Class Lesson for August 17, 2025

 The Whole Story 

Matthew 7

Matthew 5-7; Sermon on the Mount Part 2

 

As Jesus draws His Sermon on the Mount to a close, He confronts His listeners with a sobering and urgent call. The crowd has heard the Beatitudes. They have been challenged by His radical reinterpretation of righteousness. They have been invited into a life marked by humility, purity, and trust in God. But now, Jesus presses in with a personal question that echoes through the centuries: Will you merely hear these words, or will you obey them?

The final section of Matthew 7 is not a gentle conclusion — it is a piercing examination of the heart. Jesus makes it clear that not everyone who claims to belong to Him does. The test of true discipleship is not found in words spoken or works performed, but in a life built upon obedience to His Word. Many will say, “Lord, Lord,” and yet be unknown by Him. The kingdom of heaven is not entered by association, profession, or performance — but by authentic faith that results in a surrendered life.

Jesus draws a stark contrast between two gates, two roads, two trees, and two builders. The wide gate is easy, the broad road is popular, but it leads to destruction. The narrow gate is difficult, and few find it — but it leads to life. This is the way of the kingdom: not flashy, not self-exalting, not built on sand, but grounded in the solid rock of Christ and His Word.

The imagery of the house built on the rock reminds us that storms will come. Jesus will not endure faith that merely admires. Faith that rests in His finished work and lives in obedience to His teaching is the kind that stands. The storms are not what destroys - it is the foundation that determines the outcome.

Authentic faith listens. Authentic faith trusts. Authentic faith follows. And that kind of faith is not produced by human willpower — it is the fruit of a new heart, given by grace.

This is the King’s invitation to build our lives on what lasts. To resist the temptation to settle for performance or appearances. To walk the narrow way, even when it’s costly. And to trust that in Him, the way of obedience is also the way of life.

Jesus is here, even in the warnings — calling us not just to admire His words, but to live them. Not just to profess faith, but to possess it. Not just to hear the truth, but to build our lives upon it.

Matthew 7:21-29

I Never Knew You

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On 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 mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Build Your House on the Rock

24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

The Authority of Jesus

28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Matthew 7:21-29

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom”?                                                                                            
2. What are some ways we can confuse religious activity with authentic faith?                                                                                                                               
3. In the parable of the wise and foolish builders, what do the storms represent in our lives?                                                                                                                        
4. What does it practically look like to build your life on Jesus’ words?                                                                                                                                                       
5. How do we guard against being merely hearers of the Word and not doers?

Closing Thoughts

Jesus makes it clear that true discipleship is not measured by what we say or even what we accomplish, but by whether we obey His Word. The wise builder doesn’t just admire the teachings of Jesus — he puts them into practice, even when it’s hard, even when it costs something. Storms will come in every life — trials, suffering, loss, and ultimately judgment — and only those whose lives are built on obedience to Christ will stand.

This passage challenges us to examine the foundation of our faith: Are we just listening to Jesus, or are we following Him? Where in your life is God calling you to move from hearing to obeying?

END

Teacher's Notes:

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Now watch Jesus' warning...

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1. It Feels Easier to Measure: Checking boxes (church attendance, serving, giving, volunteering) feels tangible. True heart surrender to Christ is harder to measure — so activity can feel like proof, even if it’s not.
2. It Looks Good to Others: People often equate visible devotion with genuine faith. Just like the Pharisees, outward appearance can mask an empty heart (Matthew 23:27).
3. It Mimics Other Relationships: In most areas of life, effort = acceptance. People project this onto God: “If I do enough, surely He’ll accept me.” But salvation is by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9), not works.
4. It Avoids the Harder Surrender: Religious activity can become a substitute for true repentance. It allows a person to stay in control — doing for God rather than yielding to God.
5. They’ve Been Misinformed: Some are taught (formally or culturally) that being “good” or “religious” is the same as being “saved.” Without clear teaching on relationship with Christ, people assume activity equals security.

1. We Believe in Jesus Christ: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:29) Doing the Father’s will begins with trusting in His Son for salvation.
2. We Obey His Word: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (John 14:15) Obedience doesn’t earn salvation, but it proves that our faith is alive (James 2:17).
3. We Bear Spiritual Fruit: “By their fruit you will recognize them.” (Matthew 7:20) Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and other fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23) naturally flow from a life surrendered to Christ.
4. We Pursue Holiness and Repentance: The Father’s will is that we “be holy” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). This doesn’t mean perfection, but a continual turning from sin and turning toward God.
5. We Love Others Sacrificially: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:35) Doing the Father’s will always involves loving people the way He does.

1. A Personal Relationship: “Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.” (John 17:3) To know Jesus is to enter a living relationship with Him, not just facts in our head, but trust in our heart.
2. Trust and Faith: Knowing Jesus means relying on Him as Savior, not on our own good works. “I know whom I have believed and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him.” (2 Timothy 1:12)
3. Obedience and Love: True knowledge of Christ shows up in how we live. “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.” (1 John 2:3)
4. Ongoing Fellowship: Knowing Jesus is not a one-time introduction but a daily walk. Through prayer, worship, and His Word, we grow deeper in intimacy with Him.