Matthew 7:12-14, “the narrow gate” [Listen]

As Jesus is closing out this lengthy exposition of who he is, what the Kingdom looks like, and what the people of God look like, he is asking for a commitment – the biggest commitment anyone can make. All of our study in Matthew 5-7 have been designed to move the hearer to this point.

Have you ever made a commitment or a decision that was, on the one hand scary, but on the other hand freeing? Sometimes, after much deliberation and anxiety students will change their major in college. It’s a tough decision. Usually a fair amount of money has already been spent and a great deal of focus has gone into the major he/she will be leaving. After the decision a great freedom often sets in.

Matthew 7:12-14 (NIV)

12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.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.

Verse 12

These are words that should turn our world upside-down for us. Words like this have existed in one form or another for centuries – certainly before Jesus. Early Jewish writings, Greek writings, Confucius, etc had words of wisdom that, in a way, sounded like these. Jesus, however, does something new here – which is exactly where the impact is.

Those before Jesus cast their advice and understanding in the negative – “don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want them to do to you.” Jesus, would say this as a positive, “Do to others what you would have them do to you”. Those who would be disciples of Jesus are proactive in the giving of themselves to others. This is different. This is what Jesus modeled for us.

So, how does the beginning of verse 12 – “do to others what you would have them do to you”, sum up the essence of what has come before (the Law and the Profits)? The whole point of God’s rescue is to bring humanity back into alignment with who we were created to be. Jesus came so that, through faith in him, we could be forgiven and God could have free reign in my life. The result of this is not loyalty to the world’s system of self exaltation and self promotion. The result is a heart that is compelled to trust God and God’s vision.

Can you imagine what this world would be like if we would exist through these words?

Leviticus 19:18 (NIV)

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

Galatians 5:14 (NIV)

The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Verses 13-14

Some of us enjoy Jesus giving it to the religious leadership of his day, don’t we? We tend to frown on legalism and gracelessness. Here’s the problem, however. Sometimes we tend to think that since God is a God of relationship and love and forgiveness we can design our own path – within God’s loving character anything works. That’s not true – as we look at Jesus’ teaching we see that there are two gates, two ways, two destinations, two kinds of trees, two groups at the judgment, two kinds of builders, two different foundations. Jesus is the way and the focus of God’s plan.

John 3:36 (NIV)

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

John 10:9 (NIV)

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture.”

John 14:6 (NIV)

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Acts 4:12 (NIV)

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

1 Timothy 2:5 (NIV)

For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

The Jesus gate is small – you do not go through this gate with anyone else – perhaps now is the time for you to finally go through this small gate and onto the narrow road.

To those of you who have friends, siblings, or maybe a spouse who isn’t trusting Jesus; I would encourage you to pray fervently for them and dedicate yourself to Jesus and their welfare. This is our mission – God is faithful to his purposes.

Luke 13:23-27 (NIV)

Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you (relationship) or where you come from.’ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you (relationship) or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’

As I study Matthew 5-7 I am increasingly faced with a defining reality; living for Jesus will not be easy. The culture we live in says, “Live for self-exalting pleasure! You only go around once.” If I follow Jesus I will be moving against the culture and the norms of this world.

Matthew 10:37-39 (NIV)

“Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Acts 14:22 (NIV)

…strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,”…

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

In case this sounds too burdensome, let me say this. While Jesus’ call to you to follow him goes against the loyalties of this world, he says his yoke is easy and his burden is light (Matt 11:30). John says that God’s commands are not burdensome (1 John 5:3). This is because the call of Jesus on your life is through understanding of the truth, and the truth sets you free – it does not enslave you.

John 8:36 (NIV)

…if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Galatians 5:1 (NIV)

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Do you need to be set free from slavery? Repent of your sin and trust in Jesus alone as your only hope.

Life is very, very short and it’s full of choices. To waste it serving self is a choice that leads to death – it’s idolitry.

Some of you here desire to follow Jesus completely – that’s good. Some of you here, hopefully many, are struggling right now with critical choices that may turn the rest of your life. Maybe it’s who to date/marry, occupation, your vision for retirement, how to retire, how to live, etc. Life for one who wants to follow hard after Christ is a life of continual submission – “All for Jesus!”

Let me leave you with two amazing passages – one from the front of the Bible and one from the end.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV) – Moses

This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. 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. For the LORD is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Revelation 7:9-10 (NIV)

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”