Two millenniums ago, on an unknown mountain in Galilee, Jesus preached His first and greatest sermon to people who travelled from near and far; who were hungry and curious as to what He had to say. The ‘Sermon on the Mount’ was pertinent to everyone–it demanded a total change of thinking and a total change ofliving from those who genuinely sought after God… those who desired to be Kingdom Citizens.

Anyone who is serious about imitating Jesus in character will not only commit time to investigating this great sermon, but will be glad to dedicate their lives to living day by day according to its standards. The Book of Matthew (Ch. 5-7), records this great sermon. No passage of Scripture attacks modern day ‘easy-believism’ with more force than verses 13 and 14 of chapter 7. Here, at the culmination of what He said, the Lord demanded that each person choose between following the world on the easy, well-travelled road; or follow Him on the difficult, lightly-travelled road.

Each person in lifeinevitably must make a ‘choice’ … a choice that Scripture presents in several ways:

Through Moses: God confronted the children of Israel, saying, “I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So, choose life that you may live” (Deut. 30:19).

Through Joshua: God challenged the Israelites before entering the Promised Land, saying, “Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River (Egypt), or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Josh. 24:15).

Through Elijah: God called the people to make a choice on Mt. Carmel, saying, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions?  If the Lord is God follow Him; but if Baal, follow him” (1 Kin. 18:21).

Friends, in the Matthew 7:13-14 text, Jesus mandated that we choose between the Kingdom of God or hell. Our eternal destination lies in our hands! The choice is between Two GATES (Narrow and Wide), Two WAYS (Narrow and Broad), Two DESTINATIONS (Life and Destruction), and Two CROWDS (Few and Many).

Two GATES – Narrow and Wide (v. 13a): Jesus commenced verse 13 using an imperative verb ‘enter’, conveying a sense of urgency, a demand for action right now! It is not wise to stand and appreciate the gate, one must enterit… the right gate… the NARROW gate! With God, there is only one right gate. Jesus says, “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved” (Jn. 10:9).He also says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me” (Jn. 14:6).

Friends, Christ is the Narrow Gate! He is The Way! There is no other way to heaven! The Wide Gate is not marked THIS WAY TO HELL. It is labelled HEAVEN, the same as the Narrow Gate. But it does not lead there! Satan is the master of deception, even disguising himself as an ‘angel of light’ and paints his gate so that it looks like the door to heaven. The Lord describes the right gate as narrow.

Many who approach the Narrow Gate turn away upon realizing the cost. Only those stripped of everything can enter this gate. No one can get through a turnstile with armloads of suitcases. Whatever we treasure in this world; when we reach the narrow gate, we must let-go of everything if we want to enter it (pride, self-righteousness, materialism, all sin). The Good News of the Christian Faith is that although the right gate is narrow, it is wide enough to accommodate the worst of sinners! (1 Tim. 1:15.)

(Concluding Part II, tomorrow)

William Joukhadar
April 3, 2024