In this episode of ReDiscovering God we talk about four more of Jesus's Wisdom sayings in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7. We begin with Prayer and shed light on a verse that is often misapplied with the idea that if we pray and keep asking, seeking and knocking God will answer. When that doesn't happen people often get discouraged and give up on prayer and God. The Golden Rule is the teaching of Jesus that sums up the intent of the law and the prophets. There would be no violence if this teaching was practiced by everyone. This is what it means to be in His Kingdom. We reveal what Jesus meant when he said that the gate is narrow that leads to life. In conclusion we discuss the result of teachings that bring good or negative fruit in the life of those who practise them.
SHOW NOTES
3. Effective prayer (7:7-11)
7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!
This wisdom saying is the one most often taken out of context to suggest that we must keep repeating what we want from God and he will give it to us. In one sense this is true. Hezekiah kept asking God to heal him. God gave in to his desire and gave him ten more years. In this decade Hezekiah showed the temple treasures to the Babylonian ambassadors and sired another son, Manasseh. The Babylonian army came back to collect the temple treasure and Manasseh was the most wicked king of all the kings of Judah. It would have been better if Hezekiah had trusted God and not spoiled his good history.
If one reads the parallel account in Luke 11:9-13 the object of “Ask, seek and knock” is to receive the Holy Spirit. It is not about getting God to do our will. Jesus informs us that God is more willing to give the Spirit than we are willing to give our children good gifts. This means the problem in the lack of the Spirit is with us. We are not receiving the Spirit.
4. The Golden Rule (7:12)
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
This, the so called Golden Rule, is also the best known of Jesus’ wisdom sayings. It is also the most common aphorism in many religious and ideological systems. While Moses would probably have couched it in the negative, “Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you,” Jesus’ statement is in the positive.This teaching Jesus claims, summarizes the Law and the Prophets. How can this be when the Israelites went to war against the people of Canaan at God’s command? How can this be if woman were of less value than men?
Leviticus 27:1-4 NLT The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Give the following instructions to the people of Israel. If anyone makes a special vow to dedicate someone to the Lord by paying the value of that person, 3 here is the scale of values to be used. A man between the ages of twenty and sixty is valued at fifty shekels of silver, as measured by the sanctuary shekel. 4 A woman of that age is valued at thirty shekels of silver.
In the census of Israel only men were counted. This practice continued up to Jesus’ day. Woman only became voting partners between the two world wars. If this wisdom saying were followed there would be no wars.
So how can Jesus claim this rule is the essence of the Law and the Prophets? Perhaps in the same way that Jesus is the fulfilment of the Law and the Prophets. Jesus is the clearest statement of what the Law and the Prophets were meant to emulate. This is one of the reasons Jesus had to come in person. He had to come and teach and live the Golden Rule so we could imagine it at last.
5. Be Decisive (7:13-14)
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.
The gate is narrow because of our selfishness. The treasure was hidden in the field by this same selfishness (Matthew 13:44). The way after the narrow gate is not difficult, as many teach, for Jesus himself also said,
Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give yourest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Those going to hell have a hard time of it for the love of God places many roadblocks in their way to stop their sad journey. They reject help from God and battle their way against the obstacles of love, alone and sad. Do not begrudge them their nicotine, alcohol and drugs. They are suffering under the weight of the evil one.
Those on their way to heaven have a loving Saviour who is there at every twist and turn to encourage and help them on. He has their backs and works for their joy at every opportunity. How blessed they are.
6. A Tree and its Fruit (7:15-20)
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 thornbushes, 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.
While a positive life witness by the messenger makes the message more believable it is not essential. Many rascals have brought the gospel to others. Balaam, Jonah and Judas are examples. There are many modern-day teachers and preachers who brought people to Christ while living a double life. Jimmy Swaggart, Ravi Zacharias, Jim Baker are examples.Jesus means that we must evaluate the effect of the message in our lives. What is the fruit of the message? Does it encourage love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)? Some messages foster criticism and condemnation of other groups which in turn lead to a judgmental attitude towards others and different groups.
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