Scripture
Vs 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
Vs 16 You will recognize them by their fruits.
Vs 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Vs 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
Vs 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Vs 24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
Vs 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
Observation
Jesus is telling the closing thoughts of His famous Sermon on the Mount.
He speaks of false leaders, false believers, and true believers.
The striking difference between each is the difference between their words and their actions.
The hearers of Jesus’ words, if we are to be true believers of Jesus, have two responsibilities:
“Beware of the false prophets” and “Hear these words of Jesus and do them”
Jesus also has the starkest of warnings for those who do not do so.
They will be “departed” from Jesus and destroyed as if by a storm.
Application
These verses from Jesus contain some of the scariest words in the Bible:
“I never knew you” and “Depart from Me”!
How will I be sure to never hear such terrible words from Jesus?
I must be changed from the inside out.
How will others know that I have been changed from the inside out?
I will hear Jesus’ words and do them! … They will see my “fruit”.
Everything comes from the inside out … the good and the bad.
Jesus said of the false prophets “inwardly they are ravenous wolves”.
They are recognized by their fruit, but where does the fruit come from?
Fruit is external, but it doesn’t just appear instantly from an external source.
The fruit grows slowly from its internal source.
So, people will recognize who I am by my external actions, but my actions stem from inside me.
And Paul later lists for me what “bad fruit” is (“acts of the flesh”) … hatred, discord, jealousy, selfishness, envy, anger and rage, and plenty of others.
But he also tells me what “good fruit” is (“fruit of the spirit”) … love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”.
Paul adds “against these things there is no law”.
In other words, it’s always the will of God to do these things.
If I ever try to “show off” my works or “fruit”, Lord help me …
“prophesy” or “cast out demons” and even doing “mighty works” may well not be the will of the Lord even if I am crying out “Lord, Lord” while doing them!
My external “doing” must flow from an internal “being” that God has changed!
And Jesus said whoever “does” the will of the Father will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus often connects the will of God with the Kingdom of God.
The Kingdom of God seems to be where what gets done is what God wants done.
“You Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven”.
Prayer
Thank you, again, God for your Word
Thank you for your warnings against myself
Lead me to live and do from a changed self
Help my fruit be yours
Help me know what is true
In Jesus name
Amen