The Yale expositor., 1906-03-30

/. What Are Some False Founda-
lions?-V. Is. With this lesson we
continue and complete our study OF
the Sermon on the Mount. Chrlst's
teaching, like the great Grafton of
Moses recorded in Deuteronomy,
comes TO a climax in "the blessing
and cursing," faithful showing of
the way of life and the way of death.
To enforce his teaching our Savior
uses variety of illustrations, as Il
jeweler turns a gem, that the light
may fall now on this facet and now
on another. Let us carry out his
closing Illustration of the two founda-
tons, and let us see first, in Matt. GIL
to 7:15, what basis of life Christ
points out TO us as wholly unsafe. and
warns us away with his clear danger
signal. II is built of:
/. Pride. vanity, especially in re-
ligious matters Matt. GELS, 1919.
To trust in our own righteousness is
like building house on gas-bags.
2. Insincerity, double-mindedness
trying TO serve, at the same time. God
and anything else Matt. ,6:22-2D.
Such a foundation is like the unstable
quicksand, as likely to shift one way
as another. to-day toward God and to-
morrow toward mammon.
3. Consciousness Matt. 7:1-5),
which is the accompaniment of pride
and hypocrisy. A man that is always
judging his neighbors harshly is like
house built upon thorns.
4. Worldliness the life whose treas
ure is all on earth Matt G:19-2D. 1t
is like lordly mansion with a founda-
ton of wooden boxes, gilded, to be
sure, but hollow. and certain to col
lapse before long.
5. Unfaith, anxiety for the future,
dependence on ones self rather than
on the loving Father Matt. 6:25-3D.
Such life OF dread is like house
built upon blocks of ice.
G. Carelessness of holy things
Matt. 100, making light" of great
realities, irreverence. So to live is
TO choose foundation of chaT and
dross.
:. And finally. the following of evil
builders, who establish our spiritual
life upon these foundations of upright
eousness. Christ calls these false
prophets" (v. l5). "A prophet is one
who speaks under divine influence
a revealer and interpreter of Gods
will. an authoritative religious instruc-
tor, whether speaking of the past, the
present, or the future. A false proph-
ct was therefore one who pretended
10 speak Gods truth. when he did
not; one who spoke falsely in Gods
name. '-Peloubet' Teachers Com
mentary. Which come to YOU in
Sleeps clothing" Wearing the rough
garb of a prophet; with gentle air,
innocent as sheep. But inwardly they
are rayening wolves" These false
teachers are greedy for place, power,
or money.
III. What Is the Test of the True
Foundation?-Vs. 1920. Because the
temptations to unrighteousness are so
subtle, it is necessary to have some
test, very plain and easily applied, by
which we may know what to build
into our lives and what to reject.
This Christ gives us with matchless
force and clearness.
16. "Ye shall know them by their
fruits" What are the fruits by which
men are TO be known? Here, their
deeds (see VS.. 81, %, 2D; in Luke's
report of the sermon duke 6:43-45),
their words. Probably Christ men
toned both, and Matthew's incom-
plete sketch gives prominence TO the
one. Luke's to the other.
Commentary Christ expands and IL
illustrates the thought do men gather
grapes of thorns?" "A kind of acacia,
or perhaps 'thistles.' "-Cambridge BIZ
BILE COR figs of thistles?" Rather,
calthrop. prickly water plant
Cambridge Bible.
II. Even So" Just as the kind OF
tree determines it's fruit, so does its
condition: tree that is good" 1. e..
Sound and healthy. "bringeth forth
good fruit; but tree that Is cor
rupt," /. e., decayed, "bringeth forth
evil fruit"
10. Cannot" II is inevitable that
character will disclose itself in life.
Murder will out"
10. "Hewn down, and cast into the
fire" ITO this day in the East trees
are valued only so far as they produce
fruit."-Cambridge Bible.
20. Wherefore" Because in all ma
ture like produces like inevitably, and
men are so sure of IL that they cut
bad trees down, knowing perfectly
well that they will never produce good
fruit. Christ does not draw from. this
parable the teaching that. as a tree
does not change its character. so a
man cannot, for that would be untrue
That there may be no mistake he re-
peats his teaching. that character is
known by its results in the outward
life.
Every tree in Palestine is taxed.
and if any fails to bear fruit it be-
comes an expense and is cut down
Every element in our lives that does
not produce good fruit is a constant
damage 10 us