HEARERS AND DOERS OF THE WORD.

(Matt, vii:21-29.)

I. The Analysis.

1. The Testing of Profession (verses 21-23).—See below, "The Heart of the Lesson."

2. The Right Foundation (verses 23-25.)—Two points must be observed here, (1) it is not what the wise man builds, but where he builds which marks him a saved man (1 Cor. iii:10-15). The "rock" is Christ (1 Cor. x:4), and the man who builds thereon is neither a professor ("Lord, Lord"), nor a mere hearer (Hebrews iv:2), nor a tireless worker (verse 22), but a believer (John vi:28, 29).

3. The Wrong Foundation (verses 26-28).—Conversely, the sandy foundation man is a hearer who may indeed prophesy, cast out demons, and do many wonderful works; but who fails to "work the works of God" (John vi:28, 29). In a word, the right foundation is Christ received by faith; the wrong foundation is, knowledge without the obedience of faith.

II. The Heart of the Lesson.

Evidently, the heart of things here is the solemn fact that God accepts from no man the "Lord, Lord" of mere profession. No one is in so much danger as the professor who is not a possessor. It is a position which may be wholly free from any conscious hypocrisy. Millions "join the church" who never join Christ (1 Cor. vi:17; xii:12, 13); and their danger lies in the very fact that they are saying "Lord, Lord," as a parrot might, without any vital faith in Him who "died for our sins, and rose again for our justification."

Supposing themselves to be Christians, they are unmoved by Gospel appeals. The men of this lesson are genuinely astonished to find themselves excluded. "Many will say to Me in that day. Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast out devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?

That a notable preacher has won thousands of converts is no proof that he is a Christian. It is the name of Jesus, and the potency of His Word (Isa. lv:2) which have wrought the "wonderful works," not the faith of the unconverted preacher.

It is to be noted, furthermore, that Matthew is the book of the kingdom of heaven, and is filled with warnings to mere professing subjects of that kingdom. In Matthew it is Christendom—the sphere of profession—which is prominently in view. What Christendom, as distinguished from the church, is, is told out in Matthew xiii. There tares and wheat are seen growing together till the harvest. The tares are the children of the wicked one, and, under the garb of profession, are so like the wheat, the real children of the kingdom, that only the angels can be trusted to separate them (Matt, xiii:24-30, 36-43; xxv:8-12, 24-30). Therefore tests are given by which false teachers may be distinguished from the true (Matt, vii:15, 16); and by which a deceived professor may be undeceived (vii:21). That test is not zeal (verse 22), but simple obedience to the known will of God. What that will is Jesus plainly declared (John vi:28, 29). Not casting out demons, not preaching, not wonderful works, but, "this is the will of God that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent," that is the true test. Every such believer is building on the Rock.