mwen pap fè nan wout sa

mwen pap

Enter is in the aorist imperative tense, and therefore demands a definite and specific action.

The command is not to admire or to ponder(méditer)the gate but to enter it.

Application

Many people admire the principles of the Sermon on the Mount but never follow those principles. Many people respect and praise Jesus Christ but never receive Him as Lord and Savior.

Because they never receive the King and never enter the kingdom, they are as much separated from the King and as much outside His kingdom as is the rankest atheist or most unethical pagan.

Dieu ne cherche pas des admirateurs.

Imagine standing at the gate of a grand estate, the kind that captures your breath with its beauty. On one side of that gate lies the chaos of the world, with noise and confusion, fears and doubts. But when you decide to step through that gate, you enter a realm of peace, provision, and promise. Jesus speaks of entering through Him as the gate (John 10:9). It is not merely a physical act; it’s an emotional and spiritual transformation. In Christ, we leave behind turmoil and step into a life that flourishes with hope and purpose. What does it mean for you to step through that gate today?

Entre quelques soit le prit à payé.

Mat 18:8 Si ta main ou ton pied est pour toi une occasion de chute, coupe-les et jette-les loin de toi; mieux vaut pour toi entrer dans la vie boiteux ou manchot, que d'avoir deux pieds ou deux mains et d'être jeté dans le feu éternel.

The Lord is obviously speaking figuratively.

because no part of our physical bodies causes us to sin.

removing any part of it would not keep us from sinning.

The point was that a person should do whatever is necessary, no matter how extreme and painful it might be, to keep from sinning himself or to keep from causing others to sin.

Ou pa dwe garde anyen comme valeur si li ap Fèw tombe nan pêche

Nothing is worth keeping if, in any way, it leads to sin. And the implication here is that there is overcoming grace available for victory over temptation and sin.

Application

Jesus’ point is that we should be willing to give up whatever is necessary, even the most cherished things we possess, if doing that will help protect us from evil. Nothing is so valuable as to be worth preserving at the expense of righteousness.

Anyen pa dwe anpêche nou(repetition à l’église)

Mat 5:29 Si ton oeil droit est pour toi une occasion de chute, arrache-le et jette-le loin de toi; car il est avantageux pour toi qu'un seul de tes membres périsse, et que ton corps entier ne soit pas jeté dans la géhenne.

Jesus is speaking figuratively of those things, physical or otherwise, that cause us to be tempted or make us more susceptible to temptation.

In Jewish culture, the right eye and right hand represented a person’s best and most precious faculties.

The right eye represented one’s best vision, and the right hand one’s best skills.

Jesus’ point is that we should be willing to give up whatever is necessary, even the most cherished things we possess, if doing that will help protect us from evil.

is so valuable as to be worth preserving at the expense of righteousness.

Application

If any habit, situation, relationship, or anything else causes you to stumble, Jesus said, it should be permanently forsaken. Great danger often requires drastic measures. Even if a sacrifice causes a person to be figuratively crippled and to be blind in one eye-financially, socially, professionally, or in any other way-that is infinitely better than being cast into the eternal fire of hell.

Un Avertissement solennel à Salomon.

1Ch 28:9 Et toi, Salomon, mon fils, connais le Dieu de ton père, et sers-le d'un coeur dévoué et d'une âme bien disposée, car l'Éternel sonde tous les coeurs et pénètre tous les desseins et toutes les pensées. Si tu le cherches, il se laissera trouver par toi; mais si tu l'abandonnes, il te rejettera pour toujours.

Critiquer le texte

I think people usually read this passage wrongly … they hear Jesus’ illustration of the two roads, for example, and they assume that the people on the wide road are all the atheists and the partiers and all the Christians are the ones on the narrow road.

But I don’t think that’s right for two reasons:

For one, it doesn’t fit the context. This whole Sermon on the Mount has been to religious people, for him to take a hard left turn at the end and start talking to a whole new audience is unlikely … Second, all the pairs Jesus puts together are very similar: (vv 13–14) both sets of people are on a road they think is headed to heaven; (v. 15) both the sheep and the wolves look like sheep … in other words, when Jesus says wolves He’s not talking about people who hiss at the name of Jesus, or have their eyes rolled back in their head during worship while they softly pray to Lord Voldemort.

No. Both the wide and narrow roads are within the church.

The wide and narrow road is within the ranks of those who went on the mission trip.

There is a wide, easy religious road that heads to hell … and it consists of praying a prayer, going through some rituals … and then you don’t really have to take Lordship of Christ seriously, you get a free pass to heaven.

I’m not trying to frighten you this morning,

but it’s many of you who are here, who think you’re on the narrow road, because you prayed the sinner’s prayer, and you went through some kind of religious rituals, and you do Christian things now, who are going to hear Jesus say “Depart from Me! I never knew you.”

Let me make 4 observations to you from this passage:

(1) There is a huge amount of “falsely assured” Christians …

● … 13 the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. … the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few …

● On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not … And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me …

○ According to Jesus, this will happen for millions of Christians in churches like ours all across the world …

(2) On the outside, false Christians look very similar to real Christians.

● (v. 23) Those condemned on the judgment had many of the outward signs of sincere Christianity …

○ ((v. 23) ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?”)

○ When these people call Jesus, “Lord,” the Greek word they use is “kyrios,” which is the word used for God … these people recognize Jesus as God! These are not random religious people … these are orthodox Christians!

○ Here’s something else, “Lord” is repeated twice … In Semitic language, when you repeat a name it is a sign of affection, emotional connection. When David wept over his dead son, he said, “Oh, Absalom, Absalom.” (Jesus to Mary, “Mary, Mary” … Not just that they believed what was right … they had a connection to Jesus. They respect Him!

○ “Many mighty works (preaching, casting out demons) we did in your name.”

■ You say, “Well, how could that be?” Many people who didn’t know God did Christian works in the Bible …

● Caiaphas the high priest who had Jesus crucified made a prophecy on behalf of God

● Simon the sorcerer in the book of Acts

● Most famous example is Balaam’s donkey, who preached a sermon … the Bible doesn’t save that’s a saved donkey.

(3) For most, that they are false Christians will come as a complete surprise to them.

● They will say, ‘22Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?

● They are going to say, “Wait! We scored perfect on our doctrinal exam. We felt like we loved Jesus. We were in ministry. We’d done Christian things. We did all the rituals … “Didn’t we pray … get baptized, confirmed … didn’t the pastor declare us Christians? Didn’t we serve in ministry? Didn’t we look just like everyone else?”

The concept of entering through a gate is often used metaphorically in religious contexts, particularly in Christianity. According to one article, Jesus describes himself as "the gate" through which people can find salvation

[1]. This gate is portrayed as a pathway to God and a means of spiritual safety. Another source emphasizes that entering this gate is not an easy task, requiring deliberate abandonment of worldly pursuits and acceptance of Christ's teachings

][2]. The difficulty of this entry is highlighted by Jesus' exhortation to "strive to enter in at the Strait Gate," suggesting that it requires effort and determination

[3]. Some biblical passages refer to physical gates, such as those of Jerusalem or metaphorical gates of righteousness

[4]. The idea of entering alone, without relying on others' faith, is also mentioned, with one article comparing the narrow gate to a turnstile that allows only one person at a time[5]

This means that obedience to God is no longer simply to study the Old Testament Torah. It is to hear and obey the words of Jesus, the author and substance of the Torah, now present himself in the flesh, out of love for the Father. This also explains why the context of the sermon in Matthew is so significant. It is the good news of the kingdom. The preacher, who has already been declared to be the king in chapters 1 and 2, the Son of God in chapter 3, and the conqueror of Satan in chapter 4, is now claiming to be the real Law-giver, the authoritative figure who fully reveals the mind of God and directs the life of his people

II. THE TENDERNESS OF A MERCIFUL FATHER. 1. There is a gate.

2. The gate leadeth unto life. If the pleasures of sin must be left behind, the pleasures of holiness await.

3. Those who enter neither make nor open the gate; they only find it. Men cannot make ways of peace for themselves; they cannot force, but find the way.

4. He who made the way, and keeps it open now, is glad when many “go in thereat.” (W. Arnot.)

Salvation: joy that the gate is open:—If some of the Queen’s soldiers were taken prisoner by the enemy, and confined in a fortress far in the interior of a foreign land; and if an intimation were conveyed to the captives by a friendly hand that, at a certain part of their prison walls there is an opening to liberty and home, but that the opening is narrow and the path beyond it rough, their hearts would forthwith till with joy. They would feel already free. Strait gate! what do they care for its straitness?—enough for them that there is a gate. Ere that setting sun get round to gild the east again, many long miles will be between them and the house of bondage. Surer and safer is their outgate, if slaves to sin were as willing to be free

Choosing a Different Path: When to Say 'No'

Bible Passage: Proverbs 4:26-27, Matthew 7:13-14

Summary: This theme addresses the importance of making wise choices in the face of life's many paths, highlighting God’s guidance and the need to purposefully avoid detours that lead us away from Him.

Application: This sermon can help Christians discern the paths they choose daily, encouraging them to stay faithful to God's direction, especially in a world full of distractions and temptations.

Teaching: It teaches that God desires us to make decisions that align with His will and that the narrow path is often less popular but leads to life and fulfillment.

How this passage could point to Christ: Jesus exemplifies the ultimate choice of the narrow path through His life, death, and resurrection, offering believers the way to walk in righteousness and avoid the paths leading to destruction.

Big Idea: Choosing to follow God’s path requires intentionality and courage to say 'no' to the ways of the world that do not lead to Him.

Recommended Study: As you prepare your sermon, consider delving into the historical context of Proverbs and the implications of its wisdom literature. The Logos library can provide commentaries that explore the Hebrew terms for 'paths' and 'ways' to better illustrate the significance of your message. Additionally, examining parallels in the New Testament, especially in the Sermon on the Mount, can enrich your understanding of the narrow gate and the broader implications of following Christ.

1. Ponder Your Path

Proverbs 4:26-27

Perhaps you could emphasize the importance of deliberate decision-making in this sermon point. Choosing the right path means evaluating each step against the wisdom of God's Word to ensure we stay true to His direction. The act of weighing our steps reveals a heart sensitive to God’s guidance, avoiding distraction. Encourage believers to reflect on their current decisions and determine whether they align with their faith and values. Calling attention to the daily, incremental choices we make helps communicate the necessity of constant attentiveness to God's teachings.

2. Pursue The Narrow Gate

Matthew 7:13-14

You could explore how Jesus calls us to enter through the narrow gate, which signifies a commitment to a life counter to worldly pursuits. This choice requires courage, as the path is less traveled and often more challenging. Reinforce the message that while the wider paths may seem easier or more popular, they lead to destruction. Encourage believers to persevere in choosing the road of righteousness, assured that the difficulties faced for the sake of faith are momentary compared to the eternal life promised by Christ.