Jesus continues his challenging teaching by reminding us of a simple principle. Whenever you point a finger at someone else, you point three fingers back at yourself. (Try it.) Perhaps the most common response that we have to difficult teaching is deflection. We don't like what we hear Jesus teaching so we try to discount Jesus, what he said, or the way it got preserved and passed down to us (the Bible). When that doesn't work, because the evidence is too strong in favor of God, we begin to deflect. We start pointing out the flaws of others and even try to "teach them," but what we are really trying to do is get the attention off ourselves. We are afraid that when people look at us, they will see our sin. That may be true, but that's kind of his point.
Jesus isn't satisfied with having crowds gathering around because he can heal them. He's not even satisfied that they take the time to sit down and listen to his sermons. He is only satisfied when they listen and put his teachings into practice. He wants them all to walk together with God. It starts when we listen to what he says. It happens when we follow what he says.
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:7-12 NIV)
When deflection doesn't work, we move on to the next stage: excuses. "Its too hard. Satan is too strong. I don't think I can do it." The list goes on and on, but the premise is the same: I know what God says, but the change is too big. I don't have what it takes to walk together with God.
Jesus explains to us that it is simply not true. If your problem is forgiveness or reconciliation, Jesus provides everything you need. If the problem is not having the wisdom to know God's will or the power to overcome God's enemy, His Spirit gives you everything you need. When we desire to walk together with God, He provides everything we need to make it so. It doesn't matter how big the "log" is in our eyes, He provides the tools to remove them. Any loving father, even an imperfect one, would want his child to be able to see.
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. "Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' (Matthew 7:13-23 NIV)
He gathers us with miracles, teaches us clearly, empowers us to follow his teachings, and then lets us choose. We get to decide whether we will follow the "wide gate" or the "narrow gate." Teachers, he tells us, will show us more than they tell us how to follow Jesus. Growing in our walk together with God is actually about walking together with God first. Leadership is not about power, position, or politics. Leadership, as Jesus describes here, is about walking together with God first and then helping others do the same. He warns us not to follow leaders who don't live it. He also warns us not to be leaders who fake it.
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash." (Matthew 7:24-27 NIV)
He's not just talking about leaders, though. He's talking about all of us. His teachings are challenging, yes. But they are not impossible to follow. We've come to him this far. We "sat down" and listened to his teachings. He's given us all the gifts necessary to follow him. Now, we get to choose. Which gate will we walk through? Where will we build our houses? Will we choose to walk together with God?
How about you? Do you choose to remove the "log from your own eye first? Do you walk through the narrow gate? Do you build your life on the solid rock of Jesus and his words?
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