The Promised King: The Narrow Road into the Kingdom

Matthew 7 is the closing of the Sermon on the Mount.

The King has given the constitution of the Kingdom (chapter 5) and the hidden life of the Kingdom (chapter 6). Now He brings the sermon to its sharp end. He warns against judging others while ignoring our own sin. He teaches confident prayer to a generous Father. He gives the Golden Rule. He warns of the narrow gate and the wide way. He warns of false prophets known by their fruit. He warns of those who said Lord, Lord and never knew Him.

The sermon ends with two builders — one on rock, one on sand — and one storm that comes for both.

The Promised King will not let His hearers leave the mountain without a decision.

Judge not

"Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you."

This is not a ban on all moral discernment. (Later in the chapter He commands us to discern false prophets.) It is a warning against the hypocritical, harsh, finger-pointing judgment that loves to find fault in others.

"Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye."

The Promised King calls us to start with our own hearts before we ever turn to others.

Pearls before pigs

"Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you."

There is also a wise discernment about whom to address with the holiest things. Not everyone is ready to receive every truth.

Ask, seek, knock

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened."

This is one of the great teachings on prayer in the Bible.

He gives the reason:

"Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"

The Promised King tells us we have a generous Father — and that the right response is to ask.

The Golden Rule

"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

In one sentence, the King summarizes the second great commandment. The whole social ethic of the Kingdom is here. Do to others what you would want done to you.

Two gates, two roads

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."

This is one of the most sobering teachings in the New Testament.

There are two roads. Two gates. Two destinations. The way to destruction is broad and easy. The way to life is narrow and hard.

The crowd does not lead to life. The crowd leads to destruction. The Promised King will not let us believe that everyone is on the right road. He says clearly: most are not.

The narrow gate is the King Himself. The hard road is the road of discipleship.

Beware of false prophets

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits."

False prophets do not look like wolves. They look like sheep. They speak the right words. They use the right tone. They appear to be on the right side.

The test is not appearance. The test is fruit.

"Every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

Doctrine, life, and influence are the fruit by which we test those who claim to speak for God. Sweet words from a poisoned tree are still poison.

"Lord, Lord"

Then the King says one of the most terrifying things in all of Scripture:

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'"

Notice carefully: these are not pagans. They are people who used His name. They prophesied. They cast out demons. They did mighty works.

And the verdict: I never knew you.

Mighty works are not the test. Even ministry done in His name is not the test. The test is: did the King know them? Were they doing the will of the Father? Was there a real, living relationship with the King — or only the use of His name?

The Promised King is not impressed by religious activity that comes from people He does not know.

Two builders

The sermon ends with a parable.

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

The rain falls, the floods come, the winds blow — and the house stands.

"And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand."

The same rain. The same floods. The same wind. And the house falls. Great was the fall of it.

Hearing the Sermon on the Mount is not the same as building on it. Both men heard. Only one built. The storm came for both. Only one stood.

The storm comes for every house. The only question is the foundation.

The crowds are astonished

"When Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes."

The scribes quoted other scribes. They cited tradition. They spoke about the Word.

The Promised King spoke as the Word Himself. He was the source. I say to you. He did not need anyone to back Him up.

The crowd had never heard anything like this. They were astonished.

But astonishment is not building. The next chapters of Matthew will show whether the astonished crowd will become disciples — or whether they will only remain crowds.

Closing prayer

Father, save us from the wide gate and the easy road. Pull us through the narrow gate of Your Son. Make us hearers who do — wise builders who lay foundation on the Rock. Save us from being Lord, Lord people who never knew Him. And keep us discerning, that we may know false prophets by their fruit and remain in the truth of the Promised King's teaching. In Jesus' name, amen.