Enter Through the Narrow Gate

(Messiah's 34th Command of the New Testament)

By Brother R. Michel Lankford

Matthew 7:13-14"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it (Matthew 7:13-14 NASB)

 
As we go into the home stretch of the sermon on the mount (Matthew chapters 5-7), Messiah begins His closing remarks with four critical warnings which we will cover in the course of studying his commands, but will preview them here:
1. Enter through the narrow gate (Matthew 7:13-14).
2. Beware, and do not be deceived by false prophets or false teachers (Matthew 7:15-20).
3. Do God's will, or you will be left out of the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 7:21-23).
4. The only way to do God's will and avoid being left out is to hear Christ's words and follow them (Matthew 7:24-28).
Beloved, it simply does not get more serious than this. Please do not miss this. Please do not be deceived. Messiah is doing nothing less than laying out the blueprint so that people can find the path to eternal life in Jesus Christ. He is laying out the stark contrast between the strait path; (strait: meaning difficult to navigate; much less popular, more difficult, requiring more deliberate care and effort); narrow path that leads to life, and comparing it to the broad, popular well-traveled road which almost everyone loves, but it leads to destruction. In verses 15 through 27 of this chapter He is laying out for us how to choose the right path that leads to everlasting life. Please do not miss that.

 

Enter through the Narrow Gate

Do you remember growing up as a youngster and at least once hearing your parents or guardians say something like, "Honey, I don't care what other people are doing, I am not their parent, but I am yours, and you are not going to do that." God, the Ultimate Parent was the one who originated that idea, and every parent who cares about their children's well-being have followed suit ever since. Some parents even said those things and they weren't even saved or living for Jesus Christ at the time, but God put that deposit of this eternal truth in their hearts and minds, so that they almost instinctively knew that the way to life was the narrow and unpopular path.
Whether they are godly or not, the majority of parents want their children to prosper or to be blessed, as it were. Without even knowing it, many parents are trying to instill in their youngsters the crucial attitude that would save their lives: "Don't just blindly and carelessly do what's easy and popular, but instead, seek to learn and then to do what is truly right." Whenever one is trying to raise a child into responsible adulthood, one almost instinctively recognizes that this is a crucial universal lesson we all need to learn.
To tell the truth, at the time we hated those words. Everything in our young mind will and emotions felt those words rubbing us the wrong way. On some level, as youngsters we thoroughly believed that if we could just make them see the logic of why we wanted to do what we wanted to do, our parents would be in complete agreement. They would see the error of their rules, and they might even thank us for setting them straight. That way, we could do what all the other popular kids were doing, we would not have to be the oddball that feels left out, or who bucks the popular trend. We would then get to do what we want to do. The other kids would think we were cool, and then peace, joy, and harmony would reign throughout the land... At the time we almost do think that way, don't we? However, Messiah declares that such is the path that leads to destruction.
Enter through the narrow gate." That is the imperative. That is the explicit command in the verse. Throughout history, humanity has used the idea of popular opinion to decide what is right and wrong. In other words, if there are more people who like something in a group and fewer people who dislike something, it is generally presumed that the majority must therefore be correct. For this reason, Biblical Christianity has been largely dismissed throughout human history because it has always been in the minority of belief systems. In other words, the prevailing theory of the ages has been, well, if Christianity is so great, then why aren't more people doing it.
Jesus the Messiah turns the idea of majority rules completely on its ear. In fact, He refutes the idea as being completely false. According to Messiah, the majority is most often wrong and should not be followed at all, because what is most popular, what is most accepted will generally lead to destruction. Messiah basically tells us that if we want to be righteous, if we want to live a life that's going to flourish and please God, we must learn to swim against the tide. We must learn to travel against the culture and most often we must do the complete opposite of what's popular.
Messiah also points out the sobering fact that comparatively very few people are going to choose to go against the trend of what's popular. According to Jesus, (and the Son of God would know), comparatively very few people are going to choose to seek after, and to find the narrow gate, and comparatively few people will choose to walk the strait and narrow path all the way home. My prayer is always: "Lord Jesus, mercifully give me grace to be one of the few who successfully desires, seeks, finds and enters the narrow gate. Also grant me the grace to persevere that I may successfully walk the narrow path that leads to eternal life in You."
Learning to buck the trend is literally a life and death decision. It's a salvation or destruction issue. There is no decision more serious.

 

Jesus (Yeshua the Messiah) IS the Only Gate to Eternal Life

Since the very time that humankind fell into sin God promised that the seed of the woman would crush the deceiving serpent (Genesis 3:15). Biologically, the seeds of life come from the man and not the woman, so when God refers to 'her seed' He is obviously referring to a virgin birth. Jesus the Messiah said:

John 10:7-9 ..., "Truly, truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved. He will come in and go out and find pasture. (John 10:7-9 ISV)

 
There is simply only one way to receive God's salvation from sin, and it is by coming through the gate of Jesus Christ. This is not a popular truth and comparatively few people will choose to come through the Gate. He is the seed of the woman (Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38, 2:1-7). There is no other way to salvation (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Jesus is the eternal High Priest (Hebrews 6:20). Jesus Christ is the only go-between, He is the only mediator between God and man (1 Timothy 2:5). Jesus Christ died on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:11-22; Romans 6:8-11), and became the only acceptable permanent atoning sacrifice for sins (1 John 2:1-2; 1 John 4:10).
The simple reality is THAT ALL PATHS DO NOT lead to God. There is only one. The narrow gate is that we must believe and follow Jesus Christ the Son of the living God (John 3:36). The fact that this is the truth bothers a lot of people who desperately want to believe the comfortable and popular lie that all paths eventually lead to God. The simple truth is that all paths do not lead to God. There is only One. Whether or not it is popular, the truth is that there was only one seed of the woman that was ever promised. There is only one true Messiah, just as there is only One God Who sent Him. People will either believe and come to Him where they will receive eternal life, or they will perish in their sins.

 

 

The Guiding Biblical Principle behind the "Narrow Path."

It's important to remember that choosing the narrow Path, being unique instead of doing what's popular is Not solely a New Testament idea. When Messiah spoke this command, He was re- establishing a universally Biblical standard that God had already made since the founding of the nation of God's covenant people, Israel. To walk the narrow path means that we faithfully devotedly serve ONLY the One True God. We do not incorporate worldly or pagan practices into our worship and relationship with God. Walking the narrow path also means that we think in agreement with God and much differently than the sinful world. Walking the narrow path further means that we also enjoy, delight in, and have much different pursuits than the sinful popular world does. Walking the narrow path means that we also speak much differently than the sinful world does. There is a plethora of scriptural examples for all of these, but here are just a few key examples:
1. We serve the only One True God: This is unique in all of human history. At the time God revealed Himself to Noah, then to Abram and later to Moses, the majority of the world was polytheistic, in other words, the majority of the world believed that every aspect of life and creation had multiple or different 'gods' over each of them. Eventually the One True God revealed Himself to Abram (Genesis 12). He made a promise to Abram. Abram believed God, and God credited this as righteousness (Genesis 15:6). Ever since that time, people would be considered righteous who believed and followed the One True God revealed to Abraham. The same God later revealed Himself to the prophet Moses (Exodus 3). Moses obeyed God, and he led God's covenant people Israel. We too serve the One True God, through the work of Messiah and by the power of the Holy Spirit which He has sent (John 4:34; John 5:30; John 14:16.
2. People in Covenant Relationship with Almighty God are Called to Be Holy, which Means to Be Separate from the rest of the sinful world, and devoted to God: (Leviticus 11:44; Leviticus 19:2; 20:7; Isaiah 48:20; Jeremiah 50:8; Zechariah 2:6-7; Isaiah 52:11-12). Holiness looks like this:
• We are NOT to adapt or incorporate pagan worship practices into the worship of the One True God (Deuteronomy 12:29-32; John 4:24; Matthew 5:48; 6:5-14, 6,16).
• We MUST have our minds transformed so that we will think in agreement with God instead of thinking according to our sinful nature, or instead of thinking like the sinful world, (Isaiah 55:6-8; Romans 8:5-8; Romans 12:1-2; Philippians 2:3-11; Philippians 4:4-8; James 3:13-18).
• We MUST learn to talk and speak differently than the world does (Matthew 12:34;) Mouth control or the lack of it will make the difference between whether or not we have any Fellowship with God at all (Psalm 15:1-3). Mouth control or the lack of it will make a difference between whether we have genuine religion or a meaningless one (James 1:26; Proverbs 15:4). Mouth control will make the difference between whether we stand or we stumble (Psalm 15:3,5b; James 3:2). Mouth control will make the difference between our life and death (Proverbs 18:21; 1 Peter 3:10). Mouth control will make a difference between whether or not we stand after the judgment of God. God will judge our every word; (Matthew 12:36). It will literally make the difference between whether we go to heaven or hell (Matthew 12:37). King David understood this by the Holy Spirit, which is why he specifically asked God to set a watch over his heart and mouth so that he would not enjoy, delight in, or speak anything evil (Psalm 141:1-4).
Healthy maturing Christians don't talk trash, and don't talk smack. We don't talk like the world. Healthy maturing Christians don't double-speak or give room for the devil to work in their mouth (Matthew 5:37; James 5:12). Avoid vulgar speech, foolish talk, things or dirty or off-color joking (Ephesians 5:4). When Christians speak to God it should be with humbleness and Thanksgiving (Psalm 100:4; Colossians 2:7). When Christians speak to each other it should be directly agreeable to and echo with Scripture (Ephesians 4:15,25, 5:19). When we speak to the unbelieving world it should be with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15-16). As Christians, we should seek to only say those things that are necessary to build others up and help them do right (Ephesians 4:29). Jesus points out that if we lose our ability to impact the world in these ways we are basically useless. This is why we should not absorb the flavor of the world. We should be "flavoring them" with a distinct flavor of Jesus Christ (Matthew 5:13-16).
• We MUST LEARN to desire, to seek, and pursue different things than the sinful world does (Psalm 42:1; 1 Peter 2:2; Psalm 37:4; Matthew 5:6; Matthew 6:24-33; 1 Corinthians 14:1a).
• We CANNOT be friends with the sinful world and be friends with the Holy God at the same time. As it is written:
James 4:4 "You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (James 4:4 NASB;) 1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV)

Beloved we are deciding nothing less than whether to be God's friend or His enemy.
In order to truly be God's friend, we must honor God for who He is. We cannot be friends with the sinful world does not love Him. We must worship God as God, in Spirit and Truth. We must not incorporate worldly or pagan practices into our worship. We must think in agreement with God. The words we speak must be in agreement with God. The things we pursue and delight in must be in agreement with God's character, will and His purpose. It's only when we do these things, that we can even hope to walk correctly with our God and Father. The apostle Paul summed up this whole study when he wrote these words to the church at Corinth:

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty. “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1 (NASB)

 
Do you consider Scripture to be God's written Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17)? If you do, then consider what does even the so-called New Testament require of us, and ask yourself some more key questions:
Does it truly matter to you whether Yahweh Almighty God and the Messiah truly considers you His friend?
Does it truly matter to you whether Almighty God chooses to dwell with you, or if He does not?
Is it truly important to you that Almighty God considers Himself to be your God, and truly considers you one of His people?
How critical is it to you that Almighty God would truly consider Himself to be your Father, and that He would count you as one of His children?
If these considerations are in fact important to you, then according to the Scriptures we have just read, what is Almighty God commanding us to do?
Are you willing to do those things so that you can truly receive those great promises?
If you are finding yourself unwilling in some aspect of these things, then are you at least willing to earnestly ask God to, "Change your want-to, so that you will become willing and obedient to desire, to choose, and to do what God says is pleasing to Him (Matthew 7:7-8)? If we are not willing to do at least those things, then in that case we are demonstrating by our choices and actions that we either do not believe what God has said, we are showing that we don't take Him seriously enough to believe that He truly means what He says, or we are showing that we do not place a high enough value on obtaining what Almighty God has promised. It's that simple.
 
Closing Prayer: Almighty God, Maker of Heaven and Earth; Lord Jesus Christ Messiah; Lord God gracious Holy Spirit; Hallowed be Your Name. Have mercy upon us. Save us according to Your unfailing love.
By Your Grace, work within us. Mercifully help us to break away from the broad and popular way that leads to destruction. Graciously change our whole being to become a holy dwelling place for Your presence.
Mercifully transform our heart and desires, our mind and our will, our thinking and our speaking, our desires and our pursuits until they are all in complete agreement with Your best desires for our lives. Help us to be sincerely among the few who find the narrow gate, who choose the strait, and who deliberately walk the narrow path that will lead to eternal life and joy with God. In Christ's name, amen.
Brother R. Michel Lankford