Matthew 5-7 are known as the Sermon on the Mount. From Matthew 7:13-28, our Lord Jesus concluded up His sermon by making applications to the hearers. Our Lord Jesus uses several pictures: two kinds of gates (7:13-14), two different ways, two kinds of trees with two kinds of fruits (7:15-20), and two kinds of builders (7:24-28).

         The intent of our Lord Jesus Christ was to bring the hearers (and readers) to a point of decision. One gate leads to one way and one destination. The other gate leads to another way, and a totally different destination. The audience of our Lord Jesus were not just the irreligious. He was speaking to those who were religious, and confident of their religious profession and works. 

The church in our day is cursed by the teaching of easy-believism – just believe, and all will be well. There are people who think that to be a Christian is just about “getting saved.” However, their lives after “gotten saved” bear little or no evidence of their conversion.

+        Are you saved?

+        Salvation is by faith, but saving faith must be evidenced by a transformed life (2 Cor 5:17).

+        Salvation (enter the strait gate) must be followed by obedience (walk the narrow way). Paul exhorts us to “examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves” (2 Cor 13:5). Peter says that we are to “give diligence to make your calling and election sure” (2 Pet 1:5-10).

False prophets (7:15-20)

The Bible compares the Christian life to a race and a battle, and the Christian to a soldier that must endure hardness (2 Tim 2:3). Paul said that he kept his body under subjection (1 Cor 9:27). Yet there are false prophets who teach a different Gospel. These prophets are known by their fruits.

         Bad fruit comes from a bad tree. Good fruit comes from a good tree. Sinners cannot produce good fruits. False teachers also cannot produce genuinely good fruits. However, it is also true that a good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit (7:18a).

+        A true believer cannot bring forth evil fruit. What kind of fruit does your life? 

False professors (7:21-22)

The first danger comes from the false prophets. The second and more pernicious danger comes from false professors. Self-delusion is worse than deception (Prov 16:25; 30:12). 

A.   False Confession (7:21)

The evidence for conversion is not what one says, but what he does. It is not just to hear; it is not even enough to say. The Christian must do (7:21, 24; James 1:22; Matt 21:28-31). Doing the will of God – obedience – is evidence of true saving faith.

+                 Christians, are you for real? 

B.    False Confidence (7:22)

A man’s false confession is followed by a false confidence in his religious works. Our Lord is not saying that He has no use for these wondrous works (Matt 10:1), but our works will never earn us our salvation.

         The false believer trusts in his works. The true believer trust in the work of Christ alone. “Nothing in my hand I bring/Simply to the cross I cling.”

+        On what do you based your grounds for salvation – on your own works or on Christ alone? 

Fearful Conclusion (7:23)

A false confession and a false confidence lead to a fearful conclusion: “I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23).

         What does it mean to be known by God? How can be we sure that God knows us? “If any man love God, the same is known of Him” (1 Cor 8:3). To be known by God is to love Him. To love God is to keep His commandments (John 14:15, 21).

         Conversely, those who are not known by God are those who “work iniquity” (lawless); those who do not obey His commandments. Our Lord is saying, “Depart from me, you who claim to be My disciple but live in disobedience to My commandments.”

+        Do you only know about God? Does God know you?

+        If you are known of God, are you walking in the narrow way? Do you love God and demonstrate that love by obeying His commandments?