The Narrow Way II

Matthew 7:13 (NIV) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Jesus said these words in the context of the sermon on the mount where he narrowed our understanding of the requirements of the law. For instance he said, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” (Matthew 5:21-22, NIV) When you take a step back from this and the other points of his sermon, it looks like an impossible standard to live up to, and this is precisely the point of Jesus’ message to us! The standard that he places before us is impossible for the natural person live up to. It is only the person who has been filled with the power of God through the Holy Spirit and who is living in that power that is able to fulfill the law or the requirements of God.

This “gate” is so narrow that it may cause people to despair of ever being able to enter it. The question becomes, “How can anyone enter the kingdom of God if the path is so narrow?” When a person reaches this stage in their understanding, it is a good sign! But just like any sign that points to a destination, it is not the end but only the beginning. In order to enter the kingdom of God, we must all pass through the cross where we come to know that all of our efforts in righteousness are futile. This is where we realize that Jesus’ standards of living are too high for us live up to. That is when we begin to search for the true path to eternal life. If we are wondering whether or not we are on the narrow path and if we’ve fallen off, the chances are good that we were never on it in the first place. It is not a path that human effort can walk on, but once you find it, you can’t slip off of it. The narrow way is not difficult to walk, but it takes everything that we have to find the entrance. The narrow way is not difficult to walk; it is impossible for the person who hasn’t given everything over to Jesus.

When Jesus says, “Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it,” does that leave you nervous that you might miss the road? If so, you might want to keep looking for the gate because the Lord wants his children to have confidence that they are walking on the narrow road. You may have found the gate but are still holding on to thoughts about how good you are or even about how bad you are. None of these things matter. All that matters is Jesus. He is the way. Once you find him, you will never want to go back. He is life, and life is the destination of all who travel the narrow way.