Author: Ron Moore

“But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn’t act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!” Matthew 7:26-27 HCSB

While traveling in Israel our guide pointed out a mountain with areas where the rain had run down the mountain making a trench. At the bottom there was an area that looked like rock, but in reality it was a sandy area that was like a dry riverbed.

He explained that this would have been the example Jesus may have used to illustrate the wise man who built on the rock and the foolish man who built on the sand. The people of Jesus’ time would have understood that it would have been foolish to build a house on the sandy area at the bottom because when the rains came the house would be washed away. There would be a great collapse of the house.

Challenge: Where is the house of your life built? Are you like the foolish man or the wise man? Are you acting on the words of Jesus or refusing to follow His teachings? If you build your life and actions on the words of Jesus and His teachings, you will be able to stand strong when temptations come your way. Refuse to listen and obey His teachings and certainly destruction will follow. Ask Jesus to help you know and follow His will for your life each day.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn’t collapse, because its foundation was on the rock.” Matthew 7:24-25 HCSB

While serving the Belle Aire Baptist Church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the church decided to relocate due to the need for additional space. We purchased land, enlisted an architect and contractor, sold our existing property, built the new facility, and then moved. It was quite a challenge that took about two years. We had a capital campaign to help pay for the facility. We needed a theme. The land we had purchased was very rocky, so the capital campaign committee decided to use the theme, “Building on the Rock”, which had a double meaning of literally building on the rock and figuratively building on the rock of Jesus. It was an exciting time as we grew and moved into our new facilities.

Jesus used the image of a man building his house on the rock that provided a firm and stable foundation to teach a principle to His disciples. That man is like the wise person who follows Jesus’ teaching. All of us will face storms and challenges in life. When our lives are built on the firm foundation of Jesus, we can weather the storms that come our way.

Challenge: What storms are you facing today? Is your life built on the firm foundation of Jesus? Ask Jesus to help you and give you strength as you walk through the difficulties of life.

“So you’ll recognize them by their fruit. 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 in heaven.” Matthew 7:20 HCSB

The first church I served out of seminary was the Delaney Street Baptist Church in Orlando, Florida. My wife and I lived in a house that belonged to our church that backed up to an orange grove where there were hundreds of trees. Each year we expected to see oranges growing on the trees. Imagine if one year we saw apples or pear blossoms. We would know that something was wrong because the trees would be producing the wrong type of fruit.

Jesus continued His message about false prophets that He began in verse 13. He used the illustration of a tree to explain His point. We should evaluate teachers by their fruit (actions and how they live their lives). Their actions should be consistent with what they teach. Good teachers should exhibit exemplary behavior and high moral character as they seek to live out the truth of the Scriptures. The bad trees (teachers) are those who produce fruit that is not consistent with their teachings. These teachers deliberately teach false doctrine. Consequently they will say, “Lord, Lord” but will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Challenge: Will you enter the kingdom of heaven? Evaluate your own life and make sure your actions and teachings are consistent with what you claim to be – a follower of Jesus Christ. What type of fruit are you producing?

“Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.” Matthew 7:15 HCSB

There is a new game called Jelly Belly Bean Boozled. There are some jelly beans that taste good mixed in with jelly beans that have nasty flavors like stinky socks, lawn clippings, rotten egg, canned dog food, and skunk spray. They all look alike so a person does not know if he is getting a delicious jelly bean like tutti-fruity, lime, peach, chocolate, or a bad-tasting one. Players spin and then have to select a jelly bean from the pile that is that color and eat it, hoping they get a good tasting one instead of a nasty tasting one.

Jesus warned His disciples to beware of false prophets who looked like innocent sheep but were really wolves. Just like the jelly beans that look delicious but in reality are not desirable, false teachers teach principles that are against God’s commands and laws. They sound religious and even claim to be delivering God’s message, but they are motivated by money, fame, or power. They minimize Christ and glorify themselves.

Challenge: There are false teachers today. Beware! They may look and sound knowledgeable. They may even be on television and radio preaching and teaching God’s Word. Always test what someone says against God’s Word. Is the person trying to bring glory and honor to Christ or are they trying to sell more products and make more money? Pray that God would give you discernment and wisdom so you do not fall into the traps of false teachers.

Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. Matthew 7:13-14 HCSB

While traveling in Israel our guide pointed out a type of door that was used in Biblical times. It is a door with another door within the first door. The large wide door was used to move animals in and out easily, but the narrow door within the larger door was used for people but kept the larger animals inside.

Jesus used the illustration of a wide and narrow gate to describe the path to heaven. He may have been referring to this type of door with which the people would have been familiar. Jesus made the point that each person has a choice to make. The majority of people will select the easier, wider path that does not lead to God. Christians are called to follow the narrow path of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Jesus said that He is the only way to God (John 14:6).

Challenge: The wider road leads to death, while the narrow road leads to life. Follow the narrow path and find the abundant life that Jesus refers to in John 10:10. The narrow road may be more difficult at times but it brings eternal life.

“You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. For He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:43-45 HCSB

We have all experienced situations where the “good guy” gets penalized in some way while the “bad guy” gets rewarded. Life is not fair. Many times people who seem to get all the breaks and financial rewards are living lives of sin, lies, and destruction. Those who are seemingly trying to live their lives for the Lord and do what is right are struggling and have problems. It appears that God is not fair and is rewarding people for their sins.

These Scriptures tell us that God sends sun and rain on the evil and the good. In that way, God is being fair. He is treating everyone with the same love and mercy. God loves everyone, including the worst of sinners. In God’s eyes the least of sinners is just as bad as the worst of sinners. We are all sinners and fall short of His glory. God desires to have a relationship with each of us. The problems of our world are a result of the sin of mankind. Because of God’s love He allows man the freedom of choice. If God took away our choice and made everything perfect and good then we would be no more than puppets on a string. Without bad we would not know what good is. He wants us to choose to love Him and to follow His guidelines but He will not force us to do so.

Challenge: These Scriptures teach us to love our enemies just as God loves His enemies. We are to pray for those who persecute us. Our human nature prompts us to seek revenge and hate our enemies. Pray that God would give you His Spirit of love and compassion even for your enemies and those who persecute you. Say a prayer for someone who has wronged you in some way.

“You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Fool!’ will be subject to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You Moron!’ will be subject to hellfire.” Matthew 5:21-22 HCSB

My name is Ron Moore. When turned around, it is Moron. In school when a teacher called the attendance roll and read the last name first, it was always embarrassing when she got to my name. As a youth minister, teenagers lovingly called me “Moron” as a nickname. It did not bother me and even today I will answer to the name “Moron” in the right context.

In these Scriptures Jesus is again trying to point out the importance of one’s attitude. He compares the sixth commandment, “Thou shall not kill” with an angry or hateful attitude. If a person has an angry or hateful attitude toward someone, it is the same as murdering that person. God desires for us to have a positive and helpful attitude.

Challenge: How is your attitude? Do you have any anger toward other people? Be careful what you call other people and focus on always treating others with respect.

“For I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20 HCSB

This year I celebrate 40 years in full-time ministry. I have served several churches, a state convention, and Lifeway Christian Resources. I have met and observed many different people in positions of leadership. Some have appeared to be very religious and even taught Sunday School or served as pastors but their hearts and actions told a different story. They would go through the motions of going to church, praying, giving, and even serving in leadership positions, but their hearts strayed far from God and His principles.

That is what Jesus was referencing when He said that our righteousness must surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees who were intent on following every letter of the Law but whose hearts and attitudes were not right. Jesus called His disciples to a different type of righteousness – that which must come from God. We cannot be righteous. Our righteousness must be based on a reverence for a Holy God rather than on the approval of men. Our righteousness must go beyond keeping the Law to the principles behind the Law. There must be a change in our hearts and attitudes if we are going to be acceptable and pleasing to God.

Challenge: You cannot keep the Law. You cannot be good enough to be righteous. It is only God working through you that produces righteousness. God is more concerned about your attitudes than your actions. Look for ways to be pleasing to God rather than pleasing men.

“Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commands and teaches people to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:19 HCSB

We have all heard the quote, “Practice what you preach.” Here are a few more quotes with the same theme: “Too many people talk the talk, but few actually walk the walk.” “Just because you talk about Jesus doesn’t mean you get a ticket to heaven.” “Learn before you try to teach.” “Sometimes people need to take their own advice.”

The Pharisees of Jesus’ time were great teachers of the Laws of God but so many of them did not follow what they taught. Jesus taught His disciples to practice what they taught. Just like the Pharisees, there are too many people in the world today who try to look and pretend to be religious and holy but whose lives do not reflect a real change in their hearts.

Challenge: Practice what you preach or teach. God knows your heart and your reward in heaven will be a reflection of your heart here on earth. Will you be called least or great in the kingdom of heaven?

“Don’t assume that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. Matthew 5:17 HCSB

The laws of our country are designed to provide order, control, and a safe environment. Most of the laws are based on the 10 Commandments God gave to Moses. God’s laws are designed to help people know how to live in relationship to God and to each other.

The Law was considered to be the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Pentateuch in Greek and the Torah in Hebrew. Moses is considered to be the author of these books. The Prophets would have included the Major and Minor Prophets. The Law and Prophets would have referred to the Old Testament. The Jewish leaders considered Jesus as one who did not obey the Law because He healed on the Sabbath and ate with sinners.

Jesus challenged their thoughts by saying He had come to fulfill the Law rather than to destroy it. None of us are capable of following and obeying the Law. Only Jesus is perfect. He fulfilled the Law because He never sinned. Because Jesus was sinless He can be the perfect Lamb of God and pay the penalty for the sins of the world.

Challenge: Jesus has already paid the penalty for your sins. Thank God for providing the perfect sacrifice for your sins. Strive to live by the Law but know that when you fail, God still loves you and forgives you because of your faith in Christ.