Matthew 7:13-28 The Broad And Narrow Way

Matthew 7:13-28 THE BROAD AND NARROW WAY 3-29-08

Today we’re going to talk for a little while on fruit bearing, all of us know that an apple tree bears apples, it is impossible for it to bear any other kind of fruit, therefore we can tell a tree by the fruit it bears. The same is true with Christians, as Christians we desire to produce the fruit that we read about in Gal.5: 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, [patient]gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness,[ gentleness, humility] temperance: [self-control] I wish I could say that since we’ve been saved that we can do no wrong, but we all know that’s not the case.

Listen as I read today’s text found in Matthew 7:13-28 JESUS SAID:

13Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

15Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. 19Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 20Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

28And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

We find in these verses the description of two ways, two types of people, two destinations, two gates, two kinds of trees, two kinds of fruit, two foundations with two kinds of builders. When it comes to making a choice as to where you will be for all eternity, there are only two options. It is heaven, or it is hell. A third option is not found in these verses.

When we think on how is the best way to get to heaven, there are only two options. There is the right way, and then there is the wrong way.

Frank Sinatra sang a song called, “ I did it my way”

The people building the tower to heaven back in Genesis 11:4 were going their way, or so they thought.

Genesis 11: 4And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; Gods way and man way are never the same. It’s best for man to trust Gods ways than mans every time.

We read the middle verse of the Bible which says Psalm 118:8 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man.

Jesus says in verse 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

1) There are two roads people are traveling, yet thinking their going to go to heaven: the BROAD way, and the NARROW way.

No one purposely gets on the road that leads Hell. Everyone thinks they are on the right road. If they really believed that they’re on the wrong road, they would do something about it.

Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.