Wednesday, August 05, 2015

In our visit today we will look closer at Matthew 7:21-23. The emphasis here is again what the Sermon on the Mount is all about. Jesus preached this message to a crowd that had true seekers in it who were trying to measure up to the religious requirements articulated by their teachers. When John the Baptist and Jesus began preaching it became obvious they were calling for repentance because no one was measuring up. Some tried confessing allegiance to Jesus as Lord, and some prophesied in His name and drove out demons and performed many miracles. These were all activities done in public. Jesus was not impressed. He must have seen something that was not readily apparent. He knew what was going on in their hearts, that is, their secret lives. What He saw was self-effort and pride, and for Him they were total strangers. There was no authentic connection, it was mere show. If they got recognition and praise from the people around them, that was their only reward. Jesus told them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evil-doers!” They were either false prophets themselves or blind followers of the blind. They were the bad fruit produced by bad trees, that is, false prophets. They were maybe popular on the broad road leading to destruction, like the false prophets who come “in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” They had never entered the small gate to walk the narrow road that leads to life. Sadly, sadly they missed establishing a relationship with Jesus by faith. He never got to know them because their reliance on their good works got in the way.>