📖 Passage

Matthew 7:15–29 Read Matthew 7:15–29 (NKJV)

🧠 Context & Background

Jesus closes the Sermon on the Mount with a series of warnings and a call to action. In first-century Judea and Galilee, false prophets were a known danger, often blending partial truth with deception for personal gain. Using imagery from agriculture and construction, Jesus teaches that a person's true nature is revealed by their "fruit" — their actions and character over time. He warns that verbal profession alone does not guarantee entry into the kingdom, but obedience to God's will does. The parable of the wise and foolish builders underscores that hearing His words without practicing them is spiritually disastrous. This section calls for discernment, authenticity, and wholehearted obedience to Christ's teaching.

🌿 Key Themes

• Discernment of leaders – False prophets are identified by their fruit.

• True obedience – Mere profession of faith without doing God's will is insufficient.

• Judgment according to deeds – Authentic discipleship is proven in action.

• Foundation on Christ's teaching – Obedience builds a life that withstands trials.

📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary

Matthew 7:15–20 – Recognizing False Prophets "You will recognize them by their fruits…"

• False prophets appear harmless ("sheep's clothing") but are inwardly dangerous ("ravenous wolves").

• "Fruit" refers to consistent character and teaching, not momentary appearances.

• Good trees cannot bear bad fruit, and bad trees cannot bear good fruit — nature determines output.

Matthew 7:21–23 – True and False Disciples "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven…"

• Verbal acknowledgment of Christ is not enough; doing the Father's will is essential.

• Miraculous works without obedience will be rejected.

• Jesus' final declaration, "I never knew you," shows that relationship with Him is the heart of salvation.

Matthew 7:24–27 – Wise and Foolish Builders "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them…"

• The wise builder represents obedience; his life stands firm against storms (trials, judgment).

• The foolish builder hears but does not obey; his life collapses under testing.

• The foundation — not the appearance of the house — determines survival.

Matthew 7:28–29 – Authority of Jesus' Teaching "…he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes."

• Jesus' authority is inherent and divine, not borrowed from tradition.

• The crowd recognizes the unique weight and truth in His words.

🧩 Review Questions

1. What criteria does Jesus give for identifying false prophets?
2. Why is obedience the ultimate proof of genuine discipleship?
3. How does the parable of the wise and foolish builders challenge your own walk with Christ?
4. What sets Jesus' teaching authority apart from that of the scribes?

🔍 Trusted Insight

"The ultimate test of true discipleship is not spectacular works but simple, consistent obedience to Christ's commands." — Paraphrase of D.A. Carson

This affirms that kingdom citizenship is measured by a transformed life grounded in Christ's authority.

Summary: Jesus ends the Sermon on the Mount by urging discernment, warning against empty profession, and calling for a life built on obedience to His word.

🔍 Definitions

• False prophet – One who claims to speak for God but promotes deception or self-interest.

• Fruit – Evidence of a person's true nature, revealed in actions and character.

• Lord, Lord – A repeated form of address expressing urgency or respect, here used by those lacking true obedience.

• Foundation – The underlying base of one's life; spiritually, Christ and His word.

🙋 Application Questions

• Who are you currently allowing to influence your faith, and do they bear good fruit?

• In what areas might your obedience to Christ be selective rather than complete?

• How can you strengthen your life's foundation on Christ's teaching this week?

🔤 Greek Keywords

• pseudoprophētēs – "False prophet"; one who falsely claims divine inspiration.

• karpos – "Fruit"; outcome or evidence of inner reality.

• oikodomeō – "To build"; used metaphorically for constructing a life.

• themelios – "Foundation"; the base or underlying support.

📚 Cross References

• Jeremiah 23:16 – Do not listen to the words of false prophets.

• John 14:15 – If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

• 1 Corinthians 3:11 – No foundation can be laid other than Jesus Christ.

• James 1:22 – Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.

• 2 Peter 2:1–3 – False teachers will arise, exploiting with deceptive words.

📦 Next Study

Next Study → Matthew 8:1–17