Matthew 7:13-14

DAY 54
Date: 6-1-25

The Narrow and Wide Gates

* Everything with an asterisk and is italicized and purple is my own added words and thoughts and are not part of the actual verse or quote. 

Pray

Read scripture: Matthew 7:7-12

(NIV 1984) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

We are now entering the conclusion of the SOM. Jesus summarizes and gives concluding remarks, warnings and encouragements. 
He is wrapping up this most famous of all sermons with application and direction. 
His advice and warning should be taken with the utmost urgency as they have eternal consequences.

Think about that phrase for a minute – “eternal consequences.”

What do you think that means?

The author of our Holman Commentary, with reference to this concluding section of the SOM, Matthew 7:13-29, mentions three ‘threads” that are woven thru these Jesus’ concluding remarks on the SOM. 

They are:

1. CHOICES: Between LIFE and DESTRUCTION
   1. We we this choice in vs 13-14 (today’s passage) with the choice between the narrow gate and the wide gate.
   2. We we this choice in vs 15-20 with the difference between the good tree and the bad tree.
   3. We we this choice in vs 24-29 in the difference between the house built on the rock versus the house built on sand.
2. The emphasis on doing God’s will: Doing Righteousness 
3. Subtle yet continual references to FINAL JUDGEMENT

There is NOTHING more serious or urgent in all the world than these “threads.”

Before we look at these threads in light of our scripture passage for today, let me read a brief article from James Montgomery Boice’s commentary on the SOM. It wraps up the conclusion well, I think.

He says:
(Boice Expositional Commentary) One of the worst things that can be taught in religion is that all roads eventually lead to heaven. It is not true, of course, which is bad enough in itself, for all lies are harmful. But in addition to being false, the idea that all ways are equally good is damnable since the one who follows any way other than that laid out by Jesus Christ will perish in the life to come.

This is what Jesus stresses in the concluding section of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 7:13–27). He has instructed his followers in the way to blessedness before God. He (Jesus) has reaffirmed the abiding importance of the Old Testament, explaining that it demands a true internal righteousness and not merely an outward conformity to certain regulations. He has examined the chief areas of religious piety and has even talked about the relationship of the believer to the world. He has summarized his teaching by the Golden Rule. … Now he wraps up his sermon by insisting that the only way to heaven is by obeying or building on his words. All other ways, however wise, plausible, or attractive they may seem, lead to condemnation.

We can put it another way … Having shown what God requires of those who would belong to his kingdom, (namely Christ’s righteousness, NOT our own) Jesus now warns his listeners about falling by the wayside through apathy, the deceit of false teachers, hypocrisy, or sheer folly, and thus failing to enter the kingdom.

What Jesus says in these last verses is that everyone must choose either one or the other of two ways, … exactly what Jeremiah said when he wrote of “the way of life and the way of death” (Jer. 21:8), or what the first psalm urges when it contrasts those who “walk in the counsel of the wicked” with those whose “delight is in the law of the Lord” (vv. 1–2). … Here Jesus presses his points by a series of four contrasting images. He speaks of two gates (and two paths), two trees (or teachers), two claims (or professions), and two builders (or foundations). In each case the choice of the one way leads to heaven; the choice of the other leads to hell.

Similarly, William Hendricksen says, “The passage speaks of a. two gates and two ways, b. two kinds of travelers, and c. two destinations.” (New Testament Commentary Series Hendriksen-Kistemaker (12 Vols.))

And finally, regarding this closing summary section of the SOM, vss 13-27, the NLT Study Bible notes say, “The Sermon on the Mount closes with a call to decide about Jesus and his teaching (see 4:23; 9:35). Those who hear Jesus’ message regarding the Kingdom must follow him to obtain eternal life or disown him and experience God’s condemnation. There is no middle way (Deut 30:15-20; Ps 1; Prov 12:28; Jer 21:8).”

Now on to our discussion about today’s vs …

Q:  I know I may have already given you some hints, but what do you think today’s vs. are about?

A: Hint: Do you remember our discussion a couple months ago about the TWO CAMPS?

Does this sound a little familiar considering the comparisons in the summary/conclusion to the SOM?

I.e. 
2 paths or roads
2 destinations 
2 trees
2 fruits 
2 kinds of teachers (true and false)
2 builders
2 foundations 
2 CAMPS: God’s and Satan’s; Heaven and Hell 

Q: What do you think Jesus means by the “narrow” gate and the “wide” gate?

A: ___________________________

Q: Do you see the any of these threads mentioned in our book in today’s vs.? 

(Choices between life or destruction, Obeying or not obeying God, Final Judgement)

A: ___________________________

Q: Do you see the any connection between the “choices” in today’s vs. and “eternal consequences?”

A:  The ultimate choice in life is between God or Satan; between Heaven or Hell.

What will you choose?
Will you choose Jesus? Or self? 
Who will you choose as the Lord of your life?
Who will you choose as your Savior?
Will you choose the Truth of the Gospel? (The Narrow Gate)
-or-
Will you choose the lie of Satan that if you just do enough good on your own, God will let you into Heaven? (The Wide Gate)
Whom will you choose to depend on for where you will spend ETERNITY? 
Jesus?  (The Narrow Gate)
or yourself? (The Wide Gate)

THE CHALLENGE

APPLICATION:

Our book (Holman Commentary) says…
In a Nutshell
Matthew challenges his readers to choose between obeying the will of God and disobeying the will of God. For the believer, this involves humility, self-examination, and dependence on him for everything.

Q:  Why do you think God wants us to be dependent on Him for everything?

A:  A solid clue to the answer lies in 1 Corinthians 1:15, which says, “25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.” (NIV 1984)

Our book (Holman Commentary) says…
MAIN IDEA: 
The righteousness of Jesus’ followers will be evident in their relationships and in their daily choices.

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Quotes:

And finally, regarding this closing summary section of the SOM, vss 13-27, the NLT Study Bible notes say, “The Sermon on the Mount closes with a call to decide about Jesus and his teaching (see 4:23; 9:35). Those who hear Jesus’ message regarding the Kingdom must follow him to obtain eternal life or disown him and experience God’s condemnation. There is no middle way (Deut 30:15-20; Ps 1; Prov 12:28; Jer 21:8).”

(Boice Expositional Commentary) One of the worst things that can be taught in religion is that all roads eventually lead to heaven. It is not true, of course, which is bad enough in itself, for all lies are harmful. But in addition to being false, the idea that all ways are equally good is damnable since the one who follows any way other than that laid out by Jesus Christ will perish in the life to come.

This is what Jesus stresses in the concluding section of the Sermon on the Mount (Matt. 7:13–27). He has instructed his followers in the way to blessedness before God. He (Jesus) has reaffirmed the abiding importance of the Old Testament, explaining that it demands a true internal righteousness and not merely an outward conformity to certain regulations. He has examined the chief areas of religious piety and has even talked about the relationship of the believer to the world. He has summarized his teaching by the Golden Rule. … Now he wraps up his sermon by insisting that the only way to heaven is by obeying or building on his words. All other ways, however wise, plausible, or attractive they may seem, lead to condemnation.

We can put it another way. … Having shown what God requires of those who would belong to his kingdom, (namely Christ’s righteousness, NOT our own) Jesus now warns his listeners about falling by the wayside through apathy, the deceit of false teachers, hypocrisy, or sheer folly, and thus failing to enter the kingdom.

What Jesus says in these last verses is that everyone must choose either one or the other of two ways, … exactly what Jeremiah said when he wrote of “the way of life and the way of death” (Jer. 21:8), or what the first psalm urges when it contrasts those who “walk in the counsel of the wicked” with those whose “delight is in the law of the Lord” (vv. 1–2). … Here Jesus presses his points by a series of four contrasting images. He speaks of two gates (and two paths), two trees (or teachers), two claims (or professions), and two builders (or foundations). In each case the choice of the one way leads to heaven; the choice of the other leads to hell.

Similarly, William Hendricksen says, “The passage speaks of a. two gates and two ways, b. two kinds of travelers, and c. two destinations.” (New Testament Commentary Series Hendriksen-Kistemaker (12 Vols.))

———————————

Next Week:

A Tree and It’s Fruit

Matthew 7:15-23, part 1

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Notes:

* Everything with an asterisk and is italicized and purple is my own added words and thoughts and are not part of the actual verse or quote.