Warnings against False Discipleship
Read: Matthew 7:13-29
The Sermon on the Mount concludes with four warnings which contrast the genuine and the false.
It is interesting to note that the genuine is not found in the disciple’s talk but in his walk. Your talk
can be very impressive and deceive others, even yourself, but Jesus gives warnings that it will not
deceive God who looks for practical results.
Warning One: Two Roads (vs. 13-14) Entering the Kingdom of Heaven is not found in following the
crowd, but by a deliberate and costly decision. True discipleship is a minority faith.
Warning Two: Two Prophets (vs. 15-20) Jesus tells His disciples to test preachers and teachers
by their fruit. There are two tests – one is the fruit in the life of the preacher and the other is the fruit
of the doctrine. It is easy to be captivated by a beautiful life or a beautiful truth therefore test the
doctrine by its fruit and the teacher by his fruit.
Warning Three: Two Types of Disciples (vs. 21-23) Beware of confusing appearance and reality,
of judging only by external evidence. The men in verse 21 were tools but a tool is not a servant.
A servant is one who has given his right to himself to the God whom he proclaims. The test of
discipleship is fruit such as godly character. The disciple is warned not to be blind.
Warning Four: Two Foundations (vs.24-27) The emphasis in these verses is hearing versus
doing. Jesus demands that we live as His disciples and not merely hear. Every foundation will
be tested by the storms of the world, the flesh and the devil. There is a tendency in all of us
to appreciate the sayings of Jesus with our intellect while we refuse to do them. It is then that
everything we build will come crashing down.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. What are a few things that you have found difficult in following God? How are these signs that
you are on the narrow path?
2. Ask the Lord to show you some of the fruit of your life. Are you bearing the fruit of the Spirit
(Gal. 5:22-23)? Are there any areas in your life where you have been blind? Ask the Lord to
reveal to you the truth so that you can grow in godliness and be prepared to meet Him one
day.
3. Pray that you would grow in applying the Word to your life, that you would be a doer of the
Word and not merely a hearer.
