Daily Devotions
Matthew
A Subtle False Understanding
Text: Matthew 7: 12 - 29
Jesus knew His audience well. He knew how people interpreted religious teachings. He warned against a subtle but deadly false understanding.
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord,
Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven,
but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
Matthew 7:21
Who may enter into the kingdom of heaven? Two lines of thought must be carefully distinguished in this text.
1. Is verbal confession without concrete evidence sufficient?
How does one get admitted into the kingdom of heaven? One of the subtlest of dangers is where one preaches a watered-down Gospel. On the surface this gospel sounds just like that preached by Jesus.
a) There is mention of the kingdom of heaven.
b) Of course the name of God would be mentioned.
c) There is the offer of admission to heaven.
d) There may even be some talk about the need of repentance.
e) The hearer is asked to make a verbal confession of his “faith” in the Lord.
f) The hearer is then declared “saved”. But is he?
2. Verbal confession and doing God’s Will
There must always be the careful presentation of the Gospel of the kingdom! Here is how this may be done!
a) Emphasizing the gravity of human sinfulness.
b) Recognizing the grace of God in extending an invitation to enter into His kingdom.
c) Repentance from sin with appropriate “fruits of repentance” must be taught.
d) Cultivating a life of righteousness after speaking of salvation must be done.
e) The hearer must be taught that his life must reflect change. Only when there are fruits would he be thought of as one who has truly been “saved”.
f) It is the Lord Himself who will commend the believer who seeks the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. The reality of that faith is seen in doing God’s will.
MANY MAY BE MISTAKEN ABOUT THEIR SALVATION
Jesus knew that there would be many who were mistaken about their faith and thus their salvation. Thus He urged His hearers to pay close attention to what He taught.
“Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord,
Lord, have we not prophesied in Your
name, cast out demons in Your name,
and done many wonders in Your name? ‘ ”
Matthew 7:22
Let us ponder over these solemn words of Jesus!
“Many will say to me in that day…”
The word “many” is surely frightening! Imagine the significance of that word! Contrast it with the word “few”! The impact should stagger us and cause us to check our position in Christ!
“Lord, Lord, have we not…?”
Those who stood before the Lord knew the right words to say. They called Jesus “Lord”. They even appealed to their so-called works. They must have been impressed with their own works.
a) Prophesying in the Lord’s Name
b) Exorcising in the Lord’s Name
c) Performing wonders (“mighty works”)
It is interesting to note that in all the teachings of Jesus thus far, none of the above were mentioned or taught. He did not teach about prophesying, nor exorcism, nor performing of wonders and signs!
Ponder again what Jesus had been teaching all this while. He emphasized a relationship with God as Father. He focused on teaching the Scriptures. He dwelt heavily on how faith and works (daily living) went together! However all that Jesus taught seemed to have been ignored in favour of the pursuit of the “extra-ordinary”!
ONLY GOD’S JUDGMENT COUNTS!
At the end of the day, it is not what we think, nor what defence we can put up that counts! It is the judgment of the Lord that will count for anything! Dare we take any unnecessary risk concerning the state of our souls?
Let us examine our salvation! Do we really know that we are saved? Do we bear fruit that speaks of true salvation? Few questions are more important than these!