A Christians’ Commitment

Matthew 7:21-29

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Matthew 7v21-29 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’ Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’ Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it didn’t fall, for it was founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of mine, and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man, who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat on that house; and it fell-and great was its fall.”

It happened, when Jesus had finished saying these things, that the multitudes were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them with authority, and not like the scribes.

A Radical Choice

Up until now, Jesus has been issuing instructions. It is here, therefore, that He issues the 2 choices we face when having heard His words~ He concludes his sermon with a heart-wrenching application. Last week we heard about false prophets, and this week false professors, from unsound teachers to unsound hearers. Jesus confronts us with himself, sets before us the choice between obeying his words and disobeying them. He then proceeds to call us to firm commitment of mind, will & life to himself and his teaching. In v21-23, he warns us of mere spoken profession, and in vs. 24-27 of a mere intellectual knowledge without any practical knowledge. Each one of these, is a substitute for the obedience that Jesus asks for.

These final two passages, are very similar. Both contrast the right & wrong responses to Jesus & his teaching. Both show a definite decision must be made; and that nothing replaces an active, practical obedience. The only difference between the passages, is that the first is to people who only say they are Christians and the second is to people who only have an intellectual acceptance of Jesus and his teachings.

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