Six Marks of a Genuine Disciple of Jesus (Matthew 7:12–29) Part 1
Notes
Transcript
Counterfeit Disciple
Counterfeit Disciple
Judas Iscariot stands as a profound example of a counterfeit disciple. He walked alongside Jesus, witnessed miracles, and engaged in ministry yet betrayed Him for silver coins.
True discipleship is not just about knowledge or lip service but about faith, obedience, and action. It emphasizes the need for believers to have a firm foundation in Christ, whcih comes from satruating your life with the truth, that is scripture. Building your faith upon the rock of truth is what will help sustain you through the storms of life and give evidence you belong to Jesus. John MacArthur wisely notes,
Our Lord stated: “If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine” (John 8:31). Genuine discipleship is evidenced by ongoing obedience to Scripture.
John F. MacArthur
In our text, Jesus distinguishes true disciples from counterfeit disciples. He offers six characteristics of a genuine disciple who lives in the kingdom now.
Faithful Disciples Practice Golden Love (Matthew 7:12)
Faithful Disciples Practice Golden Love (Matthew 7:12)
12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
The relationship that is is indicated by the conjunction οὖν ‘therefore in verse 12 is that it indicates the conclusion to be drawn from the entire contents of the sermon up to this point, from the central core of the sermon, beginning from Matthew 5:17. Therefore, in light of everything I have said so far in my sermon, I want you to follow the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have done to yourself.
Jesus taught his disciples about the true direction in which the Old Testament points. He emphasized that they should obey the Golden Rule because it sums up the Law and the Prophets. That is, loving your neighbor as yourself captures the spirit of the entire Old Testament.
Consider for a moment the first part of the Golden Rule: “Whatever you want done to yourself…” The question Jesus is posing to you is, “How do you want to be loved?” Now work backwards in the Sermon on the Mount. How do you want the Father to answer your prayers? How do you want to be judged, especially when you are experiencing a short coming or weakness? How do you want to be treated when someone sees you as an enemy? What do you want someone to do to you when you’ve hurt them? Do you want them to retaliate with the intensity as they feel hurt? What do you want someone to do who has made a promise to you? Do you want people to be loyal and faithful to you? How do you want to be treated when someone is angry with you? Jesus says how you answer those questions is how you should treat other people. And if you are in the kingdom of God, your answers to those questions should be in the same vein as Jesus’s answer; love your neighbor as yourself. This is not merely the Golden Rule, it is the Golden Love. Love others as you want to be loved.
When you are angry, love the person you are angry with peace and reconciliation. If your husband or a wife, or a friend, or a brother, or sister, live a life of fidelity and loyalty to your relationships. Be pure in your motives and never let leave a backdoor open like divorce. Live your life in the truth, to such a degree that you do not need to make a promise or take an oath. But if you do, be committed to being a promise keeper as all cost. When your husband or wife, brother or sister in Christ, friend and family member, hurt your feelings and forget the value of your relationship, do not retaliate with evil. But show them the love of the Father and the forgiveness of Christ. Do not let hate have any space in your feelings or thoughts. Love those who hate you because of Jesus. See you brokenness in them, and remember how the Lord delviered you from the kingdom of darkness by His grace. Be generous to the poor, pray without ceasing trusting the Father’s good intentions for you. Do not worry about your life. God will care for you. Live generously and loosely with your possessions. Allow the Father to condemn sinners. You focus on joyfully advancing the kingdom by making much of Jesus. This is how you love your neighbor as yourself and fulfill the law and the prophets.
In verses 13-27, there is one arching theme that Jesus develops using three metaphors; there is only two ways to live in the is world. Either you are on the narrow path or the broad path. You are either a good tree bearing good fruit or you are a bad tree bearing bad fruit. You are either a doer of God’s word or merely a listener of God’s word. You are either building your house on the rock or on the sand. In other words, you are either a disciple of Jesus who lives in his kingdom now, or you are an unbeliever stuck in the kingdom of darkness.
Jesus' audience would have been familiar with the concept of "two ways" - one leading to life and the other to death, which was common in Judaism. For example, Moses told Israel, Deuteronomy 30:15
15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.
Moreover, Jesus emphasized that few are on the right path, similar to the teachings in the book of Ezra. It seems that most Jewish people believed that the entire nation of Israel would be saved, and only a few individuals would be exceptions to this general rule. Jesus, however, is going to challenge that belief by revealing the marks of faithful disciples.
Faithful Disciples Choose the Narrow Path (Matthew 7:13-14)
Faithful Disciples Choose the Narrow Path (Matthew 7:13-14)
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
The picture shows a person who needs to pass through one of two gates to access a road leading to their destination. Based on the order in which they are presented, we can assume that the gates are located at the beginning of the road. The two roads lead in opposite directions, as their destinations are completely separate from each other.
Luke’s account of this teaching says that we must strive to enter the narrow gate. The passage mentions the narrow gate in verse 14 and describes the way as "compressed" and narrowed, similar to a tight passage between high rocks. This conveys the idea that the path to life involves difficulties and afflictions.
Why does walking on the narrow path involve difficulty and affliction?
Why does walking on the narrow path involve difficulty and affliction?
Being a disciple of Jesus requires you to deny yourself
Being a disciple of Jesus requires you to deny yourself
Jesus makes no bones about it. Being a disciple of Jesus will cost you something in this world. First of all, you need to deny yourself. Jesus says to every disciple
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
What does it means to deny yourself and take up your cross? It means your dream to live for yourself dies. Peter teaches us,
1 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.
Paul, when encouraging the Romans church to be gracious with each other’s liberty, says
7 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.
Paul makes it very clear that
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
To be a faithful disciple of Jesus, you must deny yourself in a world that works hard to convince you that true life is found in self-exaltation. This makes living in the kingdom now difficult.
Being a disciple of Jesus requires complete surrender to the will of God.
Being a disciple of Jesus requires complete surrender to the will of God.
Jesus says to his disciples,
33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.
What this means is a true disciple of Jesus surrenders any security they have in the world to Jesus. There was a scribe who came to Jesus and told him would follow him any where. Jesus replies
20 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
The point is, following Jesus can involve sacrificing the comforts of home. So Jesus requires he must have the primary priority in your life.
Jesus makes this clear to the disciple who said he would follow Jesus but first needed to bury his father.
60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
Jesus requires that he even take the highest priority over your family.
61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
All of your life, church, community, and home must be surrendered to the Sovereign King, our Lord, Jesus Christ. Unbelieving family members and friends do not understand this kind of loyalty to Jesus. This can make the narrow road hard.
Being a disciple of Jesus accept the reality of persecution.
Being a disciple of Jesus accept the reality of persecution.
In the book of Acts, after Paul had been stoned in Lystra for preaching the gospel, Luke says
21 When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
Jesus teaches us
20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
Paul reiterates this to his son in the faith, Timothy,
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Discipleship is costly, but it is a mark of genuine discipleship. Jesus goes so far as to say,
38 And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
If you cannot accept that cost of following Jesus, you cannot be his disciple. To embark on the narrow path is to choose to live a crucified life surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus Christ knowing it is costly and filled with difficulty and affliction, but is also rewarded with eternal life.
The contrast of the Narrow Road is made with the "Broad Way," which is found in every city and lures people to destruction with its bright lights. Those who live on the broad way are trapped in the kingdom of darkness. They are dead in their trespasses and sins without hope and without God in this world. Their life is marked by a love for this world, which is forbidden. John says,
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.
John further warns that this world is passing away (1 John 2:17), and those who are of the world will pass away with it.
After the fall of the Roman Empire, historians observed that the culture's embrace of indulgence and moral decay was fueled by a population that preferred the easy path of pleasure over the challenging path of virtue. This choice resulted not only in political collapse but also in societal breakdown.
The same thing has been observed in the west in the 19th century. Many cities welcomed travelers with wide boulevards, symbolizing progress and opportunity. However, as more people flocked to these paths seeking success, they often found themselves in moral decay, leading to the deterioration of God-honoring values.
This mirrors Jesus' words about the broad way that leads to destruction, illustrating that the easy path can often lead to profound consequences.
What are the profound consequences at the end of the broad road?
What are the profound consequences at the end of the broad road?
The wrath of God
The wrath of God
Paul says that those who are on the broad way are those who’ve exhausted the patience of God and are vessels of wrath prepared for destruction
22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
Peter describe those on the broad way as
2 Peter 2:12–13 (ESV)
12 But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, 13 suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you.
What is does this destruction look like?
What is does this destruction look like?
The Bible says the destruction will be full of fire.
The Bible says the destruction will be full of fire.
The writer of Hebrews says of those who remain in their sin,
26 For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.
Jesus describes the anguish of the fire of hell in his parable of the Rich man and Lazarus.
22 One day the poor man died and was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 And being in torment in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham a long way off, with Lazarus at his side. 24 ‘Father Abraham!’ he called out, ‘Have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this flame!’
Jesus says to all unbelievers who refused to walk the narrow way, but chose to remain on the brad way, the goats on his left,
41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
The Bible says God’s destruction will be full of darkness.
The Bible says God’s destruction will be full of darkness.
When Jesus was teaching about the parable of the Talents, there was a servant who did not obey his Lord. He was an unbeliever, someone on the broad way. He was not allowed to enter the kingdom. Instead Jesus said,
30 And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Peter describes the darkness of hell as utter gloom.
17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved.
The Bible says the destruction will be full of people weeping and gnashing their teeth.
The Bible says the destruction will be full of people weeping and gnashing their teeth.
The darkness is so thick and the anguish of the fire is so great that those who are their are either weeping with regret or gnashing their teeth in anger and spite at God.
The reality is church, hell is filled with counterfeit disciples. There are many religious people who thought they knew God, some of them even thought they followed Jesus. But the truth is, their discipleship was counterfeit because faith was counterfeit. They wanted to live with one foot on the dock and one foot on the boat. They wanted to straddle the fence to walk with with foot on the broad way while the other foot was on the narrow way. The truth is they were deceived. They were never on the narrow way. The broad way runs opposite of the narrow way. The narrow way leads to heaven, the broad way leads to hell. To try to live on both roads to be a Judas.
Do not be a counterfeit disciple
Do not be a counterfeit disciple
Judas did life with Christ for three years. Being in proximity to Jesus does not put you on the narrow road. Surrendering to Jesus and being found in Jesus as your only hope is what puts you on the narrow road.
Judas never came to the point of surrendering his entire life to Jesus. He was close to the kingdom, but never in the kingdom.
Today is the day of salvation. If you are living a counterfeit life, you are a Judas. Do not leave here today with out repenting of your sin and turning to Jesus for forgiveness. Thomas Goodwin reminds us
Judas heard all Christ’s sermons.
Thomas Goodwin
Judas, however, never repented and put his trust in Christ. He refused to walk the narrow road. He chose the broad way which led him to destruction.
Just before Judas betrayed Jesus, Jesus extended grace to Judas. He washed his feet. He ate a meal with him. He even embraced him as Judas was betraying. Jesus opens his arms to and he calls you come home sinner. Stop your Judas ways and receive his free gift of salvation.
Faithful Disciples Bear the Good Fruit of Faithfulness (Matthew 7:15-20)
Faithful Disciples Bear the Good Fruit of Faithfulness (Matthew 7:15-20)
15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.
Faithful Disciples are Hearers and Doers of God’s Word (Matthew 7:21-23)
Faithful Disciples are Hearers and Doers of God’s Word (Matthew 7:21-23)
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 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?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Faithful Disciples Build their House on the Rock (Matthew 7:24-27)
Faithful Disciples Build their House on the Rock (Matthew 7:24-27)
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Faithful Disciples Recognize the Authority of the Teacher (Matthew 7:28-29)
Faithful Disciples Recognize the Authority of the Teacher (Matthew 7:28-29)
28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
Genuine Disciple
Genuine Disciple
Judas illustrates that physical proximity to Jesus does not guarantee genuine discipleship. Like Judas, many today may be involved in church life but could still potentially betray the core principles of faith for fleeting gains. This biblical account calls us to evaluate our commitment to Christ and our motives in discipleship.
Application: This passage challenges Christians to not only listen to the teachings of Jesus but to also live them out in their daily lives. It calls believers to evaluate the foundation upon which they are building their lives and encourages them to make sure it is on the solid rock of Christ.
How this passage could point to Christ: Throughout the Bible, Jesus is revealed as the cornerstone, the solid foundation upon which our faith is built. Every teaching and commandment of Jesus ultimately leads us back to Him, highlighting His centrality in our lives and faith.
