Seeds for 06/28/2023 - Matthew 7:13-14
Scripture: 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Observation: One wonders if Jesus’ words here inspired Robert Frost’s famous closing lines:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
If not those, then perhaps the parents’ quiz for the teen under peer pressure, “If all your friends jump off a cliff, would you jump too?!?”
Jesus is contrasting two ways. One must handle a large amount of traffic, the other has less demand. The broad way is more accommodating. However, “only a few find” and follow the narrow way. But Jesus instructs us to do just that. Don’t simply “trust your feelings” or “follow your heart.” Our feelings can lead us astray, just as our cool rationality can convince us of anything if we’re not careful. Our hearts can deceive us. What we need are hearts and minds surrendered to and formed by Jesus. The way to that deep formation is the narrow gate—the demanding, life-giving way of the Savior.
Jesus stands within a great tradition in setting this contrast of two ways before us. Moses reiterated the Torah in Deuteronomy, then at the conclusion in chapter 30 put the stark choice before the people: “See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction… Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him.” Joshua exhorted the people to “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve... But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” And one of the early Christian writings, The Didache (revered by the early church as faithful teaching, though not considered inspired scripture), famously asserts, “There are two ways, one of life and one of death; and between the two ways there is a great difference.” It then goes on to gather together and quote scriptures to show what belongs to the way of life.
Read thoughtfully, we see that Jesus isn’t condemning one group to the broad road of destruction or assigning a few to the narrow road of blessing. Rather, He’s acknowledging a truth about the world and inviting, imploring even, any who will trust and follow Him to choose the narrow way.
It’s an exclusive claim: One way leads to life and the other to death. And it’s an inclusive invitation: “Enter through the narrow gate.” It’s clear what Jesus wants us to do. Which will we choose?
Application:
What is easy and hard about the broad way?
What is easy and hard about the narrow way?
What else might the Holy Spirit be speaking with you about in the text today?
Prayer: Lord, take my hand and lead me through the narrow gate. Grant me the wisdom and courage to embrace the life you long to give me. Amen.
“But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:23)
If you liked this post from Seeds of Faith, why not share it and/or subscribe?
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™