Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter through
the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to
destruction, and there are many who enter through it. 14 “For the gate is
small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Choices are the determining factor in all of our lives. The quality of our life on earth and the
destiny of our eternal life are determined by the choice we make. It may seem like we have an infinite number
of options from which to choose, but there really is only one choice between
two different options. Jesus has been
preaching about God’s righteousness in contrast to man’s self-righteousness. The message has been powerful, eloquent and
clear. There can be no mistake about the
difference between these two options.
Now it is simply time to choose.
It is not enough to admire the teachings of Christ. A choice must be made. Jesus leaves no room for doubt as to which
choice we should make and why we should choose it. He flat out tells us what choice to make and
then He makes some very poignant comparisons between the two choices so we can
know exactly why we should make that choice.
THE COMMANDMENT: Jesus commands that we enter the narrow
gate. He didn’t say to admire or
appreciate the narrow gate. He said to
enter it. Many people look at the
teachings of Jesus and are impressed by the wisdom and beauty of His
instructions. He clearly taught what to
do in an authoritative way. Today’s
society is drowning in the sea of relativity where tolerance and diversity are
considered to be the greatest virtues. Jesus has a far different way. He presents the one and only way that man can
be saved from his sin. We are all
sinners that are born on the wrong path.
This wrong path may seem like it has many different options; but the
reality is that there is only one final result. In order to escape the path on which we were
born; we must enter the narrow gate. We
must repent of our sin and trust in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross as the
only means by which we can find forgiveness and be reconciled to God. Jesus is the true Way and the only Way we can
find forgiveness of our sin and be reconciled to God.
THE COMPARISON: Jesus wants to make sure that we all
understand the clear difference between to the path on which we were born and
the path He wants us to choose. He makes
four comparisons between the two paths.
Wide vs Small Gate: How we enter the path on which we will walk in life
is a gate. Jesus has already told us to
enter the small gate. It will not be an
easy choice to make but it is a necessary choice. The wide gate is easy and inviting while the
small gate seems far less attractive. We
must be intentional about entering the small gate. Broad vs Narrow Way: Once we enter the gate,
the way on which we travel is very different.
The way on which we were born is broad, comfortable and seems natural to
us. The narrow way is confining and
uncomfortable. God has not called us to
be comfortable. He has called us to be
like Jesus. If we are going through life
with ease and comfort we must stop to evaluate which path we are truly following. Destruction vs Life Destination: This is the
central truth of this contrast between the two choices. The wide way will eventually lead to
destruction while the narrow way leads to eternal life. In order to be condemned by God we don’t need
to do anything. We are already condemned
in our sin. The only way that leads to
eternal life is through faith in Jesus.
The way of religion, the way of good works and the way of
self-righteousness may seem like different ways but they are all just different
aspects of the same wide way that ends up in hell. Jesus died to save us from that destiny. We must place our faith in His work on the
cross instead of our futile efforts in order to arrive at eternal life. Many vs Few Followers: The saddest truth in this text is the numbers
of people on each path. Many will choose
the path of sin and destruction while few will choose the path of faith and
forgiveness that leads to living in God’s presence forever. The majority is not always right and when it
comes to eternal life; the majority is dead wrong. It is not easy to leave the crowd of the
majority but God requires it of all who believe.
APPLICATION: We must make a clear and intentional choice
between God’s righteousness and our own.
It is of eternally vital importance that we evaluate the way on which we
walk. Comfort and a lot of company are
very bad indications that we are on the path to destruction.
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