In yesterday’s post, we introduced the Sermon on the Mount and talked about the Picture of Kingdom Life and the Precepts for Kingdom Life.

Image from Bibleplaces.com

Today we’ll talk about the Practice of Kingdom Life and the Proof of Kingdom Life.

The Practice

The practice of Kingdom Life is broken down into several relations. In contrast to the Precepts, which were mostly inward attitudes and heart conditions, these are more outward and behavioral.

1. In relation to almsgiving — Matthew 6:1-4. Jesus cautions the believer to watch how they practice their giving. Are you giving to be noticed? Or are you giving to glorify God?
2. In relation to prayer — Matthew 6:5-15. Here Jesus cautions the believer in the practice of their prayer life. He is not condemning public prayer–unless that practice is to draw attention to yourself–but is instructing the believer to have that kind of intimate, one-on-one relationship with our Father when we pray. It is in this passage that Jesus gives us the model for prayer: the well-known “Our Father.” Jesus closes this passage with a reminder about forgiveness, that if we do not forgive, God will not forgive us!
3. In relation to fasting — Matthew 6:16-18. As with giving and prayer, Jesus cautions about fasting for the attention of men. When we fast, we are do it to give glory to God.
4. In relation to money — Matthew 6:19-24. I wonder how the prosperity preachers of today reconcile this passage. Jesus cautions the believer about storing up treasures here on earth. The word picture Jesus paints here is very clear: “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Jesus understands the futility of earthly wealth and how it can affect us. “No one can serve two masters…. You cannot serve God and wealth.”
5. In relation to anxiety — Matthew 6:25-34. In order to understand the next series of verses, you need to have read the portion related to money, for the next few verses directly flow from those. Jesus says that because we cannot serve God and wealth, we are not to be worried about what we will eat, drink, or wear. He reminds us that life is so much more than food, drink, or wealth. Here again, Jesus vividly paints the picture by using the “birds of the air” and the “lilies of the field.” Neither of which worry about what they are going to eat or to wear, respectively. God feeds them and clothes them all. How much more important to God are we, His children? Jesus then reminds us to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
6. In relation to judging — Matthew 7:1-5. The passage on judging has been widely misunderstood. Jesus is not saying that we are never, in any sense or extent, to judge another. Jesus is cautioning against hypocritical judgment, as the Pharisees were prone to do. In fact, in verse 5, Jesus even says that once you “take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.”
7. In relation to prudence — Matthew 7:6. In a single verse, Jesus cautions us to make distinctions and not allow people who reject Christ to treat precious things as vile.
8. In relation to prayer – Matthew 7:7-11. A second time, Jesus speaks concerning prayer. Here He encourages us to ask our heavenly Father for the things we need, according to His will. This is not an open invitation to think of God as our heavenly butler. Jesus likens this to us as parents. If we, being sinful people, know what good things to give to our children, then how much more does God love and know us and what we need of Him?
9. In relation to others — Matthew 7:12. In this single verse, Jesus gives us the golden rule:

“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

The Proof

The Proof of Kingdom Life then is a culmination of all of what Jesus has instructed since Matthew 5:3 until this point. Furthermore, Jesus instructs us using a “two-ways” method that was common in Judaism and Greco-Roman philosophy.

1. The narrow and the wide gates — Matthew 7:13-14. Jesus advises us to enter through the narrow gate, because the the wide gate “leads to destruction, and many are those who enter through it.”
2. The good tree and the bad tree — Matthew 7:15-20. Here Jesus warns against the proverbial wolves in sheep’s clothing. You might think that if they are deceptive and disguised, how will we recognize them? Jesus tells us: “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gather from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they…? So then, you will know them by their fruits.”
3. The two professions — Matthew 7:21-23. I think this passage has been abused. Maybe it’s because a Catholic friend of mine tried to use this on me several years ago when I had mentioned that I left the Catholic church. It’s as if people have taken this passage out of context and use it like a club to knock someone over the head with it. There is no reason to think that this verse is any different than the other “two paths” verses. Here Jesus is simply saying that no matter how deceptive you may be, your fruits are the evidence. If you never had a relationship with Jesus in your life, then when you stand before Him at the end of your life He will say to you: “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.” How tragic to hear Jesus utter those words to you!
4. The wise and the foolish builder — Matthew 7:24-27. Jesus closes the Sermon on the Mount by painting another vivid word picture of someone who places the foundation of his life upon the rock that is Christ. No matter how strong the storms that come up against that house, it stands firm. Foolish is the one who places the foundation of his life upon sand:

“The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell–and great was its fall.”

Where is your foundation today? Are you building the foundation of your life upon the living rock of God’s Word? The storms will come if they have not already. Secure your foundation in Christ and He will lift you up on wings of eagles!

May He Increase!