Two Builders, Two Houses, One Foundation Series

Dr. Bradford Reaves

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD

www.mycrossway.org

We are drawing the closing words of Jesus’ in our study of the Sermon on the Mount. Next week I have some concluding thoughts. Of the 36 messages I preached from these 3 chapters in the Gospel of Matthew, I believe today’s are the most significant for us to grasp and apply to our lives. Since the beginning of our series, I’ve repeated the theme Jesus preached throughout this message as he contrasts the truth of God’s Kingdom against the false religious system of his day. This false teaching precluded that man’s entry into the Kingdom of God was based on one’s own righteousness and following religious tradition and not based on faith in God alone. The Bible calls these doctrines of demons (1 Timothy 4:1-3), and it repeatedly warns us not to be deceived.

We’ve considered the conclusion of Jesus' sermon for several weeks, starting in verse 12. These should be sobering words. Words that should give us pause and take an honest inventory of our relationship with God. Jesus’ calling is to be neither deceived nor ignorant. Nor should we be caught off guard by those he mentions in verse 22, which we studied last week. Instead, he is telling his listeners there is a stark difference between the faithful of the Kingdom and the deceived of the world.

The world is easily drawn into false religion and steadily drinks its poison. Why? Because apart from Christ, we are spiritually dead in sin, and that sinful nature always looks for the easy fix. Jesus calls this the broad way. 1 John 5:19 says, “The whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” We are resistant to God’s truth, His Word, and His calling. 1 John also says, “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (1 John 5:12).

False religion is not always dressed in devils and pentagrams with witches gathered around evil scenes. False religion disguises itself with the truth. It is deceptive, labeling itself with Christian labels and phrases. The Sermon on the Mount is designed to unmask this deception.

With that, we’ve considered the differences over the last few weeks: Two Gates - Narrow and Wide. Two Fruits - Good and Bad. Two Eternities - Heaven and Hell. And now today, with Jesus’ concluding words, Two Foundations - Sand and Rock.

First, Jesus tells us to enter through the narrow gate, for the wide gate and the broad way lead to destruction; there are many - the crowds, if you will - go that way. The narrow way, with which you must enter with difficulty, forsaking yourself, is hard to enter and follow but leads to life.

The false teachers - ravenous wolves in sheep’s clothing - lead the masses down the broad way. False prophets who teach a false gospel. Jesus warns us that we’ll know them by their fruits, easily unmasked when we look at their words and their lives. Verbal profession - mere words alone will not save you.

Now, back at verse 22, Jesus says there will be many who say, “Lord, Lord, did we not do this or do that in your name...” and he responds (v 23), “I never knew you; depart from me your workers of lawlessness.” Religious performance, even doing signs and wonders, will not save you. This should be shocking, and sadly, it will be shocking to “many” (v21).

Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping. (Psalm 6:8)

The sad reality is that there will be ‘many’ people who will be shocked by these words at the final judgment because they chose to live in a state of self-deception. All of this should bring us personally to a place of self-examination.

The defining factor is his pronouncement, which is found in verse 23, “I never knew you.” This is what we must understand first. When Jesus said, ‘I never knew you,’ he wasn’t referring to a knowledge of our existence. Biblically, the use of the word ‘knew’ refers to a deep intimacy. Genesis 4:1 tells us that Adam ‘knew’ his wife, and they conceived. There’s a deep relationship associated with that. Likewise, when Jesus says, “I never knew you,” he says, “Despite your religiousness, I never have a relationship with you.”

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works...” (Ephesians 2:10)

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? (James 2:14)

The real question Jesus poses is not whether they’ve heard the gospel (although that’s important); it is not if they’ve said a prayer or raised their hand to ‘accept Jesus’ (although that’s important too). It is not if they’re a member of the church, attend church, or even preach a sermon. It’s about the result in their life - what did they do with their faith and life given to them?