Sermon Tone Analysis

Review

In Matthew we have seen that Jesus of Nazareth is the long expected Messiah.

The anointed One who would save.

In the Sermon on the Mount (5-7).

The Messiah, the King, issues the radical demands that distinctly delineates the ethics or behaviors of those in th Kingdom of God vs. what the predominantly religious culture expected.

They heard how their righteousness must exceed the righteousness of the Pharisees and Saducees (Mt.

5:20).

A call to perfection.

(Mt.

5:48).

These Kingdom ethics and behaviors have been well Preached by Christ, and ultimately they culminated in the all-embracing principle of Matthew 7:12, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

Now we find Christ landing the proverbial plane.

His sermon is coming to end, and like all good sermons there is a time for self-evaluation and personal reflection.

A response is to be demanded, and he illustrates this response by providing 4 groups of twos that vividly contrast true and false discipleship.

Today we will look at the first 2.

Two Gates/Ways

Two Fruits

Let’s look at our first two’s.

Read Matthew 7:13-14

When we think gates we think a chain link fence gate, or if you have young kids or pets around we think “baby gates”.

Those gates exist to keep something in or to let something out.

But the gates referenced in our passage or more gates of antiquity. .

American is a relatively young country, but in the course of our missionary career I’ve walked some real ancient paths.

Literally ancient paths.

And I think by giving you some insight into that antiquity will really help illustrate our passage today.

Gates that look like this:

**North Africa Gate—

**India Gate---

Often times the gates are labled by the city to which they lead.

So in India if we exited our city thorugh the “Ajmeri Gate” we would wind up in Ajmer.

In essence, you choose the gate based upon the destination you intend to reach.

In our passage today, Jesus wants us to Enter the narrow gate for its destination is life (eternal life).

If then it leads to eternal life, why is it so narrow?

I want to use my first point to answer that?

The Narrow Gate is EXCLUSIVE

The first reason The gate is narrow and the way is hard is that it is exclusive.

There is only 1 gate that leads to life.

If you want to end up to eternal life, then there is only one gate you can enter… and that is Jesus.

This regards what many deem our “evangelical decision”.

And this will offend some, but Scripture is crystal clear.

There is only one way to the Father.

I can say this because it is exactly what Jesus himself taught in **John 10:9, “I am the door.

If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.”

The same imagery is used here in Matthew 7:21 when people come to the gate and say “Lord, Lord” but not all will enter the kingdom of heaven.

Enter what? the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus is the gate into the Kingdom.

To walk the path of the Kingdom of God there is no other way.

He is the way, the truth, and the life, and nobody comes to the Father except through Him.

This offends many.

So many in fact that they choose not to enter.

I’ve lived on 3 continents and the response to Jesus’ claims of exclusivity have always invited the same exact response…

“I thought God was love, if he really loved why is there only one way?”

“That is so intolerant.

If he were good there would be more ways.”

Yet, the truth remains.

He is emphatically exclusive that there is only one gate that leads to life.

And all doubters, or resisters to his claims of exclusivity assume that God is unloving, lacking in goodness, or unjust.

but let me offer a different perspective.

Instead of meditating on the fact that there is only 1 way, maybe we should rejoice that there even is A WAY!!!

It is actually his love, goodness, and justice that has provided us a way.

He didn’t have to.

But he has.

One commentator wrote, “questioning God’s love because he only gave us one way is like putting Sir Alexander Fleming on trial for only giving us penicillin.”.

Because the gate is emphatically exclusive it makes it Narrow and hard.

But as I just explained, in light of there actually being A GATE we should ask… why do people go so wide?

Why not the narrow one?

LET ME GIVE YOU 3 REASONS.

Reason #1 The Wide Gate is Easy

Vs. 13.

The first reason people go wide is because its easy!

Vs. 13.

The Gate is Wide and the Way is easy.

Remember the photo!

You can drive your cars, belongings, whole family, boat, baggage, career.

It will fit anything!

No need to change.

No need to leave anything behind!

There is evidently no limit to the luggage we can take with us.

This wide gate and way is the path of instant gratification.

Instant gratification is the desire to experience pleasure or fulfillment without delay or deferment, or denial.

The Wide Gate and Way promises this.

Instant pleasure.

It is a gate and way that doesn’t demand a removal of sins, our self-righteousness or our pride.

No self denial.

No cross.

It beckons… “Come on in, as you are, enjoy life, find pleasure.”

But look where it leads!

eventually, undoubtedly, it will lead to destruction!

Delaying what we think can fulfill us now, for something more satistying later is HARD!

Hard for me to practice, but espcially hard for me to teach.

Hudson’s sword.

It is easier for me to buy it, but by doing so (or creating a habit of instantly gratifying him) I’m effectually putting him on the road to destruction!

What does this mean In light of the Sermon on the Mount, it is simply much easier to

Judge someone’s speck and not worry about your log.

Its easier to gratify your lusts by laying up for yourselves treasures on earth.

It’s easier to gratify your gluttony… because who really likes fasting!

It’s easier to hold grudges, then forgive.

it’s easier to pretend spirituality by practicing your righteouness before others then letting God deal with your heart.

Its easier to hate your enemies.

its easier to eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth.

Let’s be honest… to live in alignment with Jesus’ radical demands from His sermon is hard!

Impossible even!