Some of the most important teachings of Jesus Christ are recorded in Matthew's Gospel, chapters 5 through 7. These teachings have come to be known as "The Sermon on the Mount" because it says in Matthew 5:1 that Jesus ascended the mountain and his disciples came up to hear him.
These teachings are really important because according to Jesus, your long term future is determined by whether you DO or DO not DO the things Jesus instructed here. The last half of Matthew 7 is a very stern warning to those who believe that they can disobey Jesus in these things, practice lawlessness, bear bad fruit and still be the kind of Christian that goes to heaven and enters the Kingdom of God.
Mat 7:13 "Enter in through the narrow gate; because wide is the gate, and broad is the way which leads to destruction, and many are those who enter in through it.
Mat 7:14 How narrow the gate, and confined the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it!
Mat 7:15 "But beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Mat 7:16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grape clusters from thorns, or figs from thistles?
Mat 7:17 Thus every good tree produces good fruit, but a rotten tree produces evil fruit.
Mat 7:18 A good tree cannot produce evil fruit, nor can a rotten tree produce good fruit.
Mat 7:19 Every tree not producing good fruit is cut down and cast into the fire.
Mat 7:20 Consequently, by their fruits you shall know them.
Mat 7:21 "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.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name we cast out demons, and in Your name we did many mighty works?'
Mat 7:23 "And then I will confess to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me, you who work iniquity!'
and further:
Mat 7:24 "Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and does them, I will compare him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock:
Mat 7:25 and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and fell against that house; and it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.
Mat 7:26 And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not do them, will be compared to a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
Mat 7:27 and the rain came down, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And its fall was great."
Jesus is saying that if you hear "these words" of His and do not do them, the ultimate test will come and everything you have built in life will be worthless. If we look carefully at the context of these words, I believe Jesus is saying this: if you don't obey what
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