On the Road with Jesus by Ben Witherington III

Author:Ben Witherington III
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781426712166
Publisher: Abingdon Press
Published: 2012-02-25T00:00:00+00:00

TWO FOUNDATIONS, ONE PARABLE

The final section of the Sermon on the Mount in 7:13-14 reminds us that the gate into the Kingdom has a narrow entrance, and the way into it is straight. One will either enter into the final dominion of God or into destruction, as Jesus puts it. Jesus is not a wide-eyed naive universalist. It is right to conclude that entering the Dominion here is seen as in the future, for entering into destruction is seen that way. One cannot enter into the Dominion without the greater righteousness, the bearing of good fruit, the doing of God's revealed will. Notice that Jesus even suggests that only few will enter that gate in due course. The implication is clearly that conduct after becoming a disciple can affect one's eternal destination. One is not eternally secure until one is securely in Eternity, in the Kingdom. It is easy to follow the broad way of the world now—harder to follow the Gospel way to the Kingdom. A tree that bears good fruit will be seen for what it is when the season for picking the fruit comes. But a tree that bears bad fruit will also be seen for what it is, and cut down (though the disciples are not called to be the lumberjacks). There is warning in 7:15-20 against false teachers and false prophets who lead even disciples astray.

Matthew 7:21-23 is interesting because the contrast here is not merely or mainly between walk and talk. The issue is whether a person has done God's will or not, even if they have performed miracles calling on the name of the Lord. Persons who have performed miracles are even said here to not make it into the Kingdom. Following and obeying Jesus and his teaching are the keys to entrance into the Kingdom. The sermon concludes with a parable in Matthew 7:24-29, a parable about the wise and foolish life. The parable is about hearing and putting into practice the teaching of Jesus. This is likened to building a house on solid rock. This suggests that the teaching in this sermon is viewed as foundational for the life of the disciple. One is not merely to know the foundational teachings of Jesus but to build a life on them. The disciples must live wisely with one eye on the horizon, for the Kingdom and final judgment is coming.

Notice that this final parable does not say or suggest that the person building on sand is building a different sort of house. He is just building on the wrong and unwise foundation. The two houses may appear identical, but they differ in a crucial respect: their foundations. My wife and I once lived in the caretaker's cottage next to Elvet Methodist Church in Durham, England. Unfortunately this cottage was half built on the unbiblical principle of sand, and so the left half was sinking into the parking lot! For three years my wife and I lived this parable while I was doing my PhD work.

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