The Gospel and the Kingdom - Matthew - Jesus' Illustrations - Part 1

 

TEXT:  MATTHEW 7: 13 – 27 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. ¹⁵ “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. ¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them. ²¹ “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²² Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ ²³ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ²⁴ “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.  ²⁶ “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” ²⁸ And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, ²⁹ for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

Continuing our study in the Book of Matthew – we last looked at the Exhortations of Jesus

• ·      Our Responsibility to the Saved
• ·      Our Responsibility to Ourselves
• ·      Our Responsibility to the Ungodly
• ·      Our Responsibility to the Lord, and
• ·      Our Responsibility to the World. 

Now we are looking at the topic of the Kingdom and Jesus’ Illustrations. An illustration is something that serves to illustrate such as:

• ·      A picture or diagram that helps make something clear or attractive
• ·      An example or instance that helps make something clear
• ·      Something that illustrates, as a picture in a book or magazine.
• ·      A comparison or an example intended for explanation or corroboration.
• ·      The act of clarifying or explainingJesus is in this passage giving us 5 illustrations for what we need, how to treat others, and how to live as a true child of God.

Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount continually brings us back to our motives over our actions. Remember that God looks at the heart, not the outward designs.

The first illustration He uses is the concept of Two Roads. Read verses 13 and 14 above. These two roads are the Highway leading to Hell, and the Road that leads to Redemption. He starts with the Broad Highway to Hell (verse 13). He tells us that:

• ·      The Gate is wide and many choose the way to destruction
• ·      A smooth downward path
• ·      Easy to not go against the flow 

This is the way of the world’s religions – the way of man seeking God. It is Man’s concept of Salvation – WORKS. It is the idea that we can work enough to earn our way into God’s favor and eternal life. But, He says that this is a trip down the Highway to Hell.

He next speaks about the Narrow Road to Heaven (verse 14). He says about this road:

• ·      The gate is narrow and very few find it.
• ·      Jesus is The Way.
• ·      Only those who choose this gate will find the path. 

It is the true way for redemption, it is God seeking Man. Often it will seem hard, often painful, often against our friends, often uphill, not an easy path. Yet, it is God’s concept of Salvation – GRACE.

Today, check your heart – which road are you taking? You can make a U-turn and get on the right one.