Matthew 7
(1-6) Since Christ has called us over and over again to be obedient from the heart, He now warns us that we may be tempted to stand in judgment over those who appear less righteous than we think we are.
We want to make sure that we are judging rightly. Making sure that our own heart is right before God and our motive for judging another is that they will be edified, and God will be glorified,
We are also reminded that the response of others, particularly of unbeliever’s is not our responsibility. We are to treat God’s word as precious and not cast it before those who stand in defiance in light of its truth.
HEART CHECK: Do you judge others rightly?
(7- 12) We are called to continually ask, seek, and knock after God. Our Father who is in heaven will give good gifts to His children, what a comfort that is to us!
HEART CHECK: Do you go to the Lord in prayer first in matters of the heart or do you seek wisdom elsewhere first?
(13-14) The sermon is coming to a close and Christ is going to call His followers to make a decision. What will they do with what they have heard? Will they follow Him in repentance and obedience? Will they choose to follow their own hearts? He gives the picture of a wide gate that leads to a wide path. The way is easy and there are many who walk that road. The contrast is a narrow gate that leads to a narrow path. The road is hard and there are few who find it.
HEART CHECK: Is Jesus your Lord and Saviour? If not, make today the day you choose whom you will serve!
(15-20) The road that you are on is going to influence who you listen to too. When you are on the broad road you will find false teachers. They will seek to appear as genuine teachers, but they will lead people astray. They cannot bear good fruit for God for they are not of Him, and they will not lead you to bear good fruit either. Beware of such people!
HEART CHECK: How discerning are you when it comes to the teachers that you listen to?
(21-23) Which road you are on and who you listen to may result in giving you a false assurance of salvation. There will be those who in the end say Lord, Lord, but they were never in Christ. This should be sobering to us. It should also encourage us that we can have hope, we can have assurance of our faith! It is not found in our works, or our righteous deeds, but rather it is found in the saving work of Christ.
HEART CHECK: If you are relying on your good works to get you into heaven, do you understand how futile that is?
(24-29) What will you do with what you have studied and learned this year? Have you turned to Christ for salvation? Do you walk in obedience to him? Then you are a wise woman who builds her house on the rock of Christ and at the end of time when judgment comes, you will stand firm, founded on the rock.
If you have not turned to Christ, if you do not walk in obedience to Him, you are a foolish woman who builds her house on herself and at the end of time when judgment comes, you will fall, for you have no foundation.
HEART CHECK: What is your foundation?
by Dawn F.
