Matthew 7:13-23 (Narrow Gate)

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

Sometimes Scripture is figurative, but sometimes it is as plain and straight-forward as it could be.  Today's verses are those.  Is there a literal, metal "gate" that we walk through to get to Jesus?  No.  But what is said about that gate could not be put more simply.  

Enter through the narrow gate.  That's a command, and it's left to us as our choice.  We have to make the choice to pick the narrower, smaller, less-traveled, less-popular gate.

Why?  Because "wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction."  I'm not sure Jesus could have said it any more plainly.  It's a warning!  If you don't choose the narrow gate, destruction will befall you.  Many enter through it, He says.  Now, Jesus has known ALL the people that ever existed, so when He says 'many', we know that 'many' represents a lot of people.

BUT...here comes the contrast..."small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."  When I picture the word 'narrow,' it is in stark contrast to the word 'wide'.  I would naturally believe that narrow compared to wide might be one-tenth the size of "wide," but then He says that only a FEW will find it.  A "few" to me is like the 3 peanut M&Ms I eat out of a bag of 100! 

It is not our place to judge the salvation of those around us -- only God can judge people eternally -- but He wouldn't tell us this if He didn't want us to think about it.  Just because you are going to church, doesn't mean you have eternal life with Christ in Heaven. 

We can know if people really love the Lord by the fruit in their lives.  Look at what Jesus says next: “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?  Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.  Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

It's not just enough to say that we know the Lord, because if our motives and heart are evil and self-seeking, Jesus will not recognize us.  We can't just do things for ourselves and our glory and say that we're doing them for God.  Don't attend church just so you can put it on you spiritual resume!
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.  Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

"Only He who does the will of my Father who is in Heaven..." How do we know God's will for us to do?  We read the Bible.  How do we know if we're doing it right?  Jesus says we'll produce good fruit.  "The Fruit of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control..." (Gal. 5:22).  That's the "proof".


Let's not be satisfied with just good-enough when it comes to our relationship with Jesus.  Don't think that you're okay because you're doing what everyone else is doing -- everyone else is on the WIDE road!  I hope you are on this journey with me because you want to KNOW Him and to learn to LOVE Him more each day.  We will never be finished as long as we are on this earth.  Keep pressing on to learn more and to become more like Him each day.  Don't give up!  Don't let just going to church be enough.  Pour out your life for Him and for the people around you.  And if you feel that you're the only one around you doing that, take heart.  You're probably on the narrow road.