Matthew 7:13,14

F. THE DANGERS FACING THE WISE AND GODLY MAN

(Matthew 7:1-27; Luke 6:37-49)

5. THE DANGER OF CHOOSING THE WRONG WAY OF LIFE.
TEXT: 7:13, 14

13. Enter ye in by the narrow gate: -for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby.
14. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.

THOUGHT QUESTIONS

a. Jesus speaks of the road to Life through the narrow gate as found
by only a few, while He declares that the road to Ruin through
the wide gate is heavily travelled. Is this a hint of Jesus-' expectations concerning the outcome of Christian evangelizing clear down
to the end of time?
b. How does Jesus intend for His disciples to regard this statistically negative picture which He paints in the words many will be destroyed but a few will enter life? In other words, why would He say this to those who would be His disciples?
c. How did these relative percentages of humanity get to be this way? Can the percentages be changed? If so, how? If not, why not?
d. Does the low figure concerning those who enter into life represent a numerical defeat for God? Explain your response.
e. Why do you suppose Jesus describes the road to Life as through a narrow gate and of restricted passage? Did God want it to be that way so only a few could pass that way? Or so that few would go there? Or is the road straitened because the nature of what God expects of saints makes it that way?

PARAPHRASE

Enter in by the narrow gate, because the wide gate opens upon a super-highway that leads to destruction. Many are they who are entering in by it. But the narrow gate opens onto a narrow, confined road that leads to life. Only a few are even finding it.

SUMMARY

Many are called but few accept God's invitation, The majority of humanity will be lost. Therefore, choose well which decision you will make!

NOTES

Matthew 7:13 The figure that Jesus uses is that of two final destinations under the form of two cities, Destruction and Life. Each city has a gate by which it is entered: one is wide and the other, narrow. Each city is approached by a road: one broad, the other restricted of passage.

Note that, for Jesus, there are only these two possible choices as live options, and as truly as any natural law, His word divides men into these two groups every time. (Cf. Matthew 12:30; Matthew 13:18-23; Matthew 13:38; Matthew 13:49; Matthew 25:32-33) Enter in by the narrow gate. The emphasis is not on the entering, as opposed to remaining outside since all of humanity is regarded as entering one gate or the other. Rather, the emphasis is upon the choice of the right gate, In light of the final destination of each of the two roads, the critical question is which gate to choose and the necessity of choosing with discernment. The sad reality about the multitudes is that so many seek only the broad entrance and the easy passage without a thought regarding the final destination of the road!

Wide is the gate, and broad the way. Some suggest that the terms wide and broad are intended to suggest that travelling this route permits the following of one's own inclinations, doing as one pleases and that the inviting breadth of the road promises greater liberties, However, Jesus may be only saying, It is the easiest thing in the world to destroy oneself, and the majority of the world's people are doing just that. Many are they that enter in thereby. Here is another clue to the impending difficulties of Christian discipleship, (Cf. Matthew 5:10-12) This is a veiled warning that one must be prepared to go against convention, custom and the crowd, and be different even if it means walking alone. Men must not take their moral cue from others, because they too may be lost. Many will be destroyed who did not believe themselves on the broad way. Later Jesus will further illustrate these two basic divisions of humanity under the two parables of the two sons (Matthew 21:28-32; Luke 15:11-32). The chief priests and elders of the Jews imagined that surely they of all people must certainly enter into life because of their superior religiosity. Hence they scorned the tax collectors, harlots and other sinners. But Jesus intends for us to see that the broad way is travelled just as much by the aristocratic elite because of their selfishness, unthankfulness, hauteur and inhumanity, just as much as by the vulgar throng.

Destruction (opoleia) describes the disintegration of all that was deemed important in the lives of the wicked, ALL of that for which they spent their lives was nothing but dust and ashes. They stand before the great judgment without friends, without influence, without wealth. without character-morally bankrupt in every respect. Here is the wretchedness of a wasted life, the necessary conclusion to every life lived out of harmony with the will of God. Jesus is revealing this fact as one who knows what He is talking about: He does not argue the point or try to demonstrate it. He presents Himself as one who knows perfectly the issues of life, lived either for God or for self. Perhaps He is picturing Himself as standing at the fork of the two roads, speaking in omniscient mercy, Enter ye in by the narrow gate!

Is fear a proper motive for obedience? Yes, for as Trench (Parables, 174) notes:

This fear does not exclude love, but is its true guardian; they mutually support one another; for while it is true that motives drawn from gratitude and love must ever be the chief incentives to obedience (Romans 12:1), yet so long as our hearts are not made perfect in love, we must be presented with others also.

Matthew 7:14 Narrow is the gate and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life and that path gets the most wear along the edges! Some suggest that the terms narrow and straightened have reference to the difficulty of travel toward Life, a fact easily verified. (Cf. Matthew 10:34-39; Luke 14:25-33; John 16:33; Acts 14:22; 1 Thessalonians 3:3) Counting the cost of discipleship requires much long-range discernment, which is another important act of judging. It requires effort, sacrifice and self-surrender to enter into Life. (Cf. Matthew 19:16-22)

And few are they that find it. There is certainly no easy optimism in this sad declaration of Jesus. Jesus intends this statistically negative picture as a frank warning that makes His disciples realists who know what to expect in His service. He would have them make their decision wisely. The exuberant Messianic enthusiasm of the masses that surrounded Jesus must not turn the head of those who were serious a b u t their commitment to Jesus-' ideals, But is this declaration His practical estimate regarding the actual percentage of men who will finally be saved? Another man asked the Master this same question, (See Luke 13:23 f) But the Master considered it an idle question and answered thus: You must struggle to get in by the narrow gate, because many, I tell you, will try to get in and they will not be able! Our obedience is more important than our knowing whether those who are saved be many or few! (But see also Matthew 22:14; Matthew 18:8; Matthew 24:12-13; Luke 18:8.)

FACT QUESTIONS

1. Explain the allegory of the Two Gates and Roads. First, explain the imagery adopted: what is the picture Jesus has in mind? Then, give the meaning behind the symbols.
2.

List other Scriptures which teach the same message of these two basic divisions in the human race. List also those Scriptures which describe the principles on which this division is based,

3.

What is meant by life?

4.

What is meant by destruction?