A Scene Of Judgment Series

Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount Part 21

A Scene of Judgment

Pm service March 22nd 2009

Matthew 7:21-23

Introduction

In his book, Growing Deep in the Christian Life, p. 159-60. Charles Swindoll, writes, Several years ago, in Long Beach, California, a fellow went into a fried chicken place and bought a couple of chicken dinners for himself and his date late one afternoon. The young woman at the counter inadvertently gave him the proceeds from the day-a whole bag of money (much of it cash) instead of fried chicken. After driving to their picnic site, the two of them sat down to open the meal and enjoy some chicken together. They discovered a whole lot more than chicken--over $800! But he was unusual. He quickly put the money back in the bag. They got back into the car and drove all the way back. Mr. Clean got out, walked in, and became an instant hero. By then the manager was frantic. The guy with the bag of money looked the manager in the eye and said, "I want you to know I came by to get a couple of chicken dinners and wound up with all this money. Here." Well, the manager was thrilled to death. He said, "Oh, great, let me call the newspaper. I’m gonna have your picture put in the local newspaper. You’re the most honest man I’ve heard of." To which they guy quickly responded, "Oh no, no, don’t do that!" Then he leaned closer and whispered, "You see, the woman I’m with is not my wife...she’s uh, somebody else’s wife."

Things are not as they always appear to be. The outside does not always reflect what is inside.As we close in on the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is going to speak to us tonight about what happens to us when we chose the wrong path and follow the wrong teachers or those false teachers that we learned about last Sunday night.

One of the sad things about this passage is that many of the people on the wrong path think they are on the right one. Tonight from this passage we will get a true glimpse at Judgment Day for an unbeliever, and if you are here tonight and you are not a believer this may scare you, and quite frankly it should because judgment day for an unbeliever will be very scary. Lets see what we can learn tonight from this passage on “A Scene of Judgment”.

Read Scriptures: Matthew 7:21-23

I. Scene number one is Standing

Vs. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ’Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

As we start in verse 21 we see a picture of people coming before Jesus at the final judgment. They are standing as they get to the end of the path they have chosen.

They have been on a path that they have made for themselves.

In the context the path may have included a little of Jesus mixed in with everything else they were doing in life.

I can picture some of these people being people who had been a member on a church, maybe they were a somewhat active part of the church.

They had heard the sermons on how Jesus demanded first place in our lives, but that thought really did not fit into their “lifestyle”. Jesus really did not mean those things about denying self or taking up your cross daily and following Him.

Jesus really did not expect us to let Him reign as king in ALL areas of our lives.

As the people come to Jesus, this group will be in line calling out His name. (HEY JESUS, HERE I AM)

The fact that the people cried out “Lord, Lord” indicates that these people understood who Jesus was and that they thought they had made a commitment to Him.

Jesus is telling the people that lip service is not what God is looking for. Lip service without obedience is meaningless.

I can list you bible verses all day that show us that God expects faithfulness, not lip service or a show.

II. Scene number two is Pleading

Vs. 22 “Many will say to me on that day, ’Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?”

In the next verse the scene starts to change. Now after Jesus has explained that unless you have done the will of the Father, you will not enter into the Kingdom of God, the pleading starts.

This is where we try to stand before Jesus and justify to Him our lack of desire to put Him first. The pleading involves telling Jesus about all the “good” things we have done to “earn” our pass to heaven.