MATTEW 7 V 13 to 14
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
1. Is the width of the gates significant?
2. Why do you think the wide gate is wide as opposed to narrow?
3. Why do you think that God made the gate to destruction wide? Isn’t that making it easy to go away from him?
4. What is meant by “destruction” seeing that we are all eternal beings and as such will not be annihilated?
5. What is meant by “Life”?
6. Why is it that the gate that leads to life is narrow? Does it not make finding the way to God difficult?
7. True and False Prophets
15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
MATTEW 7 V 15 to 20 – TRUE AND FALSE PROPHETS
1. What danger is there in not watching out for false prophets?
2. What would be the result of letting false prophets influence the church or your life?
3. What does the difference in fruits tell us?
4. What happens to trees that do not bear good fruit?
5. How does John 15 (see below) relate to what Jesus is teaching us in Matthew 7?
6. How is the Christian described?
7. How is the Non-Christian described?
8. Where is the Christians power source?
John 15
The Vine and the Branches
15 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
