The Road Less Traveled | The Book of Matthew: Sermon on the Mount | Matthew 7:13-14 | Pastor J. M. Lee

Good morning! Please grab a Bible and open it to Matthew 7.:13. When you find it…and if you’re able to…I would like to invite you to stand for the reading of God’s Word.

Matthew 7:13–14 (CSB)

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

This is the Word of the Lord

Pray

This morning we’re continuing our study of the Sermon on the Mount…a sermon that began in Matthew 5 with the Beatitudes… which are eight sayings…eight instructions that lay out for us a picture of Kingdom citizenship….in other words….Jesus answers for us the question…. “Who are citizens of God’s Kingdom and what do they look like?”

Then…after the Beatitudes…Jesus paints a picture of salt and light…which ultimately describes for us the distinct characteristics of the Christian compared to the rest of the world.

After this….Jesus provided us with six antithesis which described how Kingdom Citizens are to live in relation to the Law of God and from this we see that being a citizen of God’s Kingdom involves a greater level of obedience to Gods Law…as Jesus calls us to live with an obedience that surpasses that of the scribes and the Pharisees.

N‌ext….after these six antithesis …in Matthew 6….Jesus addresses areas of practical concerns…in other words…how do we practice the religion of Christianity in the context of the Kingdom of God? And …in this section…. Jesus teaches us about the inward devotional life of a Kingdom citizen. He teaches us about giving….He teaches us about prayer….He teaches about fasting….…and he teaches us how to live free from anxiety and worry.

Then in the beginning of chapter 7 Jesus makes a statement about judging and He helps us to understand the difference between judging rightly and judging wrongly….which should ultimately leads us to fall on our knees in persistent prayer for God to grow us into the likeness of Christ,

And now…Jesus is bringing his sermon to a close…and as he does so… He gets to his main application….you see…up to this point ….Jesus gave us the principles of His Kingdom…..He has instructed us in how to live as citizens of God’s Kingdom…and now……Jesus is asking us, “What are you going to do about all of this?” In other words… “I have given you all of these principles….and there’s no point in simply listening to this sermon if you’re not going to do anything with what you’ve heard. So…. How are you going to practice this? How are you going to implement this into your daily life? What are you going to do about it? How are you going to respond?!” You see….This sermon is practical..it’s meant to be lived…it’s not merely an ethical idea but its something that we are meant to implement and put into practice.

So….in this last section…and over the next couple of weeks…Jesus is going to help us by providing us with a series of comparisons … beginning first with “Two Gates and Two Roads”..….which we will consider this morning. Secondly….Jesus tells us that there are “Two Different Trees that Bear Two Different Types of Fruit” Thirdly, there are “Two Different Confessions” and finally…there are “Two Different Foundations”…and with all of these different comparisons…. Jesus is laying before us the reality that there are only two options in this world…. you will either follow Jesus and receive life …or…you will choose a different path and find destruction.

And so….the question this morning is…..Which will you choose?

Friends…this morning you find yourself at a crossroads and you must choose which way you will go. And as you stand at this crossroad…Jesus is challenging you to choose the way of life …and to choose life at all costs…and He does so by presenting us with four parallel realities.

Two Gates

Two Roads

Two Groups and Two Destinations

Two Gates

Matthew 7:13 (CSB)

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.

Jesus describes a crossroad where one must decide between two gates to enter. Imagine for a moment that your’e standing at this crossroads……and as you stand there you hear the cultural assumption that either choice will result in eternal life..you can’t go wrong…just choose whichever gate feels right to you.…and you like what you hear because it appeals to your desires.…but …despite your sinful longings….this is a fast and fatal assumption because only one of these gates will lead you to life.

And so….as a result …. Jesus gives us a direct command…He says

Matthew 7:13 (CSB)

13 “Enter through the narrow gate….

Underline the word “Enter” ..and consider the truth that this verb demands a definitive and specific action….in other words …Jesus’ command is not to simply admire the gate…or study the gate…or ponder the gate…NO!….Jesus commands us to ENTER through the narrow gate.

Why? Well …..because the wide gate opens to a broad road which leads to destruction. And this word “Wide” …Jesus uses it to describe that which is virtually no gate at all….in fact…He’s referring to a large …open and spacious field that has no boundaries. And….this wide gate serves no real purpose for no one is restricted, no is excluded…no one is forbidden from walking through it…and those who do…well they don’t need to worry about wandering off the path….for this road is just as wide as the gate…..but…..listen to me…the wide gate and the broad road does not lead to God. And so Jesus….He’s pleading with you to enter the narrow Gate…which is God’s Gate and the only gate that leads to life and to heaven.

However…despite the Son of God’s plea…many live with the belief that you can enter either gate…it does not matter what gate you choose for there are many ways to God…many ways to eternal life…many ways to heaven. There are many who are convinced that it does not matter what you believe….or who you believe in…as long as you’re a sincerely good person and you don’t hurt other people.…you will be fine.

In the ancient world there was a famous saying, “All roads lead to Rome.” and the modern equivalent says, “All roads lead to God.” ……But do they?

Friends…the gate that leads to life is narrow for the only way to God is through Jesus…the only way to the Kingdom of Heaven is through the King Himself. Consider John 14:6.

John 14:6 (CSB)

6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Friends….Christianity is exclusive….but Christianity is not exclusive because of who it lets in…in fact in John 7:37 Jesus says.

John 7:37 (CSB)

37 …… “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.

In other words...anyone can get in on this but there is only one way in…the exclusivity and the narrowness of the gospel is found in the truth that Jesus alone brings men and women to God…you see….He is not just a way…He is the only way.

Christians…when those traveling through the wide gate look at you and accuse you of being too narrow minded or too exclusive…take heart and hold fast to the truth that we proclaim a narrow gospel because Jesus said in John 10:9.

John 10:9 (CSB)

9 I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture.

We proclaim a narrow gospel because Acts 4:12 tells us that..

Acts 4:12 (CSB)

12 There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

Brothers and sisters….we proclaim a narrow gospel because it’s the only gospel that God has given us…it’s the only gospel that takes those headed for destruction and gives them life… its the only gospel that makes dead men alive.

Friend…. It’s not enough to study the gate. It is not enough to tell others about this gate. It is not even enough to believe that this gate is the only true way of salvation… You have to enter the gate!

But…the question is begging to be asked …How? How does someone enter the narrow gate?

First ….you have to come empty handed and alone. We have to arrive alone because this gate is similar to a turnstile which only allows one person in at a time…in other words…it does not matter if you grew up in a Christian home…it does not matter who your parents are. Your pedigree or your ethnicity does not grant you entrance through this gate. You have to go through this gate alone…and you also have to arrive empty handed for this is a gate of self-denial.

You see…..entering the narrow gate requires complete commitment and total surrender….in other words ..when you come to salvation you yield complete control of your life over to Christ. No longer do you sit on the throne…no longer do you wear the crown….No!….when you enter the narrow Gate ..…there is one rightful King….and His name is Jesus!

I am reminded of Matthew 16:24-25

Matthew 16:24–25 (CSB)

24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of me will find it.

Denying ourselves speaks to the truth that entering the narrow gate requires us to love God with everything that we are and with everything that we have …and in order to do this…we have to rid ourselves of self-confidence….self achievement…self-righteoussness…and self satisfaction and….in complete and utter dependence …we are to surrender ourselves completely to Christ.

Friends….many would have you believe that Jesus is simply an addition or an improvement to your life…that following Jesus is easy and that there is no cost… but friends… thats a lie! Entering the narrow gate is not easy…because it requires you to let go of complete control of your life….in fact…..salvation is the exchange of all the you are for all that Jesus is.

So…to enter the narrow gate you have to go through it alone and empty handed …and…it also requires and demands…repentance and faith.

Friends….you cannot enter the narrow gate by being smart….in fact you can know all about God and His Word and still be lost.

You cannot enter the narrow gate by being a good or moral person….walking the elderly across the street and pulling children out of burning buildings will not save you.

You cannot enter the narrow gate by being religious ……you can go through all of the motions…you can attend church on Sunday…. go to small group and only listen to Christian radio and only watch Christian movies and you can still be far from God…. you might have even prayed a prayer…or raised your hand …or walked an aisle…..but that does not mean that you have entered the narrow gate…for if your prayer did not include you being completely broken over your depravity…confessing and turning from your sin and trusting in Christ alone for the forgiveness of your sin….. if your prayer did not include you completely surrendering to God as the Lord of your life…letting go of complete control to Him…well…then you may have never actually entered the narrow gate.

The truth is…you have to intentionally enter the narrow gate because everyone of us was born on the broad road. Consider Romans 3:10-12.

Romans 3:10–12 (CSB)

10 as it is written:

There is no one righteous, not even one.

11 There is no one who understands;

there is no one who seeks God.

12 All have turned away;

all alike have become worthless.

There is no one who does what is good,

not even one.

Friends…..all of your good deeds…..all of your morality……the Bible says….that which is not of faith is sin…in fact….our righteoussness is like filthy rags before God’s sight…you see…… if our good works are not motivated by the glory of God then they are not good….and the Bible is clear….not one person is righteous…not one person seeks after God…we have all turned away…none of us…..in and of ourselves… do what is good.

To take this a step further…we could say that very few people enter the narrow gate because people are inherently wicked. Paul continues in Romans 3…look at verse 13

Romans 3:13–18 (CSB)

13 Their throat is an open grave;

they deceive with their tongues.

Vipers’ venom is under their lips.

14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.

15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,

17 and the path of peace they have not known.

18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Friends….the truth is……we are ruined from the start.

Romans 5:12 (CSB)

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned.

Through Adam’s sin “death spread to all men because all sinned.” In other words….. Post-Garden of Eden…with the exception of Jesus…not one person in the history of mankind has ever been free of sin……you see…behind the mystery of death….. lurking behind the sadness and terror in our world and in our hearts lies the reality of human sin….and not just Adam and Eve’s sin….but ours too!….the truth is….we are all complicit…..we are guilty both by nature and by willing action.

Consider what Paul writes to the Ephesian church….

Ephesians 2:1–3 (CSB)

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins 2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient. 3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.

You see…this is why we must enter the narrow gate….but we can only do so by first recognizing that we are broken sinners and we must repent of our sin.

Hear how The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith describes repentance:

Saving repentance is an evangelical grace, whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, does, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self–abhorrancy, praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavor, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well–pleasing in all things. - Ch. 15 Art. 3 of The 1689 Baptist Confession of Faith

Friends….we are born wretched and miserable sinners…we have chosen sin and the only thing that we deserve and have earned is the wrath of God. We are in desperate need of a savior? And unless you repent of your sin…unless you recognize the fact that you deserve to die and be crushed under the weight of the holiness and majesty of God you will spend eternity in hell.

Friends……the terrifying truth is…..the gospel has been polluted in our culture…there are people preaching a gospel that does not include repentance and faith…and if there is no repentance and faith.…if you don’t fall on your face crushed under the weight of your sin before a holy God…if there is no belief in Jesus Christ and His work on the cross….if there is no conversion…then…..there is no salvation.

Listen to me…..you and I can do nothing to earn or deserve forgiveness and entrance into the Kingdom of God. We must come to God completely alone and empty handed ….and repent…we have to give up our sin…we have to turn from our sin and turn to God and trust in Christ who lived a life in complete obedience to God…trusting that when Jesus went to the cross that He took upon himself our sins…past, present, and future sins…and three days later….when he rose from the grave he defeated sin….he defeated death…and for every man…..woman…and child who repents and believes in Jesus…God gifts them with his perfect righteousness and entrance through the narrow gate.

Friends….the narrow gate and the Christian life must be entered into intentionally through repentance and faith.

Next…Jesus points to the truth that the repentant life will be a changed life…which speaks to the fact that the christian life must be lived purposely…in other words….…you can not be saved and not have your life affected……which leads us to our second comparison.

2. Two Roads

There are two gates that lead to two roads. The wide gate opens to a wide road and the narrow gate opens to a narrow road. Which road are you currently on?

Well consider first the wide road. The wide road is an easy road…it’s an attractive road… there aren’t many rules …restrictions..or requirements on this road. The wide road is inclusive, permissive, indulgent. On this road you can have your best life now…you can learn all about yourself and live your truth. And here’s the cool thing…. you can be religious and even profess Jesus and be received into the crowd who walks this wide road….you can have your cake and eat it too…for on the wide road sin is tolerated…truth is moderated…and pride is celebrated. There is no need to study and apply God’s word for God’s ways are neither admired or followed. On this wide road there is no call to spiritual maturity…no commitment and no sacrifice. The wide road is a stream that flows with the currents of culture and the wide gate is an invitation to grab your floaties and relax while you float downstream.

In contrast …. the narrow road is difficult…uncomfortable and demanding. To walk this narrow road…it requires and demands you to deny and discipline yourself. In fact…look back at verse 14..

Matthew 7:14 (CSB)

14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

Jesus describes the narrow road as difficult…but more specifically…..the word that Jesus uses in the original language means “to be oppressed or afflicted” and it speaks of one who is under pressure and is being pressed on all sides.

In other words….Jesus is telling us, “Those who enter into His Kingdom enter a gate that is narrow and into a life that is filled with hardship and persecution.”

Now compare that with the American gospel….a gospel that says that …Jesus gets you….Jesus provides an easy life….follow Jesus and he will make your life smoother…you will be healthier…you will be wealthier…..there is no call to repentance..there is no reality of self denial and persecution….rather…Jesus has a purpose for you…just give him a chance.

But that’s not what the Bible teaches us…..in fact 2 Timothy 3:12

2 Timothy 3:12 (CSB)

12 In fact, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Not only that but Matthew 5:10

Matthew 5:10 (CSB)

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

Brothers and sisters…..if you are being persecuted because of righteousness…then Rejoice!! Because your hardship is evidence that you have entered the narrow gate and that you are walking the narrow road…and that you belong to the Kingdom of heaven….and that you will receive life.

Friends ….the narrow road is paved with difficulty. Consider with me

Matthew 10:16–22 (CSB)

16 “Look, I’m sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as serpents and as innocent as doves. 17 Beware of them, because they will hand you over to local courts and flog you in their synagogues. 18 You will even be brought before governors and kings because of me, to bear witness to them and to the Gentiles. 19 But when they hand you over, don’t worry about how or what you are to speak. For you will be given what to say at that hour, 20 because it isn’t you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father is speaking through you.

21 “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. 22 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Who will be saved? The one who endures to the end. Tell me….are you enduring? Brothers and sisters…..the fact that you prayed a pray one time along time ago is not assurance of your salvation….the fact that you raised your hand or walked an aisle….your church attendance or volunteer work….none of that is proof that you are on the narrow road….…the proof of your salvation is seen in whether or not you are enduring on the narrow path…Are you fighting against your flesh and the temptation to sin. When you do sin are you mourning over your sin? Are you denying yourself? Are you pursuing growth in godliness? Are you giving all of yourself to obey the command to preach the gospel and to make disciples?

1 John 2:19 (CSB)

19 They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. However, they went out so that it might be made clear that none of them belongs to us.

Brothers and sisters…..staying on the narrow path…remaining on the narrow path is an evidence that you are saved…consider Matthew 24:9-13.

Matthew 24:9–13 (CSB)

9 “Then they will hand you over to be persecuted, and they will kill you. You will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, betray one another, and hate one another. 11 Many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. 12 Because lawlessness will multiply, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Are you enduring on the narrow path? Because the truth is….there are two crowds of people headed towards two different destinations

3. Two Crowds and Two Destinations

Matthew 7:13–14 (CSB)

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.

Many people are on the wide road…many people…..including pagans and nominal Christians, atheists and religionists, theists and humanists, Jews and Gentiles….anyone and everyone …it does not matter your age, your background, your persuasion, or your circumstance …if you have not come to a saving obedience to Jesus Christ…you are a part of the many who are walking the wide road…and you are headed for destruction. This wide road….it leads to total and eternal ruin and loss…it leads to eternal separation from God in a very real place called Hell.

Friends….please consider what group you are a part of….. for on the day of judgment there will be many who will believe that they had been walking the narrow path…they will claim to be followers of Jesus …there will be many who will seek to enter Heaven but they will not be able to. Jesus warns us of this in Luke 13:24-27.

Luke 13:24–27 (CSB)

24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able 25 once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door. Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up for us!’ He will answer you, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from.’ 26 Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you’re from. Get away from me, all you evildoers!’

Jesus says something similar in Matthew 7:22-23.

Matthew 7:22–23 (CSB)

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers!’

Now…you know who is not going to be surprised on that day? atheists….humanists….pagans. You know who will be surprised?!?! Nominal Christians who professed to know and trust Jesus but they refused to come to Jesus on HIs terms….they prayed a prayer…they raised a hand…but their life did not change….and they refused to walk the narrow road.

Does this describe you? Take a moment and examine your heart….examine the fruit of your life… Have you entered the narrow gate? Are you walking the narrow road? Paul instructs us in

2 Corinthians 13:5 (CSB)

5 Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith. Examine yourselves. Or do you yourselves not recognize that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless you fail the test.

Yes it’s true….there are only a few walking the narrow road that leads to life. And the reason for this is because it’s difficult!! It’s a hard road marked with persecution. On this road ….you will be rejected….people will leave you…they will walk out on you….you will be ridiculed and made fun of…people will criticize you…. they will call you narrow minded …they will revile you and drag your name through the mud. This is why it’s important to understand that the Christian life must be endured patiently…..and finished faithfully.

But here’s the good news…..Jesus is the one who save you….He is the one who removes your heart of stone and replaces it with a heart of flesh…He enables you to see your sin for what it is……He is the one who leads you to true repentance…by first filling you with sorrow over your sin and gratefulness for God’s amazing grace…He is the one who gives you the gift of faith in Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4–5 (CSB)

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us, 5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

By grace God makes dead people alive…He replaces unbelief with belief …..In other words…..He picked you up and carried you through that narrow gate….and He doesn’t stop there…No!!!

Philippians 1:6 (CSB)

6 I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

God began the good work in you…and He will be sure to complete His good work in you…Philippians 2:13 says it like this….

Philippians 2:13 (CSB)

13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.

And so what do we do…..well…as we walk this difficult path..remember what Jesus instructed us last week.

Matthew 7:7–8 (CSB)

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Brothers and sisters…as you walk this narrow road…. persist in your prayers for Spiritual growth. Pray that God would keep you…. Pray that God will continually fill you with His Holy Spirit. Don’t stop knocking on God’s door when you are struggling to forgive? When you’re angry….when you’re struggling with bitterness…don’t stop pleading with God to give make you more like Christ. Persistently …and passionately seek after God’s empowering Spirit to grow you and conform you into the likeness of Christ and to help you resist the temptation of joining the crowd on the wide road.

Friend…Jesus is pleading with you this morning…..He is calling us to enter the narrow gate and to walk the narrow road that leads to life. And understand….the narrow gate is open to all who repent of their sins and place their trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation.

Maybe you find yourself standing at a crossroad this morning….maybe you have never trusted in Jesus…maybe you have been trusting in yourself….your own goodness…maybe you have been trusting in your own religious works….or maybe you prayed a prayer a long time ago and you have trusted in some words you repeated after a preacher….. but you never truly repented of your sin and the truth is….you have been walking the wide road your whole life and have never truly surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus…..…this morning….whoever you are and wherever you are….…If God has revealed to you the depths of your depravity and the reality of your eternity without Christ…. Turn from your sin this morning and turn to Jesus…enter the narrow gate for salvation is found in Christ alone! Friend….God’s grace knows no bounds…and He earnestly desires you to come to repentance.

Maybe you have find yourself weary and in need of rest….for you have been walking the narrow road for some time now…and you’re feeling beat up....your feeling pressed in from all sides….you have been left and walked out on…and if you were honest…there are times when the ease of wide road looks rather appealing. Hear me this morning…don’t give up….rather look to Christ for He is the author and the perfecter of your faith…. He endured the cross for you…He endured shame for you….and now He is seated at the right hand of God ruling and reigning …and He will see you through…He will hold you fast…He will give you rest….and as you walk the road less traveled….find assurance in the fact that at the end if this road you will indeed find life…and every hardship you endure for Christ will be worth it.

Let’s Pray