Matt. 7:12, 13–14, 15– 23

I. Introduction

A. In this lesson we will be looking at three different passages.

B. The passages are related in a way, but each one has its own message.

II. The "Golden Rule" (7:12)

A. This verse is usually called "The Golden Rule."

B. Many of you will remember the wooden rulers that had printed on the front: A Good Rule "Do Unto Others as You Would Have Them Do Unto You."

1. These rulers were produced by the Coca Cola Bottling Company and given to schools from the 1920s–1960s.

2. Today you might see one at an antique and collectibles store or buy one on the Internet.

3. At that time it was thought to be something good to teach children. Sadly, these would probably not be allowed in the schools today because of the association with the Bible.

B. Actually, this saying, or at least one very like it, has been found in numerous writings.

1. These include Greek and Roman authors, other religious writings, and even Jewish writings.

2. In each of these cases, the saying is in a negative form.

a. Confucius: "What you do not want done to yourself, do not do to others."

b. Isocrates: "Whatever angers you when you suffer it at the hands of others, do not do it to others."

C. Only Jesus gave this saying in a positive form.

1. The negative statements imply not doing anything: Don't do things to others that you do not like done to yourself.

2. Jesus' statement means that we must do something: Treat others the way that we would like to be treated.

3. Jesus calls for action. Doing things for others that we would like to have done to us.

D. Jesus said that this statement "sums up the Law and the Prophets."

1. In other words, all of God's teaching can be summed up in this one simple saying. That is pretty powerful!

2. This one saying covers all situations. There is no need for a long list of rules and regulations.

3. This is still true today. If you treat others the way that you want to be treated, you cannot go wrong.

E. This was how Jesus lived, and this is how he wants his disciples to live as well.

III. The narrow and wide gates (7:13–14)

A. The remainder of the sermon is a series of contrasts.

1. The two ways (vv. 13–14).

2. The two kinds of fruit (vv. 15–23).

3. The two kinds of builders (vv. 24–27).

B. The idea of two ways is found in Psalm 1.

1. These are the way of the righteous and the way of the sinner.

2. Jesus' listeners would no doubt have recognized the similarity.

C. Barclay gave this passage the title: "Life at the Crossroads."

1. That is a good description of Jesus' teaching.

2. A crossroads demands a decision, and that is what Jesus was talking about.
D. Jesus took his illustration from everyday life.

1. Ancient cities were typically surrounded by a wall for defense.

2. In the walls were gates. Some were large enough for a wagon or cart to pass through, while others were so narrow that only a single person or perhaps a small donkey could pass through.

3. Jesus took this illustration and gave a spiritual significance.

E. The wide gate and broad road.

1. This is the easy way and most people take that road.

2. This is the way of self-centeredness.

3. No one tells you what to do on this road. It is up to you. You make the rules.

4. The wide way is the way of least resistance. If you follow the crowd, you will be on the wide road. Unfortunately, it only leads to destruction.

F. The small gate and the narrow way.

1. This road is narrow and hard to find, but it is the right way to go.

2. It is the way of commitment and discipleship.

3. The right way is not the easy way. It may at times be hard to follow, but it is the only way that leads to life.

IV. The good and bad fruit (7:15–23)

A. Jesus began this section by talking about prophets.

1. A prophet was someone who spoke for God.

2. We tend to think of a prophet as a person who predicts the future. This is only a part of the role of the prophet.

3. In Bible times the prophets also communicated God's word to others.

4. This was especially important at the time that Jesus was speaking. There was no New Testament, and the early disciples relied on the apostles and others who could teach them God's word.

B. Not all "prophets" were true to God. Jesus called them "false prophets."

1. Jesus said that they were like wolves in sheep's clothing.

2. They looked like one thing, but were really another.

C. Jesus said to examine their "fruit."

1. He used the simple illustration: Good fruit comes from good plants, but bad fruit comes from bad plants.

a. If you are out in the woods, you don't eat everything that looks good. Some of it may be poisonous.

b. You should only eat fruit that you know is good.

2. Jesus used this as an analogy.

a. If a prophet's message doesn't seem to come from God, or if his lifestyle is wrong, then he must be a false prophet.

b. The same is true today. If the "fruit" of an evangelist or teacher does not look good, then don't accept the teachings.

D. In verses 21–23 Jesus described the sad fate of false prophets.

1. They claimed to be serving God.

2. In reality, they only served themselves.

3. We have examples of this today in some of the popular tele-evangelists.

V. Conclusion

A. In some ways these three passages all seem to be quite different.

B. When we look at them carefully, however, we see the one truth that Jesus has emphasized all through the Sermon on the Mount: His disciples are to be different from the world and those around them.