Caution Fork In the Road Ahead!

Matthew 7:13-23

Matthew 7:13–23 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. 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

1) Narrow is the gate that leads to life (Matthew 7:14)

Why is this path so narrow?

There are few who find it.

The word for few is ŏligŏs meaning very small.

The King James uses the word straight in place of narrow.

Implying that is a direct path of entry that has one purpose and no deviations off of the intended path.

The greek word used for difficult is thlibō

Meaning: to suffer tribulation or to afflict.

Tribulations means a state of great trouble or suffering.

Afflict in this context means to cause great unhappiness.

This life of Christianity will not be easy at all, in fact it will be more difficult than pre-christian life.

2 Corinthians 4:7-9 gives us hope and reminds us that God is the one that gives us our strength.

2 Corinthians 4:7–9 NKJV

7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. 8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—

2) Broad is the way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13)

Why is this path broad?

Because many use that path.

The greek word for many is pŏlus

Meaning a great multitude.

Unlike the narrow path, this path leads to destruction.

The greek word for destruction is apōlĕia

Meaning perdition.

Perdition means a state of eternal punishment and damnation into which a sinful and unrepentant person passes after death.

This is also a name given to satin himself in 2 Thessalonians 2:3

2 Thessalonians 2:3 NKJV

3 Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition,

So to simply sum up the meaning of this gate is this gate leads to hell.

3) Beware of false prophets (Matthew 7:15-20)

False prophet: a deliberately deceptive person pretending to be a prophet.

In other words this is somebody who deliberately defies God and tries to deceive people into a false gospel.

Mark 13:22 says that these false prophets will try to deceive even the elect.

Mark 13:22 NKJV

22 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

1 John 4:1-3 tells us to test those spirits and prove they are of God.

1 John 4:1–3 NKJV

1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

These false prophets are trying to lead us down this broad path that leads to destruction.

4) Not everyone who says to me lord lord will enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 7:21-23)

This verse is talking directly to the ones who claimed to be a christian and never made Jesus the Lord over their life.

These people have done wonderful things for the ministry.

The verses say that they cast out demons ,prophesied ,and done many wonders in the name of Jesus. (vs. 22)

But God will look at them and say depart from me for I NEVER KNEW YOU.

The greek word for know used here is ginōskō meaning to have a relationship with.

This is where we get the phrasing to have a relationship with God.

You who practice lawlessness.

The King James says ye that work iniquity.

The greek word for iniquity is anŏmia meaning wickedness.

cultural christianity is belief that since we are culturally accepted as a christian must mean that we are going to heaven.