SF499 - IT PAYS TO BE NARROW (Matthew 7 13-14)
Matthew 7:13-14
Introduction
Everyone is on a spiritual journey as they travel through life...
Ø Whether religious or not, we travel a spiritual path
Ø Every day we make choices that affects the direction in which we are headed
Many people think that the paths we can travel are many...
Ø In one sense that may be true; there are all kinds of religions
Ø But in another sense there are really only two paths or ways
In our text today, Jesus speaks of these two ways
Ø Each with its own beginning, each with its own end
Ø One way is heavily populated, the other is traveled by few
Where are you in your spiritual sojourn?
Ø Are you on the right way?
Ø Are you heading in the right direction?
The Lord sets before us in this text, two gates, two ways, two groups, and two destinations.
1A. Two Gates
1B. The wide gate
It is a popular way
Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”
It is a passive way
Ø All men by nature take this gate because all men are sinners. (Romans 3:23)
Ø It requires no sacrifice on man’s part
Ø It does not require giving up anything
Materialism
Prejudice, hatred, an unforgiving spirit
Believe whatever one wants to believe
“Come as you are and stay like you are.”
2B. The narrow gate
It is a singular way
John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”
John 10:9 “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”
Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”
It is a difficult way
John 6:44 “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”
Ø To enter you must first accept God’s truth that you are a sinner worthy of His judgment. (Romans 6:23)
Ø To enter you must repent of your sins.
Luke 13:3 “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”
Ø To enter you must surrender completely to God in Christ.
Receive Him as Prophet to instruct you.
Receive Him as Priest to atone for you.
Receive Him as King to rule over you.
Ø This way is costly
Matthew 16:24 “…If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
2A. Two Roads
1B. The wide road
It is a smooth road that has no restraints.
Ø Can accommodate many different religions
It is a crowded road because it offends no one.
Ø Morality by majority
It is a deceptive road because it does not reveal its end.
It is a fatal road because it leads to destruction.
2B. The narrow road
A disciplined way - it costs to follow Jesus
Luke 14:26 “If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.”
“Any dead fish can float down stream”
A different way - doesn’t follow the crowd
“Our way is different; it starts at a different source and it follows a different course.”
A delightful way (Isaiah 35:8-10)
Ø It is a clear way (35:8)
Ø It is a confident way (35:9)
Ø It is a cheerful way (35:10)
3A. Two Destinations
“When I get to where I am going where will I be?”
1B. Jesus speaks of a fearful destiny
“Destruction” = total ruin/loss – hell
Paul wrote of the "everlasting destruction" that is to come (2 Thessalonians 1:6-9)
Ø Upon those who know not God
Ø Upon those who obey not the gospel of Jesus Christ
John described it as "a lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15; 21:8)
Ø A most sobering thought are these words of Jesus: "...there are many who enter through it." (7:13b)
2B. Jesus speaks of a fabulous destiny
“Life” = eternal life, heaven!
John 14:2-3 “In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
“God not only adds years to life but life to our years!”
3B. Each of these represent a final destiny
Ecclesiastes 11:3 “… In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie.”
4A. Two Groups
1B. The many
We have seen reasons why this is so:
Ø The entrance is wide: "Come as you are! No changes necessary!"
Ø The way is broad: "Make your own rules! Believe what you want! Do what you want!"
This is the way people travel by default; unless they are actively seeking the narrow path, this is the one they will travel
2B. The few
As proven true so often in the past, only few will be saved
Ø Millions lost in the flood vs. the eight saved on the ark
That it must be "found" suggests effort must extended
Ø “Enter” = aorist imperative - a command
Ø Luke 13:24 - To “strive” literally means to agonize, it points to the difficulty involved in entering in.
Ø It is not enough just to believe the truths of the gospel.
Ø You must enter the gate and walk on the straight path!
Ø Not just effort, but the right kind of effort (Matthew 5:6; 6:33)
Application
What road are you on?
1A. Two _____________________
1B. The ____________ gate
It is a popular way (Proverbs 14:12)
It is a passive way
2B. The ____________ gate
It is a singular way
John 14:6
John 10:9
Acts 4:12
It is a difficult way
John 6:44
Ø To enter you must first accept God’s truth that you are a sinner worthy of His judgment. (Romans 6:23)
Ø To enter you must repent of your sins. (Luke 13:3)
Ø To enter you must surrender completely to God in Christ. (Matthew 16:24)
2A. Two ____________________
1B. The ________________ road
It is a smooth road that has no restraints.
It is a crowded road because it offends no one.
It is a deceptive road because it does not reveal its end.
It is a fatal road because it leads to destruction.
2B. The _____________________ road
A disciplined way - it costs to follow Jesus (Luke 14:26)
A different way - doesn’t follow the crowd
A delightful way (Isaiah 35:8-10)
3A. Two Destinations
1B. Jesus speaks of a __________________ destiny
Paul wrote of the "everlasting destruction" that is to come (2 Thessalonians 1:7-9)
John described it as "a lake of fire" (Revelation 20:15; 21:8)
2B. Jesus speaks of a fabulous destiny (John 14:2-3)
3B. Each of these represent a __________________ destiny (Ecclesiastes 11:3)
4A. Two ______________________
1B. The _______________
2B. The ________________
As proven true so often in the past, only few will be saved
That it must be "found" suggests effort must extended
Application
What road are you on?