How Jesus Motivated Men

Matthew 7:13-29
Men Need Motivation
Some sinners need motivation to obey the gospel
(Acts 2:37,41; 26:29)

Some erring saints need motivation to return (Lk.

15:17; Acts 8:20-23; 2 Cor. 2:4; 7:8)

Some weak Christians need motivation to grow (1 Cor.

15:58; 2 Cor. 9:6-7; 1 Thess. 5:17; Heb. 10:25; 2 Pet.
1:5; 3:18)

Some strong Christians need motivation to remain

strong (2 Pet. 1:12-15)
Jesus Motivates
Jesus not only offered information in the Sermon on the
Mount, he also offered motivation (Mt. 5-7)

Motivation is arousing or initiating behavior

One can be motivated to do evil (Mk. 15:11; Acts 6:12;

13:50; 14:2; 21:27,38), or good (2 Cor. 9:2)
Jesus Motivates
They were motivated to live better than their peers (Mt.
5:20)

They were motivated to put truth over tradition (Mt.

5:21ff)

They were motivated to be genuine (Mt. 6:1-18; 7:1-5)

They were motivated to set priorities (Mt. 6:19ff)

Let us examine the four motivation methods Jesus in

Matthew 7:13-29: what he appealed to and what he did not
appeal to (entertainment, personal feelings, etc.)
 How Jesus Motivated Men
Jesus appealed to their eternal destiny (7:13-14)

There is no greater motivation than the two destinies of

heaven and hell (Mt. 25:46)

Hope of the beauty of heaven motivates (Rev. 21-22)

Fear of the horror of hell motivates (Mk. 9:43-48; Rev.

20:10; 21:8)

How badly do you want to go to heaven? Are you

travelling the road to hell?
 How Jesus Motivated Men
Jesus appealed to pleasing the Father (7:15-23)

We are known by our fruits and fruit-bearing pleases

the Father (Jn. 15:8)

We must do the will of the Father to please the Father

(Jn. 8:29)

We obey because we want to please the Father (1

Thess. 4:1)
 How Jesus Motivated Men
Jesus appealed to self-respect and security (7:24-27)

One who obeys the Lord is “wise,” not “foolish”

One who obeys the Lord will be safe and secure like a
house built upon the rock, not tossed about

Appealing to self-respect and security will motivate

today (Eph. 4:14; 5:15; Jas. 3:13)
 How Jesus Motivated Men
Jesus appealed to his own authority (7:28-29)

People are motivated by one in authority (Jn. 7:32,45-

46; 1 Cor. 14:37-38)

Appealing to Bible authority will motivate today (Tit.

2:15)
 Are You More Motivated
to Obey God
After Hearing This Lesson?