The Scripture says that one must trust him (not merely verbalize or vocalize “He is Lord”). The problem with these people is that they only parroted the right words, but in their day-to-day lives, they never obeyed Christ as Lord. Of how many American church-goers is this true?

Matthew 7:18-24 is one of the most frightening passages in all of Scripture. Jesus has been warning “that things often are not as they appear. The wide gate and broad way that is crowded with “many” appears desirable. It is easy. It has widespread approval. But it leads to destruction. The false prophet looks like a sheep—meek, mild, and safe—but he is actually a wolf. The trees and bushes look good, but actually they are either counterfeits or “rotten.” Things are not always as they appear, especially initially. Now he speaks of the problem of counterfeit believers, of those who claim Christ saying, “Lord, Lord,” who appear authentic, but are fraudulent. (T Johnson)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaches that our external fruit—our attitudes, involvements, our priorities, the end result of our work—will be the litmus test for discerning the focus of our internal heart. Christ, the Omniscient One, says this is a test that will not fail. You can tell whether or not a person is a true disciple by his fruit. This same test also works for hypocrites. The fruit of one’s life cannot long be hidden or placed under a bushel. We can refer to vss 17-20 in these words. “You can’t tell a book by its cover . . . but you can tell a tree by its fruit.”

What Jesus contrasts here is the difference between only appearing to be a disciple and proving to be a real disciple. “Jesus required his disciples to distinguish between appearance and reality, between true disciples and pseudo-Christians. Nominal Christians will be separated from true Christians.” (Bonhoeffer) Jesus concludes this sermon with a number of paired alternatives or contrasts. In our last sermon, we saw Jesus speak of the two paths (vss. 13-14). He spoke of two trees (16-20), two animals—sheep and wolves, and in our verses for today he speaks of two types of religious professors. In the next verses, he’ll contrast two types of builders. Verses 13-27 repeated the theme of this great contrast (5 times). Each contrast is detectable, i. e., we don’t have to be fooled, we can discern the difference. Also each contrast is between true discipleship that actually obeys our Lord and imitation external religiosity that ends in destruction. The contrast is discernible, observable, verifiable. One can test it by its fruits now and at the Judgment Day.

Jesus warns us that there will be imitation discipleship, but not to be fooled. One can tell the difference. Jesus warns us against self-deception and the danger of a merely verbal profession. Some people can talk like Christians, but don’t really live that way. He then goes on in verse 21 to talk about the great separation between these two that will occur on the coming day of judgment. This is referred to in verse 22 as on that (the specific, appointed) day. This is no normal, usual day, but an awaited for day when all will appear before Jesus as in verse 21 to give their reason why they should enter to Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus says some will be allowed entrance and others will not (There are so many references to this truth in Scripture that I won’t bother to point all of them out). What is the criteria for admission to Heaven? Jesus says simply and, again in contrast, that only those who do his Father’s will—not just those who say the right words—will be admitted.

Jesus warns us not to camouflage our religiosity with great rhetoric, but “Jesus emphasizes with great solemnity that it is on a thorough-going obedience that our eternal destiny depends.” (Stott)

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