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.
I have said before that we cannot earn our salvation by works. These people are laying out an impressive list of things they did for “Jesus”. He remains unimpressed.
In Hosea 6:6 God tells us, “For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.”
The false prophets were able to do some of the things that these people were pleading with Jesus over. In Acts 19:11-20 the seven sons of Sceva (see va) were healing and casting out demons, but they did not belong to God.
These folks were telling Jesus that they were doing miracles, preaching and so forth in His name. When they say this they are telling Jesus they were doing it by His authority.
There basic message was that they acknowledged Jesus with their lips, but in reality, their hearts were far off.
It was said that many years ago, a notorious gangster named Mickey Cohen attended a Christian meeting in Beverly Hills. The meeting was being led by a young evangelist named Billy Graham. Graham was just starting out in evangelism and no one had really heard of him. Everyone knew about Mickey Cohen. Mickey was attracted to what he heard at the meeting. Afterwards, Billy and some of the others talked to him about salvation, but he made no commitment at that time. A while later a Christian friend read Revelation 3:20 to him - "Behold, I stand at the door...." The friend then asked Mickey if he wanted this salvation. He said, "Yes, I do." The news of his conversion made quite a sensation, and the ministry of Billy Graham became known across the nation. There was only one small problem - nothing in Mickey Cohen’s life changed. When his friend confronted him about it, Mickey complained: "You didn’t tell me I would have to give up my work!" [Mafia] "You didn’t tell me I would have to give up my friends!" [gangsters] Mickey had heard that so-and-so was a Christian athlete, and so-and-so was a Christian actress, so he thought he could be a Christian gangster.
Not too many of us are gangsters, but the story fits. When we give our lives to Jesus, we may and will have to give some things up. Putting Jesus first will cost us something. Many are not willing to let Jesus take them that deep.
The people Jesus is speaking of did not have a relationship with Him. Religion will not make you right with God, only a relationship with Jesus will do that.
III. Scene number three is Departing
Vs. 23 “Then I will tell them plainly, ’I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
As we gaze upon the end of this tragic scene, Jesus tells these people who thought they were on the right track the words they never wanted to hear.
Jesus will say to those who claim Him but never trusted in Him enough to give their lives to Him, “I never knew you”. “I have never known you as My disciples, and you have never known Me as your Lord and Savior.
The command to depart from me is the final sentence to hell, and is identical in thought to the judgment of Matthew 25:41 at the Lord’s return: “Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels.”
Conclusion
The scene that Jesus describes is one that we do not want to experience. Jesus does not want you to experience it either, that is why He shared it with us.
Somewhere along the line people have gotten the impression that God does not care how they live.
God cares and He cares because He loves you and wants what is best for you.
You cannot just mix a little Jesus into your life just in case the bible is true. You must give Him your total self.
That takes courage and trust. If we really trust God like our presence here today would suggest, we will give God our full attention.
Religion or being religious will not save us. Only through a relationship with Jesus will we be saved.
Eternal life is not just about when you die; it is about what God wants to give to you now. Have you ever felt the hole in your heart and tried to fill it with things other than Jesus?
Jesus wants you to be with Him for eternity. Do you want to be with Him? Do we want to be one of those with whom Jesus says, “Depart from Me, I never knew you?”
(Thanks sermoncentral contributor, Preacher’s outline and sermon bible)
