The Choice : To Do or Not To Do
Sermon Summary : Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount: The Choice To Do or Not To Do
Bro. Brendan Leow | 19 October 2025 | Matthew 7 : 13 – 27
On average, adults make around 35,000 decisions every day — that’s about 2,000 decisions per hour, or roughly one decision every two seconds while we’re awake. Most of these choices seem small and routine: what to wear, which route to take to work, or where to eat after church. Yet, every so often, we encounter decisions that carry far greater weight — choices that can reshape the course of our lives, such as whom to marry, what career to pursue, or where to live. The more significant these decisions are, the greater the consequences if we fail to choose wisely.
The Titanic. It was a masterpiece of engineering, yet one fatal choice determined its destiny. In the same way, the most important decision in life is the choice to do God’s will or not.
Jesus, in Matthew chapter 7, calls His followers to make a choice: which gate will you enter, whose voice will you follow, and what foundation will you build upon. The Sermon on the Mount does not end with admiration or agreement; Jesus demands a response. There are only two paths — one leading to life, and another ending in destruction.
1️⃣ Which Gate Will We Enter?
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
— Matthew 7:13–14
The wide gate is popular and inviting. It offers plenty of space, feels comfortable, and seems easy to walk through. It even feels safe because you’re surrounded by many others heading in the same direction. Yet that sense of security is deceptive — popularity does not make the path right, and comfort does not guarantee life.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
— Proverbs 14:12
The narrow gate, however, is unpopular and difficult, yet it leads to eternal life. To enter it means living a Christ-centered life marked by self-denial, humility, and complete submission to God’s will. You cannot pick and choose which of God’s commands to follow.
Being a faithful Christian is not a bed of roses — it may even make you appear “different” in the eyes of the world. You may face peer pressure, rejection, or ridicule for prioritizing God, like choosing worship over social plans.
Jesus said in Luke 9:23, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”
And in James 4:10, “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
Faith may be shaken when people question your priorities, but we must remember that time for God is never wasted. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” — Romans 8:28.
Instead of chasing the temporary things of this world, we must chase after God. When we do, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” — Psalm 23:6.
We are not called to isolate ourselves from the world, but to live in it without compromise — to be witnesses and lights that point others to Christ. Our mission is to preach the word. As Jesus said, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Stay true to your Christian values; you never know who is watching and being encouraged by your example. It is always worth it to follow God’s commandments, for it is the only way that leads to life. Do not be ashamed of being a Christian. Our testimony is not about judging others but about setting an example for the world to see through our conduct.
2️⃣ Whose Voice Will We Follow?
Not everyone who acknowledges God will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do His will. Jesus warns in Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
Faith is not just believing — it must be active. As James 2:17 reminds us, “Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”
Many claim to know God and even testify in His name, but true discipleship is doing His will from the heart. If believing alone were enough, even the devil would be saved, for even demons acknowledge God’s existence. James 2 : 19 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
Salvation is about obedience that flows from love.
The Parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew 22:1–14, where a king invited guests to his son’s wedding, but was met with hostility and rejection. The king then extended invitation to everyone, both good and bad. During the feast, one guest entered without the proper wedding garment and was cast out.
The king in the parable represents God, who graciously invites all to share in the salvation offered through His Son, Jesus Christ. Those who reject His invitation are likened to people too preoccupied with worldly pursuits and self-interest to respond. The first invited guests symbolize the nation of Israel, who, despite being God’s chosen people, largely rejected His Son and thereby faced judgment. The guest who entered without proper wedding garments represents those who outwardly accept God’s call but inwardly remain unchanged. The wedding garment symbolizes the true righteousness that comes from God alone — it cannot be replaced by self-righteousness or good works of our own choosing.
As Jesus concluded, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” — Matthew 22:14
Only those clothed in God’s righteousness will be saved. We must choose whose voice we follow — the world’s or the Shepherd’s — for His sheep hear His voice and follow Him.
3️⃣ Which Foundation Will We Build On?
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:
and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
— Matthew 7:24–27
Life’s storms will come — temptations, trials, and worldly pressures — and those storms will reveal what kind of foundation we have built upon. “When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.” — Proverbs 10:25.
A solid spiritual foundation is built on obedience and consistency. “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith.” — Colossians 2:6–7.
We also need the support of the brethren to strengthen our walk. “Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11. Surround yourself with like-minded believers who build you up in faith. Peer pressure can either pull us away or push us closer to God — so choose companions who strengthen your walk with Him.
The Leaning Tower of Pisa, located in Italy, began construction in the 12th century and started to tilt soon after due to its weak, unstable, and sandy subsoil. Despite the builders’ skill, the problem was never the craftsmanship — it was the foundation. The soft ground could not support the tower’s weight evenly, causing it to lean. Even after multiple restoration efforts over the centuries, it still tilts slightly today.
Likewise, if we hear God’s Word but fail to apply it, we are building our lives on sand. When the storms of life come — and they surely will — such a foundation cannot stand. But when we hear and obey His Word, building daily upon Christ our Rock, no storm can bring us down.
Conclusion: The Choice To Do or Not To Do
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount calls for a decision — not admiration, but action. The Christian life is not about hearing alone but doing. We are called to choose:
Our Destination — Which gate will we enter?
Our Identity — Whose voice will we follow?
Our Foundation — What will we build our life upon?
Choose to be a Christian, choose eternal life, and choose to do God’s will. The choice is ours — to do or not to do. Let us be doers of the Word, standing firm on Christ the Rock, walking through the narrow gate, and following the Shepherd’s voice all the days of our lives.
For in the end, obedience is not a burden — it is the pathway to life.
