Sermon on the Mount
“Wolves, Trees, Miracles, Houses & Following Jesus”
After all that Jesus had to say in the Sermon on the Mount, it finishes in a most intriguing way.
It finishes with a warning.
He finishes by talking about deception.
And in doing so, He draws on animals, trees, miracles and houses.
Three kinds of deception are described.
1. Deception by others (vv 15-20)
First there is the possibility of deception by others. By false prophets.
Wolves in sheep’s clothing.
To all appearances such people fit in. They say the right things, win you over but they are dangerous.
They are false prophets and they will not being living according to the teaching contained in the Sermon on the Mount.
They will not be advancing the truth contained in it; will not be living according to its precepts of love.
And eventually their fruit shows them up for who they are.
Due to their very nature, over time they will not be able to sustain a fake lifestyle any more than a thorn bush being able to produce grapes; or thistles being able to produce figs.
2. Deception of yourself (vv 21-23)
The second type of deception is chilling.
Jesus draws our attention to the end of the age, and on that day there will be people who will confidently point to times in their lives when they worked signs and wonders in the name of Christ.
They will claim these are proof positive that they were of the Kingdom.
And not only had they performed such acts in the name of Christ, but they had supposedly lived lives committed to Him as “Lord.”
But they would have done nothing other than deceiving themselves.
Jesus will declare “I never knew you; go away from Me, you evildoers.”
3. Deception of others (vv24-27)
The third type of deception is depicted through the comparison of two types of houses.
One built on rock and one on sand.
Again deception is at work.
The houses symbolise our lives and they might appear fine. They might impress others by appearances. But it is deceptive.
When the storms of life come along and the quality of the foundations are tested.
The authenticity of our life is shown up.
Jesus provides a test for each one.
1. Deception by others – test is their fruit
2. Deception of yourself – test is judgement day
3. Deception of others – the test are life crises
Taken to their natural conclusion, each form of deception results in the destruction and complete downfall of those involved.
1. Deception by others – “thrown into the fire” (7:19)
2. Deception of yourself – “Away from Me, you evildoers!” (7:23)
3. Deception of others – “it fell and great was its fall!” (7:27)
Yet for all this – there is one thing in common in all three forms of deception.
To use a navigational term – there is one way to see if you or others are facing “true north.”
One feature which will survive the fruit test; the judgement day test; the life crises test…
One feature which is neither spectacular, trendy or innovative. Yet essential.
“Obedience.”
Those who seek to deceive others don’t have it. Those false prophets. They have no intention of honouring the teaching contained here in the Sermon on the Mount.
Not with its call for reconciliation and love.
Those who deceive themselves don’t have it.
Jesus dismisses them as evildoers or workers of lawlessness. In other words – those who do not adhere to His teaching as contained in the Sermon on the Mount.
Those who live lives which are a sham, who deceive others don’t have it.
Jesus says outright that they hear His words but do not act on them. They do not obey.
It’s a devastatingly simple truth.
Having said all this in the Sermon on the Mount – it now comes to this.
Will you obey it? Anything else is deception in one form or another.
Obviously, by the time you take in what is actually said in the Sermon on the Mount, it’s never going to be easy to just say “obey!”
Remember the Sermon on the Mount has strong similarities with the Exodus.
Jesus as a New Moses goes up a mountain and gives a New Law and announces a New Exodus.
The New Testament looks back to the first Exodus, and warns about making the same mistakes.
Of the generation that first left Egypt (3 million) only two made it to the Promised Land.
Joshua and Caleb.
1 Cor 10:1-13 puts it plainly.
[Read 1 Cor 10:1-13]
The sins committed in the wilderness were invariably inspired and motivated by one of the forms of deception we have just read about in the Sermon on the Mount.
So, now in the age of the New Exodus - three kinds of deception are described as at work.
We are going to need help!
John 15 actually picks up similar language to what is here in Matthew.
Language about branches being thrown into the fire and the need to obey.
Yet it plainly states that which might be missed by some in reading the Sermon on the Mount.
“I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned." (John 15:5-6, NRSV)
"My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples." (John 15:8, NRSV)
"If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love." (John 15:10, NRSV)
So how do you abide in Christ?
In endeavouring to live according to the Sermon on the Mount, use these three key moments as the focal points:
1. Exodus Promises
The Beatitudes (5:3-11). This is the group of accepted people.
Abide here. Consider your life and be inspired and encouraged.
2. Exodus Prayer
The Lord’s Prayer (6: 9-13). Here is the prayer to pray. Abide with this prayer and pray it with passion and desperation.
3. Exodus Judgement
Here, these final passages (7:15-27) warn us of the dangers of disobeying the teachings of Christ.
By focussing on these three key moments in the Sermon on the Mount, they will enable you to begin to embrace and action the teachings on the Sermon on the Mount.
You will find hope and power in the descriptions of the Beatitudes; cry out to the Lord of the Exodus in the Exodus Prayer; and see the future in the description of what happens to those who live lives of deception in whatever form.
But the true Abiding Power is found in the promise of Immanuel. He is God with Us. And He has promised to be with us until the End of the Age (28:20)!
God be with you!
Presented By: Rev. Geoff New