Matthew 7:12-23
Two Ways, False Prophets, False Followers

There has hardly ever been a better means of determining the ethical choice in any situation than the Golden Rule.

• Can you remember a recent incident when you employed the Golden Rule in your life? Who would you treat differently if you practiced this regularly?

The Golden Rule was not new with Jesus:

About A.D. 20, Rabbi Hillel, challenged by a Gentile to summarize the law in the short time the Gentile could stand on one leg, reportedly responded, "What is hateful to you, do not do to anyone else. This is the whole law; all the rest is commentary. Go and learn it." (b Shabbath 31a) [EBCNT]

What was original in our Lord's statement is the fact that he gives it as a positive statement. In other words, don't just avoid doing to others what you wouldn't want done to yourself; rather do to others what you would have them do to you!

Two Ways
Most people think of the "narrow gate" as the just meaning that the Christian life is more morally confining than the broad, morally slack way of a life without Christ.

All the great injustices of history have been committed in the name of unchecked and unbridled "majority rule."

The late Senator James A. Reed, of Missouri, in one of the most forceful speeches ever delivered before the Senate, observed with great truth: "The majority crucified Jesus Christ; the majority burned the Christians at the stake; the majority established slavery; the majority jeered when Columbus said the world was round; the majority threw him into a dungeon for having discovered a new world; the majority cut off the ears of John Pym because he dared advocate the liberty of the press."

Christ always calls us to follow the lifestyle of the "Minority opinion." Don't be deceived by the loud voice of "majority morality."

The "narrow" gate (KJV's "strait" is from Lat. strictum, "narrow"; nothing is said about gate or road being "straight," despite the modern phrase "straight and narrow") is clearly restrictive and does not permit entrance to what Jesus prohibits. The "wide" gate seems far more inviting. The "broad" road (not "easy," RSV) is spacious and accommodates the crowd and their baggage; the other road is "narrow". [EBCNT]

It is true that the narrow gate and way are the way of obedience, which is far less attractive to our sinful human nature, than living life as we see fit and that is pleasing to our flesh.

It is not difficult in our world to get a person interested in the message of the Gospel; it is terrifically difficult to sustain the interest. Millions of people in our culture make decisions for Christ, but there is a dreadful attrition rate. Many claim to have been born again, but the evidence for mature Christian discipleship is slim. In our kind of culture anything, even news about God, can be sold if it is packaged freshly; but when it loses its novelty, it goes on the garbage heap. There is a great market for religious experience in our world; there is little enthusiasm for the patient acquisition of virtue, little inclination to sign up for a long apprenticeship in what earlier generations of Christians called holiness. -- A Long Obedience In the Same Direction

However one of the words for narrow is the word that almost always means persecution. Matthew frequently points to the fact that the disciple of Jesus must endure persecution in order to follow Jesus Christ. The narrow way is narrow because it marked by opposition and persecution.

• See Acts 14:22. Have you ever considered how you would react if you had to choose between Jesus and your life/property/etc.?

False Prophets
The people of Israel were constantly warned about false prophets.

• Comment on the following passages and the characteristics of false prophets: (Jer. 6:13-15; 8:8-12; Ezek. 13; 22:27; Zeph. 3:4).

• What does Jesus say about the true nature of false prophets?

Not all claims to truth are true! The Truth can be violated and twisted.

• What are the characteristics of false prophets described in these NT passages: 2Tim 2:18; 2Tim 2:23; 1Tim 6:4-5; 2Tim 2:16? According to 2 Timothy 4:3,4 why do false prophets succeed? How can we tell if someone is a genuine "prophet" or a false one according to Jesus' words?

False Followers
Not everybody talking about heaven is going there!

• What is NOT a sign of true discipleship according to verses 21-23?

• Is it possible to know if someone is a genuine follower of Jesus Christ as opposed to just being a pretender?

• Why do you think Jesus warns us about false followers? Is it more for the benefit of the person who may be deceiving him/herself or for the Christian community?

• When will the false follower be shown for what he/she is? What will be their ultimate state?

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