Sermon Tone Analysis

Overall tone of the sermon

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TITLE:  To Build a Strong Life          SCRIPTURE:    Matthew 7:21-29 \\ \\ \\ EXEGESIS: \\ \\ VERSES 13-27:  WIDE GATES AND FALSE PROPHETS \\ \\ Our Gospel lesson is part of a larger unit (vv.
13-27) in which: \\ \\ -- Jesus warns against wide gates and broad roads that lead to destruction.
He calls us to small gates and narrow roads that lead to life (vv.
13-14).
We are tempted, not only by obvious sins (misuse of sex, money, and power), but are also tempted to take shortcuts in building the kingdom.
I recall a large church sign announcing, "Less talk, more rock."
We had been looking for a place to worship, but after spotting the sign, turned around, got back in the car, and found another church.
The church that cares about filling pews instead of developing disciples will probably do neither.
\\ \\ -- Jesus warns against false prophets, ferocious wolves dressed in sheep's clothing -- to be known by their fruits (vv.
15-18).
By Matthew's time, the church was struggling not only against persecution from the outside, but also against false leaders on the inside.
\\ \\ -- Jesus warns that every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire (v.
19).
\\ \\ -- Jesus warns that only those who do the will of the Father in heaven can expect to enter the kingdom of heaven (vv.
21-23).
\\ \\ -- Jesus warns that those who fail to act on Jesus' words are like a house built on sand -- headed for a great collapse (vv.
24-27).
\\ \\ Each of these warnings contrasts two kinds of people -- those who choose the right or wrong road -- those who bear good fruit or bad -- those who do or fail to do the Father's will -- and those who build on rock or sand.
"The concept of two ways is reflected in a wide spectrum of Jewish texts (cf.
Deuteronomy 11:26; 30:15-20; Psalm 1:6; Jeremiah 21:8; ... and the entire book of Proverbs)....  The epilogue of Jesus' Sermon bears the imprint of this tradition.
For Matthew, there are two different roads to travel, two different ways to build, here and now.
And they will lead in the end to contrasting outcomes (cf. the parables of the end in chap.
25).
Choosing the right way is thus a matter of greatest importance" (Gardner).
Throughout life, we make choices that lead to life or death -- salvation or condemnation.
\\ \\ \\ VERSES 21-23:  NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS TO ME, "LORD, LORD" \\ \\ 21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.
22On that day many will say to me 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?'  23Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.'
"  (Greek: anomian -- lawless) \\ \\ Jesus describes people who appear to have great ministries.
They not only call Jesus Lord, but also achieve spectacular things in Jesus' name.
They prophesy, cast out demons, and accomplish deeds of power in the cause of Christ.
"We are reminded that signs and wonders can come from sources other than God, including both the demonic world and human manufacture" (Blomberg, 131).
Televangelists come to mind -- showmen who tell the lame to throw away their crutches for the benefit of the cameras-- who sell prayer handkerchiefs for profit -- whose television time is dedicated more to raising funds than to ministry -- who exploit the vulnerable for personal profit.
\\ \\ But we should not assume that Jesus means these words only for others.
Who is to say that people with modest ministries are exempt?
Is it possible that Jesus might reject a person who spends a lifetime in ministry?
Is it possible that Jesus might reject a long-time pastor, elder, deacon, choir member, Sunday-school teacher, or board chairperson?
If so, why?
By what criteria will we be judged?
How will Jesus decide whether to accept or reject us?  \\ \\ The dividing line is whether or not we have done the Father's will (v.
21).
"The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is not meant to be admired but to be obeyed" (R.T. France, quoted in Blomberg, 133).
Neither theological degrees nor tenure in church offices will save us.
A resume that might wow a pastoral search committee will not influence a Lord with x-ray vision -- capable of seeing into the innermost recesses of our spiritual hearts.
\\ \\ It is all too easy to busy ourselves about the work of the church without stopping to reflect on whether we are obeying Jesus -- to busy ourselves with programs while neglecting people -- to prepare sermons while neglecting prayer -- to do great things in Jesus' name while neglecting Jesus -- to assume that full pews validate our ministry when, in fact, we have lost touch with the Lord.
\\ \\ "Thus it is not sufficient for the Christian community to ask 'are they Christ-centered?' .Nor is it enough.
to ask 'do they win others to Christ?'
They must also ask, 'Do they themselves seek to do and to move others to do the will of the Father as this will is taught us in Jesus' teachings?' " (Bruner, 286).
\\ \\ If doing the Father's will is crucial, what is the Father's will?
For Matthew, it is keeping the Torah as interpreted by Jesus.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us that obedience requires poverty of spirit, mourning, meekness, hungering and thirsting for righteousness, mercy, purity of heart, and peacemaking (5:2-11).
It requires us: \\ \\        -- To let our light shine (5:16); \\        -- To keep the commandments (5:17-20); \\        -- To deal with anger and to resolve conflict (5:21-26); \\        -- To maintain proper marital relationships (5:27-32); \\        -- To speak honestly without fanfare or oaths (5:34-37); \\        -- To act in generous and loving ways -- even toward our enemies (5:38-48); \\        -- To give alms and to pray in secret (6:1-6); \\        -- To forgive (6:14-15); \\        -- To seek first the kingdom of God (6:24-34); \\        -- To refrain from judgment (7:1-5).
\\ \\ As this Gospel continues, Jesus will give additional insights into God's will.
We are to show mercy (9:13); to speak the word that God gives us even in adverse circumstances (10: 19-20); to care for little ones and to seek and save the lost (18:10-14); to resolve conflict (18:15-17); to observe justice, mercy, and faith (23:23); to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to welcome the stranger, to clothe the naked, and to visit the prisoner (25:31-46); and to make disciples of all nations (28:16-20).
\\ \\ This raises the issue of salvation by works.
Are we saved by what Jesus has done or by what we do?
It would be easy to misinterpret Jesus' requirement to do the will of God.
Jesus is not advocating salvation by works but authentic faith that produces good fruit -- that impels us to act in accord with God's will -- that leads to faithful action.
\\ \\ "On that day" (v.
22) refers to Judgment Day.
"Prophecy" is "not simply or even primarily predicting the future, although that can be included (Acts 11:27-28; 21:10-11), but also proclamation of truth in the broadest sense and even the possession of power" (Hagner).
\\ \\ In v. 23, Jesus warns that he will disavow any relationship with the anomian, which the NRSV translates "evildoers."
Anomian comes from the Greek word for law (nomos).
The "a" at the beginning reverses the meaning, so anomian means "lawless" -- rejection of the Torah as interpreted by Jesus.
\\ \\ "Judgment and grace are not separated in Matthew's narrative, as if one comes from an angry God and the other from a loving Jesus.
Rather, judgment and grace are both dimensions of God's movement toward the world" (Brueggemann, 353).
\\ \\ \\ VERSES 24-25:  LIKE A WISE MAN WHO BUILT HIS HOUSE ON ROCK \\ \\ 24"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock.
25The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock."
\\ \\ Jesus can speak with authority about building houses.
As a carpenter (Mark 6:3), Jesus understands home construction.
Here he speaks as an architect, advising us on the first principle of construction -- to establish a solid foundation.
No plan can be finalized until we have a site, and nothing is more important than secure footing on that site.
A strong foundation makes it possible for the house to survive terrible storms.
\\ \\ When we describe a house, we are likely to talk about the color of the paint, the number of bedrooms, or the layout of the kitchen.
Jesus speaks of nothing but the foundation.
The thing that distinguishes this house from other houses is that, being built on a strong foundation, it can survive the worst imaginable weather.
Its strength was established at the beginning -- with the laying of the foundation.
\\ \\ Note that the house is not spared storms.
Its survival does not depend on being sheltered.
This suggests that God does not shelter Christians from life's storms (illness, accidents, death, job loss, etc.).
While faith can reduce our stress-level and prayer can, in some circumstances, lead to miraculous cures, Christians must be prepared to live through the storms and tragedies that are common to humankind.
\\ \\ The ultimate test, of course, is "the final test, the day of judgment" (Keener, 167).
On that day, God will blow away every pretense.
Those who have only the appearance of faith will be as utterly undone as a flimsy house in a great hurricane.
\\ \\ What gives us a strong foundation?
It is hearing and doing the words of Jesus (v.
24).
"The standard of orthodoxy, of righteousness, is the words of Jesus, not those of the Torah" (Hagner).
\\ \\ Before we can do Jesus' words, we must hear them.
The most reliable sources of Jesus' words are the scriptures, the preaching and teaching of the church, and the mystery of the sacraments.
We can also hear Jesus' words through Christian books, music, and media, as well as the counsel of Christian friends.
It is even possible for Christ to speak to us through less traditional means -- secular books, plays, movies, music, or personal experiences.
However, we need to recognize that the less traditional the means, the less reliable the message.
We must test every insight by laying it alongside scripture to test its validity.
\\ \\ \\ VERSES 26-27:  LIKE A FOOLISH MAN WHO BUILT HIS HOUSE ON SAND \\ \\ 26  "And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man (Greek: moro -- from moros) who built his house on sand.
27The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell -- and great was its fall!" \\ \\ \\ Jesus told us about the wise man.
Now he tells us about the foolish man.
The Greek word is moros -- from which we get the English word moron.
\\ \\ The wise man and the foolish man face identical circumstances -- devastating rain, floods, and wind.
The difference is not in the circumstances but in the house (which is a metaphor for the man himself).
The wise man's house survives because he built it on solid rock (Jesus' words).
The foolish man's house falls because he built his house on sand.
The difference is whether or not they have done what Jesus taught.
\\ \\ Our secular culture tells us that it is not so simple.
It insists that true wisdom requires a good education -- a diversified investment portfolio -- insurance against catastrophe -- safe sex -- exercise -- a nutritious diet -- an annual checkup.
Ironically, people who dismiss religious fervor as fanaticism are often fervent about these things.
In many cases, money and health have become their God.
\\ \\ Earlier in this sermon (the Sermon on the Mount), Jesus addressed this materialistic focus, saying:  "Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things, and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
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