Matt 7:15-23

John

The Right Side up Life  / Matthew 7:15–23

In this culture, in our lives, don’t you crave reliability? That what something says something is, it actually is.

im our culture we do one of two things. 

We over analyze to the point of being skeptical

Or we give up.

So we either either tired or constantly condescending because we don’t believe anything.

We want reliability

But reliability is difficulty to find

wolves  in sheep’s  clothing

Matthew 7:15 ESV

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Jesus says that they look just like sheep. They have taken on a certain form of action.  They speak like a sheep, look like a sheep, act like a sheep. But do not make any mistake, they are ravenous wolves.

They look like sheep but if you dig any deeper they are wolves.  Jesus is going to follow up with a distinction that eventually what a thing is will be known.  A wolf cannot stay a sheep for long.  Eventually it will act like a wolf.

Matthew 7:16–19 ESV

You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

Though this is honestly really helpful for us in this modern moment.  Because a lot of our information comes from online. Comes from reels or youtube or ticktok.  We take in information, teaching on Christ and the church maybe. 

The problem in our modern condition is that we have often lost the sense of fruit.  We don’t stick around long enough in our online world to look for fruit.  We take the claim as truth.  We never ask what kind of tree it is, we just assume it is the kind of tree it says it is.

Matthew 7:22–23 ESV

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?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

The issue in Christianity is who we belong to.  Its’ about who has scooped us up, about who has called our names and have recognized us. We don’t have to impress our way into the Kingdom of God.  We can’t talk our way into it.  We can’t act our way into it. 

If you want reliability, this is where we begin.  Maybe you are considering Christianity.  We go back to the root.  We are transformed by Christ in salvation through His death and resurrection.  We are given life by Him.

Maybe you are a Christian but you have looked to other things for life.  You have hoped for more reliability in the world.  You have hoped that apple trees would produce pears and that has not turned out. 

John 15:1–5 ESV

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Discussion Questions

1. What are some examples of things or people we look to for reliability in today’s culture, and how have they either met or failed to meet our expectations?
2. How do you think overanalyzing or giving up affects our ability to trust and build genuine relationships? How can we find balance?
3. In the metaphor of “wolves in sheep’s clothing,” what are some signs we can look for to distinguish genuine faith and teaching from appearances or empty words?
4. If reliability in faith means being rooted in Christ, what are some practical ways we can stay connected to Him as our source, especially when faced with unreliable circumstances?