the coming kingdom: "… but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter."
What is the will of the father?
"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." - John 6:40
What's the will of the Father? We believe in Jesus, the Son of God, the promised and coming King, the Savior of sinners, the resurrection, and the life. Those who will be sent from his presence did not do the will of the Father; they didn't know the Son, and they didn't believe in his person and works. Instead, they measured the worthiness of their lives based on what they did and not on what Christ did. What Jesus, the Son of God, did is the only measurement worth trusting.
We will all one day stand before the King and Judge and have our lives evaluated, measured, and ideally rewarded. Will you try to impress him with your resume? Or will we point to Christ's Righteousness and our trust in him?
We're to strive for Righteousness today but from a place of gratitude. We strive to honor Jesus with our lives. After all, we've been saved because we'll enter the kingdom and because of Jesus's Righteousness imputed to our filthy accounts by grace through faith. But our works, however grand they may be, are not the ticket. Don't trust that measurement.
Step one: Choose the right path. Step two: Listen to the right voices. Step three: Trust the proper measurements. When we, by God's grace, follow the Lord's directions, where do we end up?
"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." - Matthew 7:24–25
If we want to build unshakable lives that can withstand life's storms, we must build wisely! We need to follow the Lord's gracious directions, pursue Righteousness, be on guard against false teachers, and trust in the work of Jesus rather than our own.
I'll encourage you this week to ask yourself, where am I in this building process? Which step am I at? Where am I stumbling? Is it my consistent pursuit of Righteousness? Am I wandering off the narrow path? If so, talk to your pastor. You'll be surprised how common that struggle is. Find a travel companion.
Or maybe you're pursuing Righteousness by God's grace, but you've got to consider the teachers you're allowing to influence your theology. So many people we watch on TV or listen to on YouTube may lead you astray. I encourage you to open your Bible, watch their lives (if possible), and pray for discernment.
Or, if you're honest, you're trusting the wrong measurement in your life. You assume you'll show Jesus your impressive resume when you see him. I served on this committee and did these great things in the community. Aren't my actions enough? You may have never realized that the Christian life is about pursuing Righteousness as an outgrowth of faith and not based on works.
Ask yourself this week, as you skim back through this passage on your own, where you are on this building plan. How strong is your house? Are you ready for the storms? Let the Spirit guide you as you build wisely!
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