The Message of the Teachings on the Mount (106)
By Abraham Eli
This study was first taught on February 28, 2012
Topic: The Message of the Teachings on the Mount (1): The Blessedness of Hearing and Doing
No audio available for this study.Background
Two weeks ago, we concluded on the theme, “Entering into the Kingdom of Heaven”, as we looked at the Lord’s final comment to all those who will make claims of doing God’s work in His Name, but who will not be permitted entry into heaven. The Lord’s comment to anyone who comes to Him with claims of access into heaven on the basis of preaching, casting out demons, performing miracles in His Name and other similar acts of divine service, is one that will shock and astound such a person. The Lord said that He would plainly and publicly proclaim that He never knew them! We paraphrased and expanded His comment thus: “At no time was I ever intimate with you; at no time were you ever intimate with Me. You did not love Me, nor did you ever keep any of My commandments. You were never born again, even though you were in church all your life. You had a position of eminence in the church, and were even ordained, but it was not I who gave you the position of eminence nor was it I who ordained you! I don’t recognize you, neither do I recognize as worthy of regard, any of these things you are claiming to have done in My name! Get away from Me. Get into everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels. You are a practitioner of lawlessness; a performer of iniquity and wickedness; a doer of things not authorized or approved by Me! You are a false professor of faith in God. You speak, but have no action to back up your speech. What a waste your life has been!”
This is indeed a sobering remark. But for those who truly serve God, the promise of eternal life is guaranteed, and can never fail. However, those who are deceitfully ‘serving’ God will find it a very sad day indeed, when they will be told, “depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”
Scripture Text(s)
Matthew 7:24-27
Tonight, we come to the essence of what we have been studying for the past 30 months or so; that is, the message of the teachings on the Mount. The teachings which the Lord began in the fifth Chapter of the Gospel of Matthew are more than a series of principles to live by; they were spoken so that the hearers can put them to practice in their lives and in so doing, overcome the challenges of life, and be made to enter into the kingdom of God on the Last Day. The Message Translation puts it more succinctly, “These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.” May the Holy Spirit guide us through as we learn, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
As the Lord comes to the end of His teaching on the Mount, He categorizes His listeners, and indeed, those who will listen to His words at any point in time, into two groups: those who hear the word of God and put to practice what they have heard; and those who hear the word of God but do not put to practice what they have heard. We now turn to consider the rewards of hearing and doing the word of God.
Hebrews 4:12; Romans 1:16; 2 Corinthians 4:13; John 8:31-32; James 1:25; 1 Peter 2:2; Hebrews 5:12-14; John 15:4-8; Joshua 1:8; John 17:17; 2 John 1:9; 1 John 5:12; Hebrews 4:2; Matthew 12:43-45; 2 Peter 2:20-22.
Conclusion
The Lord’s teachings and words are meant to be beneficial to those who hear it; but for some people they do not benefit them. The problem has never been with the word of God, but with the hearer. The Lord categorized those listening to His words into two groups—those who listen, but do not apply His word in their lives and situations; and, those who not only listen, but also go on to apply what they have heard in their lives and situations.
There are tremendous blessings in being more than just a hearer or being in attendance in bible study. For instance, there is salvation from the influence of sin to all who hear the word of God and believe it. Indeed, a true disciple of the Lord is that person who puts to practice the word of God. He is one who knows the truth in God’s word and who is set free by the power in the word of God! Other benefits of being hearers and doers of the word of God include, being blessed in all that you do; spiritual growth and maturity in the things of God; fruitfulness and prosperity in every area of your life; sanctification; and, the assurance of eternal life.
Unfortunately, for those who do not adhere to the word of God, there is a far worse ending—one in which they are worse off than when they first believed. Indeed, many people have had the opportunity to hear the word of God by way of evangelism, bible study, seminars, counselling, etc., but the word which they heard did not benefit them because of unbelief, and hence, they did not do what they had heard!
A major part of the message of the Lord’s teachings on the Mount is that you are neither transformed, nor are you a disciple, just because you are listening to God’s word or attend bible study regularly. You are transformed, and become a disciple, only because you act on the word of God which you have heard. Indeed, the benefits and blessedness which accrue to the hearer of the word of God, rests on this premise—you acting on God’s word in faith!
Are you indeed blessed through bible study (private and corporate)? Are you growing spiritually? Are you more mature in the things of God? Do you have a fruitful and productive life? Are you enjoying true prosperity and good success? Are you sanctified every time the word of God comes to you? Are you sure of your eternity with God by reason of the word of God? If you cannot answer “Yes” to all of these questions, then you need to go and talk to God about His word abiding in you!
Back to all Bible Study Outline List