1. THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT
Matthew 5 – 7
Study XII

2. Study XII A Christian’s Choice Part I: choosing the right way and the right prophets (Matthew 7:13-20)

3. The Broad
and
Narrow Way

4. A Christian’s Choices:
Two ways (7:13-14)
Two ways.
a. The Narrow Way
Clearly marked boundaries
Hard to follow
Few companions, who are:
Convicted Subservient
Faithful Loving
Dedicated Abstinent
Evangelistic Prayerful

5. A Christian’s Choices:
Two ways (7:13-14)
Two ways.
b. The Broad Way
Spacious
Easy
Plenty of companions, who are:
Superficial Mechanically religious
Popular Falsely ambitious
Sensuous Morally lax

6. A Christian’s Choices:
Two ways (7:13-14)
2. Two gates.
a. The Narrow Gate
Sometimes hard to find
Leads to the hard road
Requires leaving baggage behind,
Sins Self-righteousness
Pride Sometimes even family
Covetousness Selfish ambitions

7. A Christian’s Choices:
Two ways (7:13-14)
2. Two gates.
b. The Wide Gate
Easily found
Leads to the easy road
Permits a lot of luggage: bring along
Sins Self-righteousness
Pride Like-minded companions

8. A Christian’s Choices:
Two ways (7:13-14)
3. Two destinations.
a. Life
Begins here.
Perfected hereafter.
The goal of the Scheme of Redemption.

9. A Christian’s Choices:
Two ways (7:13-14)
3. Two destinations.
b. Destruction
Everything bad will be destroyed in hell.
Hell is the ultimate destiny of the disobedient.
These choices are repeated often in Scripture:
“… life and good, death and evil, blessing and curse.”
(Deut. 30:15, 19)
“Prospering and perishing” (Ps. 1)

10. A Christian’s Choices: Two kinds of prophets –true and false (7:15-19)
These words of Jesus teach us that:
a. False prophets exist.
b. A standard exists by which to distinguish prophets.
c. The Bible will tell us how to “try the spirits” (1 Jn. 4:1).

11. A Christian’s Choices: Two kinds of prophets –true and false (7:15-19)
2. Jesus also warns us about false teachers:
a. They appear to be sheep.
b. They are in reality wolves.
c. Jesus describes such people in John 10:11-13.

12. A Christian’s Choices: Two kinds of prophets –true and false (7:15-19)
3. Jesus shows us how to recognize false prophets:
a. Judge the tree by its fruits.
b. Judge doctrine by its soundness.
c. Character and message are both important.

13. End of Study XII.