A Professing Christian vs a True Christian
April 28, 2020
Commentary
The Scribes and Pharisees had fooled themselves into believing that they were righteous and others were sinful. These Jews had the mistaken notion that they were righteous by birth into their race, and by the fact they were circumcised. It is possible for people to know the right language, believe the right doctrine, obey the right rules and still not be saved. In this passage we find Jesus using two pictures to help us judge ourselves and others.
The first picture is that of two roads(vv. 13-14). The first road has a narrow gate in which each person must enter it alone and this way leads to heaven. The second road has a broad gate and people can enter it in groups and it leads to Hell. Jesus points out the necessity of choosing whether to follow God or not and the fact that the choices are only two. Also beware of false prophets (v. 15)!
The second picture is that of two trees (vv. 16-20). These two trees are contrasted in relation to the fruit which they produce. Good fruit comes from a good tree and bad fruit comes from a bad tree. Man cannot produce good fruit out of his own sinful nature. Therefore, the normal production of fruit, whether good or evil in a person’s life will give evidence of whether or not he is saved or lost.
Not everyone professing Christ is genuinely saved (vv. 21-23). Even the outward verbal acknowledgment of His lordship is in itself not enough to save the unbeliever apart from true repentance and faith. Willing and eager obedience is the hallmark of someone who has truly come to faith in Jesus Christ. They obey, not because they want to earn God’s favor, but because they feel delighted already to have received it.
Application
What kind of a tree best typifies my life. A strong oak, a weeping willow, a fruitful apple etc? Why?
Matthew 7:13– 23 (NET)
13 “Enter through the narrow gate, because the gate is wide and the way is spacious that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the way that leads to life, and there are few who find it!
15 “Watch out for false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are voracious wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruit. Grapes are not gathered from thorns or figs from thistles, are they? 17 In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree is not able to bear bad fruit, nor a bad tree to bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will recognize them by their fruit.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the kingdom of heaven—only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many powerful deeds in your name?’ 23 Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Go away from me, you lawbreakers!’
Illustration: How Much Money
The three sons of a lawyer, a doctor, and a minister, respectively, were talking about how much money their fathers made. The lawyer’s son said, “My father goes into court on a case and often comes home with as much as fifteen hundred dollars.” The doctor’s son said, “My father performs an operation and earns as much as two thousand dollars for it.” The minister’s son, determined not to be outdone, said, “That’s nothing. My father preaches for just fifteen minutes on Sunday morning and it takes four men to carry the money. (Encyclopedia of Illustrations #8940).