Great Faith

A soldier who is friendly to the Jews, compassionate towards his ill servant, and appeals to Jesus for help. You don’t see that every day.

Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 7:1-10

• Capernaum
• Compassionate centurion
• Ill servant
• Jewish intercession
• Friends intercession
• “I am not worthy”
• Jesus approves
• The servant made whole

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Great Ruin

Nobody wants to read a book on how to fail. But Jesus would have us to know both sides of the story. Some decisions lead to success; and others to ruin…

Luke 6:43-49

Trees and men (v 43-45)

• Two kinds of trees; two kinds of fruit.
• How do you know the difference?
• Two kinds of men; to kinds of conversation.
• How do you know the difference?

Men and houses (v 46-49)

• Two kinds of men; two responses to the Word of God.
• How do you know the difference?
• Two houses in a storm; two results.
• How do you know the difference?

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Fruit Inspectors And Architects

Can you imagine living without ever making a value judgment? Without ever having to answer a question? Without ever making a choice? Impossible? Ridiculous! Yet some would have us to believe that Jesus forbids all judgment. Today’s reading shows otherwise.

Matthew 7:18-28

Two kinds of trees, two kinds of people (v. 18-23).

• An immutable law of life: “cannot”.
• Therefore, you shall know the difference.
• Not everyone who talks about heaven is going there (v. 21).
• Many are deceived about their relationship to God (v. 22).
• It’s not that they lost their salvation; Jesus never did know them (v. 23).

Two houses, two kinds of lives (v. 24-29).

• Everyone’s a builder
• In every life a little (or a lot) rain must fall
• Whether you’re standing at the end or not depends on your standing with God
• God’s help, not self-help, is what we need

Luke 6:37-42

• Just as we shall be judged with the same yardstick that we use to judge others, so also will God fill our “basket” according as we have filled the baskets of others.
• When the blind lead, both leaders and followers will fall into the ditch. Blind religious leaders are a curse and not a blessing.
• Don’t think that you’ll ever be greater than God.

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Continuing Contrasts In The Mountain Sermon

The entirety of Matthew chapters 5-7 can be summarized in this thought: there are 2 ways to live-one right and the other wrong. Those who advocate living by the “golden rule” (Matthew 7:12) as a certain path to heaven would do well to read the context.

Matthew 7:1-17

• Judge not. Remember that Matthew 7:6 and Matthew 7:15 are in this chapter, too.
• Uneducated and prejudiced judging is forbidden. Once the judge is right with God then judgment can begin (v. 5).
• Bread and fish are nothing compared to what God has for His children (v. 6-11).
• The “golden rule” (v. 12) was nothing new. It was the sum of the law and the prophets, the scriptures, the Old Testament, the Bible.
• Two roads, each with an entrance, travelers and a destination (v. 12-14). Which road are you traveling?
• Beware of false prophets (v. 15). Why? How do you recognize one? (v. 16-17).

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