Sharing Bread Matthew 7:28-29

SHARING BREAD

²⁸ When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹ because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Matt 7:28-29 (NIV)

“Authority” the very word according to the Oxford Dictionary means:  “the power or right to enforce obedience; an influence exerted on opinion because of recognized knowledge or expertise.”  The word translated “authority” in verse 29 above is from the Greek word “Exousia” meaning “it is permissible, allowed; permission, authority to do something; denotes not only the physical capability to do something, but also the right and authority to carry out the action; the right or privilege to do or not to do something; the license or liberty to do or not to do something.”  Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible – New Testament Lexical Aids.

“If He be God, there can be no limit to His power.  Come then with the blind eye of darkened understanding, come with the limping foot of wasted energy, come with the maimed hand of weak faith, the fever of an angry temper, or the ague of shivering despondency, come just as thou art, for He who is God can certainly restore thee of thy plague.  None shall restrain the healing virtue which proceeds from Jesus our Lord.”  Charles H. Spurgeon  

It is no wonder the crowds were amazed at our Lord’s teaching.  Their ears were used to hearing their Pharisaical teachers of the Law who were a mere reflection of authority – and not a very good one at that.  Contrast Jesus Who was and is ultimate Authority as He is very God of very God - possessing all power.  It is the difference between shadow and Substance – one a mere reflection, One the Real Deal - if you permit me to state it in that way – and this difference was extremely obvious to His hearers.  Their teachers were a mere pretense – unable to fulfill what they preached.  The words they taught fell flat as they came sans life or force as one whom but recites a memorized passage monotone.  Yet Christ, Who spoke the world into being, when teaching speaks a Word of command as a judge gives forth his charge.

“The Sermon on the Mount is not a set of rules and regulations – it is a picture of the life we will live when the Holy Spirit is having His unhindered way with us.”   Oswald Chambers

Matthew used the expression “amazed” four other times in his Gospel meaning “overwhelmed, suggesting a strong sense of being astounded”.  Basically, our Lord continuously blew His hearers out of the water whenever He taught or opened His mouth for that matter.  His Words were current, electrifying His audiences.  Again, He spoke with authority because He was and is the ultimate Authority.  There is no real power apart from Jesus.  Scripture tells us without Him we can do nothing of eternal value but with Him, He confers our success.  His presence is the believer’s power.  In Him is unaided omnipotence:

⁴ “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ⁵ I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”    John 15:4-5 (NIV)

 

I am reminded of our Lord’s parting Words to His disciplesis di in the Great Commission given later in Matthew reminding them that they were to go in His power and authority to disciple the world for Christ – these words are for us as well:

¹⁸ Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. ¹⁹ Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”   Matt 28:18-20 (NIV)

“Every attribute of God should become a fresh ray in the sunlight of our gladness.  That He is wise should make us glad, knowing as we do our own foolishness.  That He is mighty should cause us to rejoice who tremble at our weakness.  That He is everlasting, should always be a theme of joy when we know that we wither as the grass.  That He is un-changing, should perpetually yield us a song, since we change every hour.  That He is full of grace, that He is overflowing with it, and that this grace in covenant He has given to us; that it is ours to cleanse us, ours to keep us, ours to sanctify us, ours to perfect us, ours to bring us to glory – all this should tend to make us glad in Him.  This gladness in God is as a deep river; we have only as yet touched its brink, we know a little of its clear sweet, heavenly streams, but onward the depth is greater, and the current more impetuous in its joy.”   Charles H. Spurgeon         

¹⁵ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. ¹⁶ For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. ¹⁷ He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. ¹⁸ And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. ¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, ²⁰ and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.   Col 1:15-20 (NIV)

 

What I glean from this:

 

·       Jesus spoke with authority because He was and is the ultimate Authority.

·       I can do nothing eternal apart from Jesus.

·       Jesus selflessly came to earth as the fullness of God in bodily form to reconcile me to God through His blood shed on the cross.

 

 

Sharing Bread Matthew 7:24-27

SHARING BREAD

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Matt 7:24-27 (NIV)

Jesus begs the question of us all - upon what foundation are we building our houses (lives)?  Upon what ground does our building rest?  The foundation determines the ability for our structures to withstand the elements – the cold hard winds of life of which no one is immune.  Because we live in a fallen world and we wrestle daily with Satan, sin and self, trials and heartaches blow hard on us all.  A sudden death, the loss of income, a wayward child, a chronic illness, a love-less marriage – you name it, these beat against our houses like no small hurricane.  Those hopes which are built on Christ the solid Rock will stand even when the storms fiercely blow.  His comforts will never fail; His faithfulness is great and new every morning.  When the Lord is our portion and sufficiency, we will always be satisfied:

²² Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. ²³ They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. ²⁴ I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”  Lam 3:22-24 (NIV)

Our Lord teaches us we can either choose to be prudent, sensible and wise in our choice of foundations or we can choose to be silly, stupid or foolish – sounds like a no-brainer to me!  Paul gives us fair warning as well by stating in 1 Corinthians that the wisdom of the world is foolishness in God’s sight:

¹⁸ Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise. ¹⁹ For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”; ²⁰ and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”  1 Cor 3:18-20 (NIV)

Christ classifies the hearers into two categories – those who hear His Words and act and those who hear His Words and do nothing.  Those who hear and are obedient to God’s Word receive freely flowing grace giving way to grace, conversely, those who are disobedient to what they hear vainly turn their backs on the grace held out for them.  Sadly, they bring ruin upon themselves. God’s Word is meant to benefit us by changing our lives as we obey.  God states in Ezekiel:

³¹ My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. ³² Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice.   Ezek 33:31-32 (NIV)

Interestingly, delayed obedience is disobedience causing us harm as well.  Postponed obedience can never bring the full blessing God intended for us and others as what would have brought forth had we been quick to obey.  Also, we should not dread any consequence that results from absolute obedience to our Lord’s commands.  We are to dare to trust Him as well as dare to follow Him – He will never disappoint us – always enabling us to stand firm in the storm.       

James tells us we are not to merely listen to God’s Word but do what it says in order to not deceive ourselves and to be blessed in all that we undertake.  Why would we want to waste our lives and efforts by doing any differently?

²² Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. ²³ Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror ²⁴ and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ²⁵ But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.   James 1:22-25 (NIV)

“It is not enough to hear Christ’s words, and understand them, hear them, and remember them, hear them, and talk of them, repeat them, dispute for them; but we must hear and practice them.  This do, and you shall live. Those only who hear, and obey, are blessed.”    Matthew Henry

“Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ.”   A.W. Tozer

“Love for God and obedience to God are so completely involved in each other that either one of them implies the other too.”   F. F. Bruce

What I glean from this:

·       I am to build my house upon Christ the solid Rock.

·       I build by obedience to His revealed will – His Word.

·       I must not merely listen to God’s Word but do what it says.  This is always to my benefit.

 

 

Sharing Bread Matthew 7:21-23

SHARING BREAD

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”

Matt 7:21-23 (NIV)

Our Lord gives us an important red flag in our verses for today – it is not by our words – however religious or pious they may sound - or by our works – however righteous, gracious or good they may appear - that secures a right relationship with Him rather it is by His grace which changes our hearts as we freely relinquish our will into His hands.  Anything ultimately good done in a life is from Jesus.  We can call Him “Lord” all day long and perhaps even use His great Name for the miraculous yet remain hardened in our hearts and estranged from Him.  Scripture gives us an example of this in Acts where seven sons of Sceva - a Jewish priest - invoked the Name of Jesus over the demon possessed and received quite a whipping:

¹³ Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, "In the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out." ¹⁴ Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. ¹⁵ [One day] the evil spirit answered them, "Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?" ¹⁶ Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.   Acts 19:13-16 (NIV)

 

When one calls Jesus “Lord” yet consistently does not do what He says, is He really their “Lord”?  Our outward expressions and acts of presumptuous pride - particularly for personal gain – does not equate to obedience.  God even used a donkey to speak a word to direct a misguided prophet!  Remember as well, Judas drove our demons yet he was doomed for destruction.  Anyone can say “Lord” but that does not make Him such in our lives if we staunchly refuse to make Him our Master.  Unless we know Jesus experientially through a personal relationship, we have no part in the Kingdom of God.  Jesus presents this question to us in Luke:

 

 ⁴⁶ “Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?”   Luke 6:46 (NIV)

 

Seriously, do we really think we can fool Him?  God knows the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts.  We hide nothing from Him.  Our resistance in allowing Him to be the Master of our lives only brings us harm. 

 

¹³ Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.   Heb 4:13 (NIV)

 

He, who surely has our best interest at heart, knows and loves us completely.  He can certainly be fully trusted with our lives and with the lives of those we love.  He seeks broken and contrite hearts that are willing to look up and take Him at His Word.  He desires and deserves our total trust.  King David tells us:

 

¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.   Psalms 51:17 (NIV)

God is not looking for a mere outward ritualistic relationship with His children rather inward obedience – as their desire, not as their burden.  Micah gives us a wonderfully succinct definition of God’s requirements for His children:

⁸ He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.    Micah 6:8 (NIV)

 

“Now this is His will, that we believe in Christ, that we repent of sin, that we live a holy life, and that we love one another.  This is His will, even our sanctification.”   Matthew Henry

 

“Sanctification is a life of Christ-centered choices, made evident in loving obedience to God.”   Mel De Peal

enry

 

 

Our being just is the way of loving mercy and demonstrates a proper humility before God Who was and is freely merciful to us while yet broken sinners.  We love because He first loved us. 

 

“Living for Jesus, a life that is true.  Striving to please Him in all that I do.  Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free.  This is the pathway of blessing for me.  Living for Jesus Who died in my place, bearing on Calvary, my sin and disgrace.  Such love constrains me, to answer His call, follow His leading and give Him my all.  Living for Jesus, wherever I am.  Doing each duty in His holy name.  Willing to suffer affliction or loss.  Deeming each trial a part of my cross.  Living for Jesus, through earth’s little while, my dearest treasure, the light of His smile.  Seeking the lost ones, He died to redeem.  Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.”   Thomas O. Chisholm

 

Never be afraid to live for Jesus.  Never be ashamed to live for Jesus. Never be apathetic in living for Jesus. Be committed.   Anne Graham Lotz

What I glean from this:

·       It is not by my words or even by my works – though important – that I am saved.  It is His grace alone through Christ alone.

·       My obedience demonstrates my love for the Master.

·       God does not desire a ritualistic relationship with His children rather one of love.

Sharing Bread Matthew 7:15-20

SHARING BREAD

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.”

Matt 7:15-20 (NIV)

In our verses for today Jesus warns believers to watch out – to be on our guard – against those who would lead us astray.  While they may appear harmless they are anything but.  We would do well to remember what Scripture tells us regarding Satan and his minions.  The devil himself disguises as an angel of light therefore we should not be surprised that his servants do as well:

¹³ For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve.   2 Cor 11:13-15 (NIV)

We are test all before blindly believing and if proven false avoid and have nothing to do with following them.  The Bible approves of - as well as God blesses - those who diligently search the Scriptures for Truth.  Remember what God’s Word states regarding the Bereans who even checked the Apostle Paul:

¹¹ Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.   Acts 17:11 (NIV)

We are to be cautious regarding mindless beliefs as many have fallen prey to and suffered much harm from.  This is certainly not a new problem.  From the serpent in the garden with our original parents until this present day we are bombarded with those who desire to take us on the same path of destruction as they.  God has continuously warned His people against this.  We find in Scripture God’s “Heads-Up!” to His people in Jeremiah’s time which also included His antidote against falling prey to these “ferocious wolves” – we are to know His Wordis God’s G       :

¹⁶ This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD. ¹⁷ They keep saying to those who despise me, ‘The LORD says: You will have peace.’  And to all who follow the stubbornness of their hearts they say, ‘No harm will come to you.’  ¹⁸ But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word?  Who has listened and heard his word?”   Jer 23:16-18 (NIV)

 

Later in Matthew, in speaking of the end times, Jesus warns us against these imposters so that we will not be fooled and taken captive:

²¹ For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again. ²² If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. ²³ At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it. ²⁴ For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and miracles to deceive even the elect--if that were possible. ²⁵ See, I have told you ahead of time.    Matt 24:21-25 (NIV)

 

Jesus tells us today as well we can know these false prophets by the actions of their lives.  A tree produces fruit according to its own kind.  If we want to know if one’s teaching is from above an easy test is to examine the life – the works of their lives will testify for or against them.

 

"A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love."     St. Basil

 

Furthermore, if the direction of their teaching leads us to godliness, humility, patience, love, joy and a host of other Christian graces it surely points us to TRUTH yet if their doctrine is one of dissention, pride, worldly, contentious and takes people away from governing themselves or their families we better flee or at the very least dig deeper ourselves.  Each person is ultimately responsible to God for what they believe.  James tells us what the wisdom from above looks like:

 

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you?  Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.   James 3:13-18 (NIV)

 

“Holiness is the visible side of salvation.”   Charles Spurgeon

 

“A holy life will produce the deepest impression.  Lighthouses blow no horns; they only shine.”  D. L. Moody

 

What I glean from this:

 

·       I am to watch out for false prophets – those desirous to lead me on their path of destruction.

·       I am to study the Scripture to know Truth - ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Tim 3:16-17 (NIV)

·       A tree is known by its fruit.

Sharing Bread Matthew 7:13-14

SHARING BREAD

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.”

Matt 7:13-14 (NIV)

Simply put, Jesus is the Gate to righteousness and Jesus is the Way of righteousness.  He is the Entrance, the Doorway, through which we may enter into God’s provision for us as well as the only Way which exists for our access to God the Father.  Our Lord states these Truths in John:

⁷ Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸ All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹ I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.”   John 10:7-9 (NIV)

 

⁶ Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”   John 14:6 (NIV)

 

Salvation is not obtainable in a myriad of ways - contrary to what many love to believe.  There is no other name by which we must be saved but Jesus.  In preaching to the rulers, elders and teachers of the law, Peter clearly states:

 

¹² “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12 (NIV)

 

“Our nature struggles fiercely against being saved without our works and tries to deceive us with a grand illusion of our own righteousness. So we may find ourselves attracted to a life that merely appears to be righteous. Or because we know we aren’t righteous, we may be frightened by death or sin.  Therefore, we must learn that we should have nothing to do with any other way of becoming righteous, except through Christ alone.”  Martin Luther

 

In our verses for today, not too dissimilar to Moses’, Joshua’s and Elijah’s pleas to the people of Israel, Jesus sets before us two different choices – if you will, curtain A or curtain B – clearly, the path of destruction or the path of life.  There was no middle way then, there is no middle way now and there will be no middle way in the future.  God has a funny way of never changing.  Jesus did not come saying He wanted just a part of us rather all – a house divided cannot stand. 

 

²³ Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”   Luke 9:23 (NIV)

 

The Pharisees of our Lord’s day – and any other subsequent works based, spiritual pride based religion – would never and will never measure up.  Scripture tells us all our righteousness is as filthy rags in the sight of God.  Believers do not work to be saved rather we work because we are saved. We do not have a “right” to grace – making us stinking spoiled, soft, and prideful rather we have been given the privilege of grace – making us appreciative, humbled and desirous to serve.  Grace is not something we deserve rather it is a gift – God’s wholly unmerited favor.  The narrow Way will always lead us away from ourselves and straight to Jesus – everything in the Gospel is about our Lord.  

 

“What ultimately keeps our motives biblically prioritized and holy before God is the profound conviction that obeying God will merit us nothing.  This is why Jesus tells us that, when we have done all that we should do, we are still unprofitable servants.  Jesus does not nullify the value of duty in order to dissuade us from serving God, but to keep is from depending on duty to gain God’s acceptance.  When we understand that our works in themselves earn us no merit with God, then the only reason to do those works is love for Him.  Thus we learn to serve God not for personal gain but for His glory-not for love of self but for love of the Savior.”  Bryan Chapell

 

We are not to build our hopes of righteousness upon our works as God will never own works done in the flesh apart from His leading and power.  Rather our hopes are built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.  Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians our sure foundation is Jesus and what we are to build upon this Rock are works done through His achieving power and strength - what is done in the flesh, Paul states, will never make it through the fire:

 

¹⁰ By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. ¹⁴ If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames.   1 Cor 3:10-15 (NIV)  

 

“We do the works, but God works in us the doing of the works.”   Augustine

 

“Faith is the root of works.  A root that produces nothing is dead.”    Thomas Wilson

 

What I glean from this:

 

·       Jesus is the Gate to righteousness and Jesus is the Way of righteousness.

·       Jesus wants all of me not part.  If my loyalties are divided, I will fall.  I cannot serve two masters.

·       I serve Jesus out of love not duty.