The Path to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions

How many of you have ever heard the phrase “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”

It is a saying that has been attributed to Bernard of Clairvaux (1091—1153), but that cannot be verified.

When we say, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions,” we may mean that someone meant well, but the end result of his or her actions was disastrous. Good intentions do not guarantee good results.

This morning we continue our series on “Paths - Many Paths but Only One Way” as we look closer at Jesus’s words of warning as well as hope for those who find the right path that truly does lead to God Himself.

The proverb “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” can also be seen as reflecting Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7:13–14:

Matthew 7:13–14 NKJV

13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

To put it plainly, the way to hell is easy. The way to heaven is hard.

The New Testament gives several examples of people who expressed their intent to follow Jesus but, as far as we know, never did.

In Luke 9:57–62, Jesus encounters three men who said they would follow Him, but other priorities came first.

Luke 9:57–62 NKJV

57 Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” 59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” 61 And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Jesus did not commend them for simply having good intentions; He called them to sacrificial, immediate action:

The True Path calls for sacrificial and immediate action

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible A. The Journey Begins (9:51–13:21)

The first man is enthusiastic and pledges to follow Jesus anywhere (v. 57). But Jesus responds by underlining the cost to following him (v. 58). Even animals have a place to sleep, but Jesus experiences homelessness and rejection as the preceding episode with the Samaritans shows.

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible A. The Journey Begins (9:51–13:21)

Jesus invites the second man to follow him (v. 59). This man responds with a reasonable request. He wants to go home and bury his father first. In Judaism burial of dead relatives was a duty, and it was even considered more important than studying the law. Even priests were permitted to bury their relatives (Lev. 21:1–3); therefore, Jesus’ answer is startling. He overturns social conventions, insisting that the kingdom of God has priority over family loyalties. When Jesus says let the dead bury their own dead, he means leave the task of burying the “physically dead” to those who are “spiritually dead.”

Evangelical Commentary on the Bible A. The Journey Begins (9:51–13:21)

Lastly, a man promises to follow Jesus after saying farewell to his family (v. 61). Again, this is a reasonable request; Elijah let Elisha say farewell to his family before the latter followed the former (1 Kings 19:19–21). Nevertheless, Jesus’ call is more radical. No one can plow effectively if one looks back, for the furrow will be crooked and the wooden plow tip might break. So too, no one can follow Jesus without making him the absolute and exclusive center of life.

The men must follow through on their words; otherwise, their “good intentions” would not result in following Jesus and would pave their way to hell, as it were.

At another time, a serious young man approaches Jesus to ask what he must do to inherit eternal life (Mark 10:17–27).

Mark 10:17–27 NKJV

17 Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” 18 So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. 19 You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother.’ ” 20 And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 21 Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” 22 But he was sad at this word, and went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” 24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?” 27 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.”

He seemed to have every intention of doing whatever Jesus told him, but when the Lord answered, “Sell all your possessions and give to the poor and then come follow me,” the man went away sad.

The True Path will Cost you Everything

The cost was too high. He may have had good intentions at first, but the rich young man failed to love Christ more than money and was paving his own way to hell.

Many find the cost too high when they express interest in following Jesus. They have every “intention” of surrendering to Him and living according to His will for their lives. But they soon find that intent is not enough. Good intentions are not strong enough to overcome the magnetic pull of our sinful flesh (Mark 14:38).

Many people hear the gospel and believe it to be true, but they don’t want it badly enough to surrender control of their lives. They “intend” to do so one day—when they’ve finished having fun. Sadly, most never reach that day. They assumed that repentance and faith would come naturally upon command, but they find that it does not. In cases such as these, the proverb “the road to hell is paved with good intentions” holds true.

Good intentions must be accompanied by acts of our will in order to accomplish what we planned. Laziness, procrastination, and fear can all play a part in keeping our intentions only that. People-pleasers are especially prone to finding that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. By nature, people-pleasers want to say whatever will grant them favor with whomever they wish to please.

They may have every intention of calling next week, going to lunch, or babysitting for a friend, but after the moment has passed, they forget all about what was promised. They find that their road to untrustworthiness, disappointment, and misunderstanding is paved with their good intentions.

God takes seriously the words that come from our lips. In fact, Jesus said that we will give an account for every idle word spoken (Matthew 12:36–37). We should not be quick to express our intentions if we don’t have a plan to follow through and the ability to do so. Instead, we should determine in our hearts what God wants us to do and then commit ourselves to it (Psalm 37:5; 119:11).

One way we can be sure that our lives are not cluttered with useless intentions is to consider ourselves “crucified with Christ,” as Paul did (Galatians 2:20). When we recognize every morning that our day is not ours to squander as we please, but belongs to the Lord, we will be more prone to follow through on the direction He gives us.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions, but the road to heaven is paved with obedient faith. Good intentions make us feel like we’re on the right track, but they lack any power to get us where we want to go. However, a willful commitment to follow the Lord takes us where He wants us to go.