Introduction
– Christ is proclaiming a narrow way, and Himself as the
exclusive Gatekeeper. False teachers
are all around, trying to widen this narrow gate, claiming to be faithful
guides and they tickle itching ears for there is a natural aversion to the
narrow gate. What a gracious Savior to
warn us now with these terrifying words that will be spoken in the Day
of Judgment.
Beware of False Prophets (v 15)– Compare this with the teaching on
“judge not” at the beginning of the chapter.
We are prohibited from judging in one way, and commanded to do so in
another. False prophets do not
advertise themselves as such, nor are they only those freaky and fringy cults
and sects outside the accepted ‘Christian circle’.
Sheep’s
Clothing – They
may speak truth – at least partial truth.
“God is love”. “You are saved by
grace”. Some declare that they will no
longer speak of ‘sin and judgment’ because they ‘love and accept people – like
Jesus did’. “They are of the world.
Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.”(1 John
4:5) Carnal natures love the teaching
of error (Jer 5:30-31). Their
profession makes them look like the real thing, and their message is like
lamb’s wool. But it’s dead lamb’s wool,
and it’s growling underneath. We must
learn to look closely.
The Function of Fruit (v 16) – Fruit reveals the nature of the
tree. We are to judge based upon fruit,
not upon profession. We can do this
because of a certain relationship between hearts, which we cannot see, and
fruit, which we can. Scripture
determines godly fruit.
True wisdom is
accompanied by godly fruit - James 3:17-18
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable,
gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and
without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who
make peace.”
Godly fruit
does not ‘trickle out’ - Phil 1:11 “…being
filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory
and praise of God.”
This fruit is
the work of the Spirit (Gal 5:22), and fully expected by Christ (John 15:16).
Fruit and the Nature of “Free Will” (vv 17-20) – How many
apple trees do you know that can produce pears? “A good tree CANNOT bear bad fruit”. The will does not determine the contents of the heart. The contents of the heart determine the
choices of the will. Men always choose
the strongest desire of their heart.
This is the nature of free will.
A man who does not choose what he ultimately wants has no will. He is insane. This means that unless God has mercy upon sinners, they will
continue to bear fruit according to their nature. And Christ promises judgment for all who bear such fruit.
You Want Fruit, I Got Fruit
(vv21-22) – Some men ‘know’ a lot about our “Lord, Lord” who in fact are not
saved. What we believe is very
important, but it is not everything – “Even the demons believe – and tremble”
(James 2:19). The ground of our
justification is not our faith. The ground
of our justification is Christ’s righteousness.
Incredible
Works –
Christ is not exaggerating. Balaam
really prophesied for the Lord (2 Pet 2:15-16), and so did Caiaphas (John
11:51). Even more interesting is to
consider Judas, one of the twelve (Matt 10:1-4). No amount of good works, done without faith, will ever save
you. We are not saved by our good
works. We are saved to good works. The difference is the distance between
Heaven and Hell.
I Never Knew You
(v23) – The breezy, lighthearted attitude of recent
generations does not know how to deal with this verse. There is a seriousness and urgency here that
Jesus wants His disciples to note carefully. This “knowing” is the knowledge of approval, love and
delight. Has God the Father set His mercy
upon you in Christ? How would you
know? Like a great sermon, the answer
lies at both ends – the fruit is in the Beatitudes. Have you entered in by the narrow gate? Only then will you avoid the chilling words – “Depart from Me!”