1. The Sermon on the Mount Session 6:
Discipleship: Making the WISE choice
(Matthew 7:13-29) 1

2. The Sermon on the Mount Place Participants Preaching
Mount of Beatitudes; N Galilee (compare to Moses’, see Deut. 9:9)
Participants
Jesus (the ‘authoritative teacher’, see Ex. 18:13-35) teaching those identified as ‘disciples’
Preaching
Jesus begins to detail the desired mission & character of a disciple (Matt. 5:1-16) 2

3. Righteously re-orienting our relationships
Vertical Relationship
‘between people & God’
The Law
Via ‘the anthesis’ Jesus provides 6 examples of applying the principle of ‘surpassing righteousness’ to how to correctly interpret/live scriptural teachings
The Practice of Piety
Via alms-giving, prayer, and fasting, Jesus illustrates 3 examples of applying the principle of ‘surpassing righteousness’ to how religious practices
The Place of Possession (& money) in life
Jesus seeks to apply the principle of ’surpassing righteousness’ to matter of wealth & anxiety
The Beatitudes
(internal orientation)
See also Greatest Commandment: Matthew 22: 35-40
In these first 3 sections, Jesus contrasts the ‘righteousness of the Pharisees’ to ‘surpassing righteousness’ (compare to Matthew 23)
The Law – Pharisees reading of scripture seeks to evade the intent of the Law
Piety – Pharisaic practice is self-seeking
Possessions – Pharisaic tendency towards greed
The practice of judgement & discernment
Jesus applies the principle of ‘surpassing righteousness’ to our need for wisdom in difficult dealings with others
Horizontal Relationship
‘between people & people’ 3

4. Making the WISE choice (Matthew 7:13-29)
Having applied the principle of ‘surpassing righteousness’ to various aspects of a life of discipleship, Jesus now outlines the nature of the choice involved in deciding to become a disciple.
This section entails 3 sub-sections:
Vs , 15-23, 24-27
Each subsection is built around contrast (i.e. 2 gates, 2 trees, 2 houses)
These subsections focus on matters of:
promise, warning, judgement & choice
*These divisions do not reflect the division (or subheadings) in many modern bibles.
The division of this passage has long been debated by scholars (older versions divide this passage into 2-4 separate paragraphs)
(Model here follows Charles H. Talbert work, as rendered in the “Reading the Sermon on the Mount” Character Formation and Ethical Decision Making in Matthew 5-7”) 4

5. Matthew 7:13-14 The Narrow and Wide Gates
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Conventional Jewish imagery of the 2 ways (see Deut. 11:26-28, Jer. 21:8) [either/or choice]
Deuteronomy 11:26-28
26 See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse— 27 the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; 28 the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known.
Jeremiah 21:8
8 “Furthermore, tell the people, ‘This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.
Ancient Greek story of Herakles at the crossroad
according to an allegorical parable, "The Choice of Heracles", invented by the sophist Prodicus (c. 400 BCE) and reported in Xenophon's Memorabilia 2.1.21–34, Herakles was, in his youth, visited by two allegorical figures—Vice and Virtue—who offered him a choice between a pleasant and easy life or a severe but glorious life: he chose the latter.
Modern analogy?
‘The Road not Taken’ by Robert Frost
***Note: Gk. Word for ‘narrow’ in vs. 14 often used metaphorically for troubled, beset with difficulty 5

6. Matthew 7:15-23 True and False Prophets
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
True and False Disciples
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Warning against False Prophets (leaders)
Vs. 15 – they are like wolves in sheep’s clothing… (disguised, appear to blend in)
Vs – False prophets can be identified by their actions/behaviour (a common problem within the early church; see Rev. 2:12-28)
i.e. False Prophets:
DO NOT confess Jesus as Lord (1 Cor. 12:3)
DO NOT acknowledge the incarnation (1 John 4:2)
Uphold FALSE teachings and LIBERTINE ethics (2 Peter 2)
Works/Uses wonders to deceive people (Matthew 24:24-27, Rev. 19:20)
FALSE leaders lead people astray through their teachings, actions, and examples!!! 6

7. Matthew 7:15-23 True and False Prophets
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
True and False Disciples
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
Warning about being a FALSE disciple (scene pictured = Last Judgement)
Christological Confession…can be empty words (compare to James 1:22; and 2:17-19)
Prophesies…can be false
Miracles…can be the instrument of false prophets/messiahs
Like False Prophets/leader…False Disciples can be known through their behaviour/conduct
True Disciples…live out life from an internally oriented authentic relationship with Jesus
James 1:22
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
James 2:17-19
17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 7

8. Matthew 7:24-27 The Wise and Foolish Builders
24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 8

9. Picturing the Parable…
The WISE builder
The FOOLISH builder
House #1
House #2

10. Picturing the Parable…
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. ~Ps. 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. ~Pr. 1:7
The WISE builder
The FOOLISH builder
House #1
House #2

11. Picturing the Parable…
let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance—for understanding proverbs and parables… ~ Pr. 1:5-6
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. ~Pr. 18:2
The WISE builder
The FOOLISH builder
House #1
House #2

12. Picturing the Parable…
By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; ~Pr. 24:3
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile… ~Ps.14:1 & 53:1
The WISE builder
The FOOLISH builder
House #1
House #2

13. Picturing the Parable…
Those who trust in themselves are fools,but those who walk in wisdom are kept safe. ~ Pr. 28:26
The wise inherit honor, but fools get only shame. ~Pr. 3:35
The WISE builder
The FOOLISH builder
House #1
House #2

14. Picturing the Parable…
The WISE builder
The FOOLISH builder
The ‘Wise’ = One who discerns God’s rule & ways as revealed in Jesus Christ, and responds by internally orienting & aligning themselves to those ways…
The ‘Fool’ = One who fails to recognize God’s rule and ways as revealed made known in Jesus Christ…and does not respond by internally orienting of aligning themselves to those ways…
House #1
House #2

15. Picturing the Parable…
The WISE builder
The FOOLISH builder
The ‘Wise’ = One who discerns God’s rule & ways as revealed in Jesus Christ, and responds by internally orienting & aligning themselves to those ways…
The ‘Fool’ = One who fails to recognize God’s rule and ways as revealed made known in Jesus Christ…and does not respond by internally orienting of aligning themselves to those ways…
House #1
House #2
ROCK
SAND

16. Picturing the Parable…
How might we understand this imagery in light of passages like James 1:22-24, or James 2:14-26???
‘ROCK’:
a solid building foundation
God (Ps. 18:2, 62:2)
God’s ways as revealed in Jesus’ teachings(ch.5-7; also John 12:49)
Recognition of Jesus as the Christ (16:18)
‘SAND’:
Unstable/shifting foundation
Something other than God
House #1
House #2
ROCK
SAND

17. Picturing the Parable…
RAIN & WINDS
‘Rain, Wind & Flooding’:
Typical of known local weather
WARNING!
Beware of Wadiis!!!
Associated in Judaism with:
Chaos
Judgment (see Gen. 6-8; Is. 28:17; Ezek. 13:11-14; Hos. 8:7)
House #1
House #2
ROCK
SAND
FLOODS

18. Picturing the Parable…
RAIN & WINDS
House #1
House #2
Remains standing!!!
ROCK
SAND

19. Matthew 7:28-29
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. 19

20. To be continued… 20