Automatic Transcript Generated:
What does it mean to enter through the narrow gate?
Speaker 1
Robert is asking what do Luke 13:24 and Matthew 7:13 to 14 mean?
Speaker 2
All right, my friend Robert, this is a great question and it’s funny because this is actually Matthew 724 is probably my, my favorite Bible verse in the whole Bible and which says a lot of just how good of a verse it is. So let’s go start though, with your question. What do Luke 1324 and Matthew 713 and 14 mean? Because they are similar verses and they’re a little bit confusing, I could see why you’d have a little bit of trouble with them. So let’s first look at Luke chapter 13, verse 24 and we’ll get an idea of your question. So it says in Luke 1324, strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. So Jesus here is saying that strive, try really hard to enter into a narrow gate. And then he kind of makes it a little more clear in Matthew chapter seven, verses 13 and 14. So we’ll go ahead and read that next just so that we get a really clear picture of what Jesus is talking about. And Jesus says, 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.
Speaker 2
In verse 14 he says, because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. And that Matthew 20 or 714. This is my favorite verse because it’s saying narrow is the gate and difficult is the way. And I think this is really the answer to your question. And so Jesus is saying, look, there are two paths basically you can choose at any given time. And one way is the easy path, the broad path, and one way is the path that leads to life, eternal life, life with Jesus in heaven. And Jesus is saying, look, the road to heaven is not an easy one because the thing is we are going to be tried and we’re going to have trials. And for us to maintain our upward walk towards heaven on that narrow path, it’s a more difficult path. And that’s just the reality of it. And we kind of see this made a little bit more clear. I really like this chapter in one, Peter, chapter four, where Peter kind of talks about kind of the same topic. And in verse twelve, first, Peter four, verse twelve, he begins by saying, beloved, do not think it’s strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened to you.
Speaker 2
And so here we see. Peter is saying, look, when you’re going to be a Christian and you’re going to start walking towards heaven, it’s not going to be an easy path. Don’t expect everything once you get baptized or choose to be a Christian like oh, everything’s going to be perfectly fine. God will take care of me. I’m not going to have any. No, no, quite the opposite. Because the thing is, we live in a sinful world and we live in a world where there is a devil who is desperately trying to keep you from going to heaven. And the devil will try to bring all sorts of things into your path, all sorts of temptations to distract you, to keep you away from your walk with God. And it’s really going to take some effort on your part to maintain your walk with Christ. Does that mean that you have to earn your salvation? No, not at all. We are saved by grace, through faith. It’s Jesus who saves us. However, it is our ultimate decision whether or not we want to stay on that path, because there are many people that will kind of like that parable of the seeds, where some seeds fell on stony ground and they sprang up, but then because they didn’t have any roots, they died away.
Speaker 2
That’s like people that they kind of hear the gospel, but then it’s like, oh, they get busy with other things and then they lose their walk. Or some people their seed gets sown among thorns and the cares of this life choke out spiritual things. And so it’s only those who really take root and invest that time to maintain their walk with God that those are the people that will overcome and be able to stand when trials come, to stand firm in their faith and say, no, I want to stay a Christian. I want to follow Christ no matter what it takes. Because the thing is, like Jesus said, don’t be surprised if they hated me. Don’t be surprised if they hate you too, because like I said, there is a devil and there are people that are not converted and they can be used by the enemy and they will do things to persecute God’s people. And it’s only up to us to maintain our walk with Christ. So going back to that chapter in one, Peter Four, where Peter says, don’t think it’s a strange thing concerning the fiery trial, which is to try you.
Speaker 2
It’s not strange in verse 13 says, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings that when his glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. So just like Jesus suffered, jesus had to obey the will of his Father even though it cost him his life. That’s kind of the route of the Christian. We have to obey the will of God no matter what the cost is. Basically, it’s doing a hard work of saying, Lord, I love you more than this, I love you more than that. I love you more than anything, Lord, I’m willing to forsake all for the cross of Christ. And so Peter goes on to explain kind of this in the idea or the context, know, for some people they’re going to be persecuted in some ways. And he’s like, if you’re going to be persecuted for the cause of Christ, that’s a blessing. Don’t be surprised. Continue in your walk with faith. But if you’re going to be persecuted, don’t be persecuted because you’re doing bad things. But in verse 17, he says, for the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God.
Speaker 2
And if it begins with us first, basically those who are part of God’s people, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? In verse 18, he says something very similar to those verses you shared. Now, if the righteous one is scarcely saved, where will the ungodly and sinner appear? So basically Peter is saying that even among Christians, not everybody who says, I’m a Christian will even be saved. So you really need to get real with yourself and get real with your walk with God and ask know, am I walking in the know? Like the Bible says, examine yourself to see if you’re walking in the faith and you need to overcome sin, basically. And Jesus talks about this in the Book of Revelation, chapters two and three. Talking to the seven churches, there was a lot of different things that his people were needing to overcome. Some of them were having to overcome losing their first love, falling out of love with God. They need to overcome this and get back on the right course. And Jesus says to him that overcomes will I grant right to the tree of life, or he’ll be able to sit on my throne.
Speaker 2
To the church of Laodicea who were becoming lukewarm. There was different things that we have to overcome in our walk with God and it’s a very personal thing. So whatever it is, whatever path that you’re on in your Christian walk, just know it’s not always going to be easy. You will have to make some difficult decisions sometimes. You will have to choose Christ over other things, over convenience, over sometimes some friendships, over some relationships. There’s times where you’re going to have to say, no, I’m going to obey God’s will and his word over how I feel and over what other people want or expect of me. And so I think that’s basically kind of the gist of it. And there’s so many other verses that really go along with this concept. And I think I’ll just share real close, really quick with my other favorite, second favorite verse, which is actually the book of Romans. And I believe it’s chapter 14, verse 22. And it’s something that Paul says and it’s basically oh, give me a second. It’s not Romans. That is it acts. It might actually be Acts 14. I think it is actually Acts 1422 because this is basically where Paul, he gets stoned.
Speaker 2
He’s basically, paul was being persecuted like none other. They stoned him basically to death, but he rose up again and after this he goes to a city and he starts talking to disciples. So in Acts 1422, Jesus Paul was strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them, basically encouraging them to continue in the faith, saying we must through many tribulations, enter the kingdom of God. So it is going to be through tribulation, there are going to be tough times, we are going to have to make tough decisions to follow Christ. But yeah, it’s not going to always be popular, it’s not always going to be what’s easy or what feels good, it’s going to be what is God saying, his will is for your life and what is in accordance to his will according to the Bible. And so I’m so grateful we have the Bible for that guidance and I just pray that you continue in that narrow walk with God and that you choose Christ every day, no matter what it takes. It’ll be worth it in the end to see his face in heaven one day. Jay or Wendy, any other thoughts on that one?
Speaker 2
Nope, that was pretty good.
Speaker 1
And we have a comment from Uncle Mg on that as well, says, I think a good portion of that difficulty involves surrendering our will to God’s will.
Speaker 2
Yes, 100%. Thank you so much, Uncle Mg. Yeah, I would say that’s really key, that’s really key to that. And Jesus showed us that in the garden of Gethsemane. He said, Lord, let this cup pass for me, but nevertheless not my will, but thy will be done. And yeah, definitely the example of Jesus there.
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BibleAsk Team
