Chapter 31 "The Choice is Yours"

Scripture: Matthew 7: 13-29

McLaren observes there are Two paths, Two vines (or kinds of fruit), Two groups and Two types of builders -- each contrasted to the other, each challenged to not just listen to Jesus but to be people who take everything He said and translate it into a way of living a new life, a way of being alive.  

We have long heard of the narrow and the wide ways, those contrasting types of life, like roads that are supposed to be ways to get through a mountain pass, but only One Road goes the whole way.  It is not the wide highway, for that one actually cuts north, and is yet unfinished, ending in a cliff, but the two-lane, winding, narrow, treacherous looking road. That’s the Way.

He warns us against believing everyone who claims to speak for Him, saying, we need to look for the fruit of the proclamation.  Not their words but their lives are the litmus test of the message. And what of those who claim to belong to Jesus, who again may use the right words but have no relationship?  Jesus says they will be surprised on that last day when Jesus tells them:

‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here’ (Matthew 7:23, The Message).

Jesus tells us “Do what you hear,” in other words, “practice this message.”  Put into practice what you hear. We have heard to love enemies, pray for those who persecute us, give, fast, pray secretly in order to change the world.  It is not a message of applause but of deep relationship.

Rather than being in any way overwhelmed by this powerful, life-challenging message, the crowds were delighted. Here at last was someone who taught as one having authority.  He was saying: this is the way it is. Live it. And they were delighted.

As you ponder this message, this “Sermon on the Mount,” what images or impressions are you left with?  

How do you think that you are “doing the Word” with how you live your life?

Where do you need to step up your obedience, or, where do you need to engage more fully in relationship with Jesus?  

For me, this message keeps going deeper. I don’t really think a summary captures all Jesus accomplished. The structure of the message beginning with the “Blesseds” and contrasting the lives we will live in Him with what was lived by the religious authorities was simple yet immense.  This was not your average, do this and you will live, message. Instead, Jesus says, “With me, here is what you look like, here is how you live, here is how you will stand out, and here is what is required.” Wait, Jesus, What? You are making OF me what I cannot make of myself? I guess I get to the end and just say:  “Wow. Ok. I submit to you, Lord.”