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Across history, various rabbis have been known for their particular teaching; notable perhaps for emphasis on a particular aspect of Torah or focus on a specific attribute God’s nature, or a unique interpretation on an historical event. Disciples are supposed to be able to articulate their rabbi’s particular teaching. More than that; their lives are supposed toreflect that teaching.

Yeshua, too, has a specific body of teaching attributed to Him. The essentials of it are contained in what is famously known as ‘The Sermon on the Mount’. This morning we continue making our way through this great teaching that is well known, but not necessarily well-studied. People who don’t read the Bible still know about it, and will speak of its loftiness and beauty. The reality, however, is that this is far and away the most difficult teaching ever given, in terms of our inability to attain to it.

Yeshua undoubtedly shared these truths far more than just one time. On multiple occasions He would have taught one or a few of them as a particular situation called for it. But at one point Matthew records that Yeshua gave a much longer sermon – the essentials of His teaching.

Overview of the seven-part series:

I. Blessed are they… (The Beatitudes, part 1) (5:1-9)

II.Blessed are YOU… (The Beatitudes, part 2) (5:10-12)

III. Who we are and aren’t (5:13-20)

IV. You have heard… But I say (Yeshua’s Torah) (5:21-48)

V. When you… (give, pray, fast) (6:1-18)

VI. The futility of materialism (6:19-34)

VII. Things that could keep you out of Heaven (hypocrisy, following the crowd, false teachers, refusal to act on Yeshua’s teaching) (7:1-29)

There is a marked shift in focus at this point in Yeshua’s sermon. Thus far it has been mostly concerned with our interior: our thought life, the motives behind our actions, the value we assign to people and things, our priorities and the question of our faith in Adonai as the One who knows our thoughts and who provides our needs. At this point, Messiah begins talking about how we think about and treat one another.

Verses 1-5

“Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”

Matthew 7:1 seems to have replaced John 3:16 as the world’s most often quoted verse of the Bible. Pity that so many people read half of a verse, and don’t bother at all about the context. So why don’t we take a few minutes this Shabbat and see exactly what Yeshua meant, and why, in fact, we are to judge – as we tend to use the word today, and why we are not to ‘judge’ based on the actual Greek word Yeshua chose to use, in context.

The Greek verb here is krinw and in this context we are prohibited from passing judgment in the sense of condemnation – which clearly isn’t our prerogative, since it is God alone who will make that ultimate determination. The word can also refer to reckoning the value of something – which, in the case of other human beings, again isn’t our prerogative, since we are not their Creator.

For those who would argue that this verse prohibits us from ever judging the actions or attitudes of another person, I would point out a few things. First of all, in verse 5 Yeshua says that we should take the 2×4 out of our own eye so that we can see clearly to take the splinter out of our brother’s eye. He didn’t say not to remove splinters from wayward eyes. He said to be careful not to be hypocritical in doing so. Rebuking someone for wrongdoing (and every one of us at times needs correction) isn’t what Yeshua was prohibiting.

Secondly, in John 7:24 Yeshua told the Jewish leaders who were following Him around, “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” It is the same Greek verb – krinw. And in Luke 17:3 He said to His disciples, “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” So if you argue that Matthew 7 means we can never render judgment, that we can never say that what someone is doing is wrong, then you are suggesting that Yeshua repeatedly contradicted Himself, since at other times He said we should render judgment.

So what is Messiah teaching us? He is warning us against hypocrisy. If you are going to call people out for sin, you had better be sure you aren’t guilty of the very same. He wasn’t saying that we have to be perfect in order to offer rebuke, otherwise nobody could ever discipline anybody, and just imagine how that would look! Proverbs 27:17 tells us that “…as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

One thing to remember: iron sharpening iron tends to produce sparks. Rebuke isn’t easy. It is as difficult for the one bringing it (because they risk an angry, defensive reaction) as it is for the one who must endure it. But it is essential, and when it is between brothers in Messiah Yeshua, it is a very good thing. Yes, it hurts to be chastised, but I always remember that it took courage for the other person to confront me, and in so doing, they were giving me a vote of confidence; they gave me the benefit of the doubt that I was teachable. Can we say with the Psalmist, “It was good for me to be afflicted, so that I might learn Your decrees” (Psalm 119:71)?

So we must be humble and careful to be free of hypocrisy when we have to confront a brother or sister who is in sin. But there is another concern: is the other person willing to receive correction? Are they humble and teachable? And that is the issue Yeshua addresses in verse 6.

Verse 6

“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

Since nobody in their right mind would give holy things to dogs or give expensive jewelry to pigs, this is an example of where we don’t take a statement literally. This is the use of metaphor and hyperbole. Therefore, we need to interpret what Yeshua is saying. The first key to interpreting this is the context. Messiah has just spoken about making sure we are not guilty of hypocrisy when we try to bring correction to somebody else. And He hasn’t changed the subject, so this statement has to do with rebuke and correction. What does this mean, then? I believe Yeshua is telling us who not to rebuke.

Dogs are, by their nature, unable to appreciate sacred things, and pigs likewise unable to appreciate fine jewelry. And there are seasons and circumstances when human beings are unable to hear words of correction. Yeshua isn’t condemning their inability; He is chastising us if we don’t exercise some discernment. It is inappropriate to attempt to bring godly correction to someone who, at the present time, has only contempt for God and the Bible. You will invite a hostile response. Not only that, but you may inadvertently cause the other person to harden themselves even more – in which case you’ve unwittingly contributed to their resolve to never believe.

And wise King Solomon has the very same advice: Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Do not rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you (Proverbs 9:7-8). Don’t waste the Message on those who despise it! Don’t waste time – time is precious (it’s irretrievable)!

Verses 7-11

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”

This is just one of several analogies Yeshua used to encourage persistence in prayer, and to assure us that Adonai cares deeply about us. Don’t be afraid to ask Him for the things you need or, for that matter, things you may want. Just don’t treat the Holy One of Israel like a vending machine.

Yeshua used a very common Jewish form of comparison, known in the Talmud as Qal v’Chomer (“light and weighty”). If a thing is true and significant at a lesser level, how much more so in a weightier level? For example, if the proper use of trigonometry is important to calculate the structural load capacity of a wall in my house, how much more so the structural load capacity of the Mackinac Bridge?

So if we, as fallen and fallible human beings, care about and give good things to our children, how much more will the All-wise and infinitely good and compassionate Father in heaven give us what we need? The main point is that we need to trust in the kind, caring nature of God. One of the most sad and untrue things I ever heard was someone saying that God had too much to do already for them to trouble Him with their small concerns. That might sound humble, but to say such a thing is to demean God. They’re either saying He doesn’t care about their concerns, or else they’re saying He’s not God, since by definition God is infinite in power and knowledge, and cannot have “too much to do.”

Verse 12

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

It’s what is called “The Golden Rule”. But apparently most of humanity isn’t in the market for gold, judging from our dismal treatment of one another.

Rabbi Hillel the Elder, regarded as one of Judaism’s greatest scholars, who lived and taught in the years just before Yeshua’s ministry, said much the same thing, but from the reverse perspective. He is quoted as saying, “That which is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow; that is the whole Torah. The rest is the explanation. Go and learn.”

Truly this one standard of conduct is what, by all rights, should set us Christians and Messianic Jews apart from the rest of the world. And to some extent it does. We are reminded of this nearly every Shabbat, since this a restating of what we affirm through our version of the Shema: v’ahavta l’reyacha kamocha – You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Look again at the beginning of the verse. Notice the word ‘therefore’. This teaching is predicated on the teaching that preceded it. In other words, we are to treat others the way we ourselves would like to be treated precisely because God made it clear how much He cares about us. So to the extent you treat others well, you are honoring God. And to the extent you mistreat others you are dishonoring God.

And take note of the first two words. In everything… Not in some things…, not in most things…, not when it’s convenient… We are in all circumstances, at all times to treat others the way we would like to be treated; treated well, treated thoughtfully and with kindness. This thing we call the Golden Rule is as simple as could possibly be. So why don’t we manage to live it out? I don’t mean “we” as in mankind. I mean why don’t we – Messiah’s Holy Community – live it out? Maybe we’ve taken our eyes off Yeshua. Maybe we’ve forgotten what we learned. Maybe we’ve lost our first love. Maybe we need to wake up and strengthen what remains, because a lot is at stake.

Verses 13-14

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Short of some amazing feat of hermeneutical gymnastics, there is no way around this truth. According to the Son of God, the One who from all eternity existed in celestial glory, and who upon coming to Earth spoke only the truth and not once erred in anything He said; according to Yeshua the Messiah, most human beings will go to destruction, and comparatively few will find eternal life. And for that reason, He urges us to choose the narrow gate and to walk the narrow path; even though it is the more difficult path.

And so, despite the best of intentions, people like Rob Bell, author of the best-selling book “Love Wins” in which he suggests that there isn’t really a Hell, and that eventually everybody gets into Heaven – people who teach these forms of universalism are doing their fellow human beings a terrible disservice. They are lulling people into a false sense of security, when in fact, their souls are in peril.

This is why it is critical for us, as disciples of Yeshua, to go out and, however uncomfortable it may be, faithfully proclaim both the bad and the good news. The bad news is that mankind is headed to Hell and the Lake of Fire. The Good News is that God has made a way of escape, and Yeshua is the way. The Church shouldn’t be aiming at ‘relevance’. We should be aiming at faithfulness! The message of old is the message today, and it is altogether relevant: “Repent (stop your rebellion against God and transfer your loyalty to Jesus), for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand (final judgment is about to arrive).”

And speaking of those who teach false things, Yeshua now transitions to warning us against false prophets. Let’s continue at verses 15-23. It’s a longer section, and while people frequently quote bits and pieces of it, I think you’ll see as we discuss it, that these nine verses really ought to be taken together, and remain on the one theme: false prophets, their tactics, how to recognize them and what their destiny is.

Verses 15-23

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”

One of the first things that struck me as I studied this passage anew is that we’ve been misapplying some of these verses. We talk about a tree being known by its fruit in conversations having to do with whether we think a person is or isn’t genuinely a believer, based on the evidence from their conduct. And by extension, I suppose it’s legitimate to use this. But in reality the context here is that of false prophets (yeudoprofhtwn) people masquerading as believers, who may even perform demonstrations of power, but who actually have a selfish and destructive agenda. They’re not servants of Messiah Yeshua.

The next thing that struck me was the presence of the definite article here. Yeshua didn’t say, “Beware of false prophets” generically, as though this was a theoretical issue. He said “Beware of the false prophets,” which conveys much more certainty – a specific and real category of people that Messiah’s Holy Community will need to be on guard against.

So let’s talk about this warning. The analogy is simple and straightforward. You know the kind of tree you’re looking at based on what grows on it: apples, oranges, nectarines, pomegranates; and whether the fruit of that tree is good or inedible. Messiah tells us that in spite of speaking prophecies (some of which may even come to pass), in spite of performing supernatural signs and wonders, and even performing exorcisms, these are false prophets, and Yeshua will send them packing on that day, saying “I never knew you!”

He tells us that they masquerade as “sheep”. It isn’t exactly flattering for us to be compared to sheep but, like sheep, we are helpless and clueless on our own. Apart from Messiah we can do nothing. So these false prophets will come into our midst posing as “sheep” – brothers and sisters in Yeshua. After all, evil is, by nature, deceptive. It is in the nature of evil to disguise itself as something good. So these false prophets can talk the talk; they’ve got the lingo down. They can drop names and mention book titles and convince you with their words that they are your brother.

But Yeshua gave us a word on how to identify them. Their conduct will betray their claims. They will invoke the name of Yeshua, but by their arrogance, their lack of humility, their greedy lifestyle, their desire for prestige, their indifference to the needs of others, they give away who and what they really are. They often use the same “M.O.”. They’ll come into a town and try to gain access to the leadership of a prominent local assembly. They will ingratiate themselves with the members, sometimes through flattery or lavishing of attention, and gain their trust. If their effort to gain prominence there fails, they may move on. But in some cases, they’ll attempt to unseat the existing leadership by creating a faction within the assembly, casting doubts in people’s minds about the leaders and their teaching. This, in fact, happened in Corinth, and the false apostles there caused the Corinthian believers to doubt Paul’s teaching and authority.

Yeshua doesn’t deny that they’ve performed miracles. From that we can infer that Adonai may even perform healings and bring people to salvation through false believers. Why would He do that? Because He loves people and recognizes their needs. But this reminds us that a miracles in and of itself means nothing, and doesn’t validate the authenticity of such men. They themselves are not Yeshua’s disciples. That is why He said not everyone who calls Him “Lord” or invokes His name will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And just as a barren fruit tree, or a tree whose fruit is inedible is useless and eventually cut down and thrown into the fire, so these false prophets are headed for doom. Don’t let them take you down with them. Back away from their tents. Pay attention to their manner of living; pay very close attention to the content of their teaching; and note the effect of their influence on the community of believers.

And now, at last, we come to the end of the Sermon on the Mount. Yeshua has concluded the particulars of His teaching. And as with any good sermon, He brings it to a close with a “so what?” (that’s what our dear brother of blessed memory, Jhan Moskowitz, used to say). It’s time for the rubber to meet the road. If you don’t have a “What are you going to do about this?” moment at the end of a message, all you’ve done is fill people’s heads with words and factoids. So let’s look at verses 24-27.

Verses 24-27

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who build his house on the sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell – and great was its fall.”

You do not have the option of merely listening to Messiah Yeshua’s words and walking away. If you take them to heart and start living accordingly, you will benefit immeasurably and you will inherit eternal life. If, however, you write it off and go on living as you always have, your life will eventually unravel under the onslaught of life’s troubles. And no mistake about it, life in this fallen, satanically-controlled world brings trouble to every person. There will be proverbial rains and floods and winds that will slam against your life, and without Messiah’s help, your “house” will come to ruin.

It isn’t that the foolish man set out to build on sand. The point is that he just gave no thought to the foundation. In other words, his house came to ruin not by design, but by neglect. To the casual observer, both houses may look the same; even identical. But only one house will endure – the one founded on Messiah’s instruction. Make sure that’s you. Build your family life, your work, your education all on the foundation of Yeshua’s words. Don’t be foolish. Don’t deceive yourself into thinking you can compartmentalize your life: as if your faith shouldn’t influence your work, your friendships, your day-to-day choices.

Verses 28-29

When Yeshua had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

It was the custom for rabbis to quote other rabbis as the basis for authority. For example, “Rabbi Nachman said in the name of Rabbi Eleazar…” But Yeshua spoke on His own authority (though, of course, He spoke the words that the Father gave Him). And why should He not have spoken on His own authority, since He is the long-awaited Messiah of Israel! Precisely because He is the Messiah, Yeshua could say, “You have heard that it was said… but I say to you…” Even the ancient rabbis foretold that Messiah would have the last word on any unresolved matters of the Torah, and would, in fact, have His own Torah.

Yeshua’s claim of ultimate authority wasn’t lost on this Jewish crowd. We’re told that they were amazed, not only at the loftiness and purity of His teaching, but that He spoke with unprecedented authority. But crowds are fickle. They can be amazed one day, and a few days later cry “Crucify!” It isn’t enough to say to yourself, “Wow – Jesus’ teaching was impressive.” If you continue to stubbornly follow your own ways and refuse to submit to God and become a disciple of Yeshua, you will be no better off than those crowds, and as much in outer darkness as the false prophets themselves.

And if you are a disciple, you are expected to learn and know His teachings, to be able to recite His teachings, to live according to His teachings, and to disseminate His teachings to the world. Are you doing these things?

This is my Master’s Instruction. We have a rigorous calling. Messiah set the bar very high for His followers, and these teachings are difficult to attain to. But to be a disciple of King Messiah Yeshua means to live out His teachings daily. No one said this was going to be easy. As G. K. Chesterton observed,

“Christianity hasn’t been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult and left untried.”