LOC 061 Two Paths

LOC 061 Two Paths

In Matthew 7:13-14 we have two of the most neglected verses in not only the Sermon on the Mount, but from all the teachings of Jesus.  These two verses are packed with important essential things that we need to learn and operate by as the Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ in the year 2000. 

These verses are a remarkable call once again to what discipleship is supposed to be and to a life lived under the authority of the Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. 

We have alluded to these two verses twice already.  The first in connection with the importance of seeking the Kingdom of God and his righteousness on his terms.  We need to understand that not all will desire to be Christ’s disciples, and actually, some may even be repulsed at that idea when told they ought to be.  The second time was two weeks ago when we looked at the three words: ask, seek and knock from Chapter 7 Verses 7-11.  The exposition sought to show that the KNOCK of that paragraph was forward looking to what followed--the disciples where to actively knock in order for something to be opened up to them.  We noted the passive construction of the word open showing the door or gate was not something they could open, but their need for someone else to open the gate or the door in order for them to obey what had been commanded of them.  The KNOCKing was expressed as a plural present active imperative, where the opening was a plural future passive indicative.  The KNOCKING was for the disciples to do, the OPENING was for someone to do something for them that they are either unwilling to do or incapable of doing themselves.  It is a subtle way the Greek language shows the reader of the need for divine grace. 

Since the narrow gate in verses 13-14 is in the immediate context and follows the flow of the earlier command, it is reasonable to see the connection between the knocking and opening with the words of these two verses. 

I hope to show you this connection more explicitly by looking at the content of these two important verses.

Matthew 7:13-14:

1. The Command

Matt. 7:13 “ ¶ 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.

2. The Explanation

14  “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Let’s look more closely at the text:

1. The Command in Four Parts

A. The Subjects

You plural is implied.  The word for enter is a verb in the plural second person meaning you plural.  As we have noted throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is speaking intimately with his disciples on a hill near the Sea of Galilee most likely within earshot of the some from among the multitudes who ventured over to listen in. 

B. The Action

Jesus tells the disciples to ENTER.  He has already used this word twice int he Sermon on the Mount, though in different forms:

Matt. 5:20  “For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

Hear it has the sense of a one time event of entering into the kingdom of heaven in an active sense.  The disciples will be entering the Kingdom of heaven, rather than the kingdom  opened or brought down to them.

And in .....

Matt. 6:6  “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Here is in the words translated “go into your room.” When each of you each and every time you enter your room to pray do this.  The disciples wee familiar with the basic meaning of this word.  It is an ordinary word meaning to enter into a place spatially or conceptually. 

Spatially means when you enter a space like this building; conceptually it is used when you enter into a new idea or topic under consideration.  We have a phrase that says, “You don't want to go there” when people start to get uncomfortable about a new topic under consideration--especially if that topic has to do with their own sin. 

In 7:13 this word is used in the Aorist Plural Active Imperative meaning. Jesus is addressing all of the disciples with a command in which they are to actively obey with the sense of it being an important event, perhaps a once-for-all event that has effect forever.  That is the case whenever they obey this command to ENTER. 

C. The Place

They are to Enter by the narrow gate.

There is only one gate they are told to enter.  It is not an option of from among many gates, choose one.  It is emphatic that there is a gate called NARROW, that they are to enter. 

This word for Narrow has the sense of it being a compressed or constricted entry point to something that lies beyond.  The Gate may not be so easy for them to find.  That is why it must be pointed out to them and it must be opened unto them as they knock.  Left to themselves, they would miss it and lose out on whatever lies behind the gate.

It is a narrow gate in the sense of hard to enter.  It is not an easy entrance.  Implicitly, drawing from the language already introduced in the Sermon on the Mount, to enter one must strip himself of many things that he might fit through the gate: earthly goods and earthly mindedness; a lack of forgiveness, prayer, charitable deeds and the grace of fasting; selfishness and most importantly, self-righteousness. 

The gate can be illustrated by a turnstile that admits a few through in a particular manner.  It is as if those who enter through it will be compressed on all sides.  It is remarkable for what it is not.  Jesus tells them in a rather stark contrast of the only other alternative.  He does this to motivate his disciples to enter through the narrow gate and that they might receive all that is their for them behind it.  He adds:

D. The Motivation

for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.

There are two gates and implicitly two ways or paths and two groups of people. 

The two gates: a narrow, difficult and confining one and a broad, wide, one that opens frequently. 

The two ways are the way that leads to destruction and the way that leads to safety.

The two groups of people are in general terms believers and unbelievers.  But specifically, Jesus is addressing them in a given situation.  Jesus has just called his twelve from among the multitudes to follow him fulltime.  They would have understood the direct command for them to enter the narrow way that leads to life as speaking to them in contrast with the way of the multitudes. 

The Disciples recently called are to obey the command to enter as a defining event of their life.  They are to make sure with all diligence that they are on the way to life through the narrow gate.  They are to not be like the multitudes who, although they have a curious interest in who Jesus is, they do not follow him as THE Messiah sent from God.  They want the benefits he gives them through his grace and mercy, but they do not want to follow in all of his ways. 

The narrow way through the narrow gate is for the few who are called to be Christ’s disciples.  If you believe yourself to be his disciple, I would ask you if you are on that way that leads to life.  I don’t ask if you want to be on that way, but are you on that way.  Have you heeded the call of the gospel to enter onto the way to life through the constricted way?  Have you knocked that the way may be opened to you?  Are you walking down that path?  Are you on the narrow way? 

The choices are simple: two gates, two ways, and two sorts of people.  Are you through the narrow gate that leads to the narrow path which is the way to life for those who are Christ’s disciples?  If not, you are on the broad path through the wide gate that leads to destruction.

Please note: Jesus does not allow for many ways to God. That is a modern notion in harmony with toleration run amuck in our day and age.  Jesus is saying the way for his disciples in a way exclusively for his disciples.  It is hard to get on.  This path alone leads to life.  The understanding that all paths to God is dead wrong.  Every other path except for the narrow one through the constricted way are just varieties of that one wide path to destruction--to being utterly undone, judged and condemned.  Jesus is speaking of the destruction of the soul through unbelief and the torment that awaits the unrepentant soul.  This is where Jesus starts to talk about the consequences of a lack of faith.  The meek and lowly Jesus will from this point on say as much about Hell and eternal judgment as he does about any other matter.  All roads except for the narrow way, lead to destruction. 

Did not Jesus say to his disciples in John 14:6 that he was the way.  Jesus is the one who is the path we must be sure to enter.  It is interesting that in another context he even calls himself the door.  John 10:9  “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. Similar metaphors with the same meaning. Jesus is the one who must grant entrance to the way of salvation and deliverance. He is the WAY, He is the DOOR.  His Disciples must listen to his command to get through the restricted gate to be on his way to life. 

Jesus warns the disciples about this journey upon which they are to embark.  He leaves no surprises. He makes no empty promises.  He does not say, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” He tells his disciples.....

2. The Explanation of the Way he has called them to walk

14  “Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life,

Constricted is the gate and with great peril is the way that leads to life.  It is not a rosy picture.  It is a way of great difficulty.

This is what they are to expect on the path of discipleship.  It is not that everyone is going to like them, listen to them and jump on the gospel bandwagon.  It is everything to the contrary of what many ministers seek in our day and age.  The way is a difficult one.  The word for difficult is found in nine other contexts in the New Testament.  They are most instructive to understand what walking in Christ’s way will bring by way of experience:

Mark 3:9 So He told His disciples that a small boat should be kept ready for Him because of the multitude, lest they should crush Him.

It is found here translated as CRUSH.  It is a constricted gate and a crushing way.  A way between two cliffs ready to fall in upon those who walk therein.

2Cor. 1:6 Now if we are afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effective for enduring the same sufferings which we also suffer. Or if we are comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

Paul speaks of his worst experiences and the means of grace they were to be to others.  Here he speaks in the hypothetical, but knowing the way of Christ is the way of affliction we know it was not a hypothetical situation without any base in fact.  It was to the contrary.  Paul lived a life in constant affliction, of being crushed by many people and concerns.  Such is the life of a disciple. This is what he says in another place.

2Cor. 4:8 We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

Hard pressed, crushed, pushed in.  It was a vocation to Paul as he sought to keep himself on that straight and narrow by God’s good grace.

And three chapters later he adds:

2Cor. 7:5 For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.

This is what the Christian life is all about.  It is not an easy path--it is a way filled with great dangers, manifold temptations from the world and the flesh and the snares of the devil are set all along the way.

Christianity gives us the means to be content all the time, but not happy as the world defines happiness.  It brings true spiritual contentment as we saw when talking about the beatitudes, but the way in this life is often filled with difficulties. 

Paul says this startling thing to the Church in Thessalonica:

1Th. 3:4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

It sis not surprise Paul.  He knew what the way would bring.  So should we.....

But God takes note of those who trouble the disciples and avenges their cause. 

2Th. 1:6 since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you,  7 and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels,

The way in this life can be a difficult one, but the promise of God stands.  He will give the troubled rest in his timing and in his way.  That may not be until he comes or calls for his own. The way is hard; if you are looking for an easy path through life, it is not to be found in following the Lord Jesus Christ.  Difficulties may abound, but so will his grace in the midst of battle.

Speaking of the widows, Paul wrote to Timothy:

1Tim. 5:10 well reported for good works: if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.

What does this teach us?  It is the work of the saints to maintain the weary on the difficult way as we travel it together.  A widow is commended for support if she has been known as one who relieved those who were pressed in and crushed with the difficulties of walking on the way. 

And we have a reminder of what happened to man saints who sought to live on the narrow way:

Heb. 11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented —

In one of the great ironies of the Christian life, disciples are to make every effort to enter by the narrow gate in order to get onto the narrow way.  It is not for everyone--Jesus tells us emphatically what we can expect from our efforts to reach others with the message of this way:

—and there are few who find it.

Those who are on it need one another as one of God’s means to sustain those who walk on the difficult path. We walk with each other and walk with God.

Are you on this way?  Did you enter through the constricted Gate?  Do you delight to do God’s will? Do you joyfully take these things upon you as a disciple of he Lord Jesus Christ?

Or, are you on the wide way enjoying the pleasures of the world wishing you had the benefits of God’s people with the commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ to walk in God’s ways?

Do you see the irony of the narrow gate and the narrow way? Jesus tells his disciples about a difficult way, then he expects them to obey joyfully.  There is nothing appealing about the gate or the way in harmony with the standards of this world.  Yet, Christ’s disciples come to love it as their own. Better a life walking with Christ and his disciples along the narrow way, that being left to ourselves and our so-called friends on the way to destruction. 

We are told the truth about the way and we should tell others.  We should tell them that true spiritual blessedness comes from bearing the reproach of men for the sake of the Son of Man. We should tell them of the call to humble works of mercy towards others.  We should call them to what the Lord Jesus Christ expects of his own.  If they love him, they will get on his way and love him every minute they are on the journey. 

It is far better to be on the straight and narrow path through the confining gate with the one who as God incarnate pledges to be with his own until the end of the ages, than on the path to eternal ruin.  Those who seek nothing but their own indulgence and satisfaction here will suffer forever in the flames of an eternal hell.  Those who seek the way that may bring suffering now, will find the way leads to life of the ages with Christ himself. 

The last two verses of this Gospel tell us of Christ’s blessed promise:Matt. 28:19-20  “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  20  “teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.