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DOES IT MATTER WHAT WE BELIEVE AND/OR PRACTICE IN RELIGION? A Guide to Self-Study Jesus said, "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14) 1. Of the two ways mentioned by Jesus, which one leads to life? 2. What do you think Jesus means by "life"? 3. What does Jesus say of the number of people who will find this way? 4. To what does the other way lead? 5. Does it matter, then, which “gate” we enter and which “way” we take? Jesus further said, "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.” (Matthew 7:15-20) 1. Why should one "beware of false prophets"? 2. What is a false prophet? 3. How are false prophets dressed? 4. What is the true disposition of false prophets? 5. What is implied, concerning the safety of the sheep, by this characterization of false prophets? 6. How does Jesus say we shall know false prophets? 7. Would you go to a thornbush to pick grapes or to a thistle to pick figs? 8. Should you go to a false prophet for religious instruction? 9. What will happen to "every tree that does not bear good fruit"? 10. What do you think will happen to those who eat "bad fruit" from a “bad tree”? Jesus went on to say, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'” (Matthew 7:21-23) 1. Will all religious people enter the kingdom of heaven? 2. Will all religious people who call Jesus "Lord" enter the kingdom of heaven? 3. Who does Jesus say will enter the kingdom of heaven? 4. What will Jesus say to religious people who call Him, "Lord," but have not done the will of the Father? 5. Did Jesus say anything about these people being insincere? Jesus concluded by saying, "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." (Matthew 7:24-27). 1. What were both of the men in Jesus' illustration doing? 2. Who is represented by the wise man? 3. Who is represented by the foolish man? 4. What do their respective houses represent? 5. What do the rain, floods and winds represent? 6. What was the final condition of the wise man's house? 7. What is represented by this final condition? 8. What was the final condition of the foolish man's house? 9. What is represented by this final condition? 10. On what do you want to build your "house"? Matthew tell us, And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Matthew 7:28-29) 1. What effect did the teaching of Jesus have on the crowds? 2. What was the cause of this effect? 3. What is implied about the way "the scribes" taught? 4. What should we demand of those to whom we go for religious instruction? 5. Does it matter what we believe and/or practice in religion? 6. What should we do if we discover they are teaching error?
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