Jesus taught in Matthew 7:13-14 “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. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
Jesus describes two paths for life. One path has a wide gate, a broad way and it leads to destruction. Since the gate is wide, it is easy to enter; no special requirements. The way is broad. Just do what you want to do. Live life as you think best. It includes many ways of living. Follow your fleshly desires. Look out for yourself because you are the most important one. Believe whatever you want to believe. Maybe deny the existence of God and worship something else: your job, the earth, or riches. Seek pleasure. No need to follow moral rules. If you have rules, yours are as good as the next person’s rules. Anything goes. Many people live this way. It requires no change, no repentance, no discipline, no cross to bear. Ephesians 2:2-3 “In which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”
Jesus said that this first path leads to destruction. Proverbs 14:12 “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.” 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9 “And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” The broad way leads to destruction.
The second path has a narrow gate, the way is difficult, but it leads to life. Since the gate is narrow, it is harder to enter. It requires self-denial, taking up your cross and following Jesus. Matthew 16:24-25 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.’” It requires seeking and following the truth regardless of what the consequences might be. It insists on repentance and calls for obedience. It centers on Christ alone, not “Christ plus whatever I want”. Few are going to seek to enter this gate or follow the path because the gate is narrow and the way is difficult.
Jesus said that this second path leads to life. Romans 2:6-7 “Who ‘Will render to each according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality.” Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Galatians 6:8 “For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” 1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” James 1:12
“Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” 1 John 2:25 “And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.”
Jesus said that there are few that find the narrow path. One asked Jesus a similar question. Luke 13:23-30 “Then one said to Him, ‘Lord, are there few who are saved?’ And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.’”
Jesus isn’t trying to scare us. He’s inviting us. Yes, the gate is narrow and the way difficult, but it is full of joy, peace, purpose and eternal life. The wide gate is easy, but it is empty, destructive and ultimately hopeless. The narrow way is not the path of misery. It is the path of true life. He encourages us to “enter by the narrow gate.”
Each of us has a choice. Will we choose the narrow gate? Will we choose life? The Bible multiple times encourages us to make the right choice. Moses gave the choice to the Israelites in the wilderness. Deuteronomy 30:15, 19 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.” “I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.” Joshua also gave the choice to the Israelites in Joshua 24:15 “And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” A similar choice is given to us today.
I encourage you to choose the narrow gate, and the difficult way. Even though few find it, it is the wise choice that leads to life.