God’s Saving Word: Wisdom
Introduction
Matthew 7:15-29: Final warnings bring Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount to a close, and his teachings amaze the crowd.
Scripture Reading
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 “Be on your guard against false prophets; they come to you looking like sheep on the outside, but on the inside they are really like wild wolves. 16 You will know them by what they do. Thorn bushes do not bear grapes, and briers do not bear figs. 17 A healthy tree bears good fruit, but a poor tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a poor tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 And any tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown in the fire. 20 So then, you will know the false prophets by what they do.
I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who calls me ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the Kingdom of heaven, but only those who do what my Father in heaven wants them to do. 22 When the Judgment Day comes, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord! In your name we spoke God’s message, by your name we drove out many demons and performed many miracles!’ 23 Then I will say to them, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you wicked people!’
The Two House Builders
24 “So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, and the wind blew hard against that house. But it did not fall, because it was built on rock.
26 “But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not obey them is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain poured down, the rivers flooded over, the wind blew hard against that house, and it fell. And what a terrible fall that was!”
The Authority of Jesus
28 When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowd was amazed at the way he taught. 29 He wasn’t like the teachers of the Law; instead, he taught with authority.
Today’s Key Verse: Matthew 7:24
[Jesus said:] “So then, anyone who hears these words of mine and obeys them is like a wise man who built his house on rock.”
Reflect
What warnings are given in today’s reading? Which of these warnings do you find most challenging? Why? Why do you think the crowd was amazed at the way Jesus taught? What was the most important thing you learned from the readings these past six days?
Pray
Lord Jesus, you teach with authority. May I always listen for your voice and obey your words. Guide me today as I seek to do your will. In your holy name, I pray. Amen.
Tomorrow’s Reading
Matthew 12:1-21: Jesus teaches about observing the Sabbath.
