Two Ways and Two Trees

Text: Matthew 7:13-23

1. Two Paths – The Defining Reality

• Matthew 7:13–14  “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.”
• The Wide Path

• Easy
• Popular
• Culturally accepted
• Requires no surrender

• The Narrow Path

• Intentional
• Countercultural
• Requires surrender and trust

• You don’t drift onto the narrow path—you deliberately choose it.

2.  Two Trees — The Internal Reality

• Matthew 7:17–20  “In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So you’ll recognize them by their fruit.”
• A Bad Tree

• May look good on the outside
• Produces unhealthy, inconsistent fruit
• Root problem = unchanged heart

• A Good Tree

• Rooted in Christ
• Produces consistent, godly fruit
• Evidence of real transformation

• You can fake a path for a while—but you can’t fake fruit forever.

3.  False Voices — The Deceptive Reality

• Matthew 7:15  “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.”
• False voices:
• The Danger:
• The Test:
• Not every voice that sounds spiritual is leading you to life.

4. “On That Day” — The Ultimate Reality

• Matthew 7:21–23  “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. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’”
• It is possible to do things in Jesus’ name and still not belong to Jesus.
• What will we say to Jesus?
• What will we hear from Jesus?