Observation: In discussing how to get into heaven, Jesus outlines two criteria. One is faith, and he reviews how that faith manifests as trust in the Lord's provision in your life. However, the bulk of the Sermon on the Mount his about obedience. He calls obedience the "decisive question". He has already shown how someone can judge another's deeds, using a metaphor of trees that either do or don't produce good fruit. Here he summarizes this idea, clearly stating that even those that have done good work in the name of Jesus won't be acknowledged if their deeds are evil.
There is a seeming contradiction here. Those rejected for their evil deeds are also said to have ... acknowledged Jesus as 'Lord', pronounced their faith, told others about Jesus, and perhaps even performed miracles through their faith. That doesn't sound like someone who is failing to obey God. Jesus will also clearly state the role of forgiveness and an understanding of fallen mankind, knowing that his very work of salvation is because we cannot live perfectly obedient lives.
Jesus resolves this contradiction by clarifying the 'law and prophets' in a summary statement ... that obedience is "do for others what you want them to do for you" (v12). How we treat people will be the decisive question that reveals our faith.
Application: Once again, I find myself convicted of an upside-down understanding of faith. For so long, I served ... then judged others. Judging others, and in any other way treating others with contempt, arrogance, and disregard, is the disobedient evil deed. My entire life should instead be to serve and love others, and out of that find good service.
Prayer: Lord, please soften my heart. All my issues come from my wrong understanding of how to interact with others, whom you certainly love more than me, for I am just one person and they are billions. Break my heart for others. Amen.
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