How can we make the best short-term choices that lead us to our eternal destination? The gate is narrow that leads to life.
Gate to Life
Overview
Matt 7:13-14; Luke 13:23-24
Objectives
Meaning
Broad Gate
Narrow Gate
The Choice
Discussion
Objectives
To:
Guide us to make choices (short and long term) toward eternal destinations
Bible Passage
Matthew 7:13-14″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.”
Meanings
Narrow:
- Constricted – gate itself not comfortable
- Gate of righteousness
- Not only salvation but life after salvation – Is 35:8
Restrictions
- Broad:
- Unsound doctrine
- Not limited to righteousness through Christ 4:3
- Appealing to ears
- Popular. Crowd pleasing
Reflection
What is the narrow gate?
A decision to follow a way of life as Jesus’ disciple
What is the broad gate?
A decision to follow the way of life as defined by the world
What is the narrow road?
The path aligned in obedience to the word of God
What is the broad road?
The path determined by human wisdom and desires
Broad Gate, broad road
The broad gate is – Easy
- Can carry our load
- Leads to destruction
- Many enter
The narrow road is – Unsound
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires. 2 Tim. 4:3
Misleading
There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death. Proverbs 14:12
Narrow Gate, Narrow Road
The Narrow Gate is :
- Difficult
- Restricted
- Leads to Eternal Life
- Very few enter
The Narrow Road: Gates of Righteousness
Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD. Psalm 118:19
- Way of Holiness
And a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it. Isaiah 35:8
The Choice
Jesus himself is the gate to life. The path He leads us on may not seem easy and comfortable, but leads us and others through us – to life.
Each individual has a choice on their path:
- Easy vs difficult
- Expanded vs. restricted
- Many on it vs. few on it
- Destruction vs. life
Discussion
1.Am I desirous to reap the rewards of narrow gate while longing for the comforts and benefits of the broad gate?
2.Where am I on my Spiritual journey? Where am I heading to? How can I know that I am not self-deceived?
3.As a believer, how am I seeking to walk through the small and narrow gate in my Christian life?
4.Why are there only a few who find the right way and why are there many on the path to destruction?