Opening illustration: Roads. They’re everywhere. Criss-crossing the landscape, taking us wherever we want to go … freeways … avenues … toll roads … boulevards.
And now there’s yet another type of thoroughfare that’s taking us to never-before traveled areas. It’s called the “information superhighway,” and it promises to be an avenue to discovery and knowledge. Via computer hookups, we can access vast libraries of new information.
Asphalt and concrete roads lead us to physical destinations. Computer highways take us to places of the mind - information destinations that can enlighten, educate, and entertain us. All those roads … all those decisions … all those possibilities. Yet no road, no highway, no computer network can compare with the only true superhighway - the narrow way. Are you on that highway? We have so many paths to take in life, but God’s way is the only one that leads to eternal life.
There were times when we didn’t have digital navigation systems and if we ever missed an exit, it was not easy to get back on our designated route. Sometimes you desire to go to a particular destination but because we fed in the wrong information, we land up in a place not intended. You may have the right equipment, but use it incorrectly. Having the right equipment doesn’t guarantee the right destination. You may have God’s Word, the right people and church around you or even a saved family but that is not going to give you eternity with Christ. It happens only when you decide to make the right choice to follow Christ on the narrow path.
In Matthew 7, Jesus told us about that way. It is entered through a narrow gate, its course is difficult, and it is not as crowded as the broad way that leads to destruction. Jesus was talking about the path that we take when we put our faith in Him. He was talking about the road to heaven.
Introduction: Christ here compares the way to life to an entrance through a gate. The words straight, and strait, have very different meanings. The former means not crooked; the latter pent up, narrow, difficult to be entered. This is the word used here, and it means that the way to heaven is pent up, narrow, close, and not obviously entered. The way to death is open, broad, and thronged. The Savior here referred probably to ancient cities. They were surrounded with walls, and entered through gates. Some of those, connected with the great avenues to the city, were broad, and admitted a throng. Others, for more private purposes, were narrow, and few would be seen entering them. So says Christ, is the path to heaven. It is narrow. It is not the great highway that men tread. Few go there. Here and there one may be seen - traveling in solitude and singularity. The way to death, on the other hand, is broad. Multitudes are in it. It is the great highway in which men go. They fall into it easily, and without effort, and go without thought. If they wish to leave that, and go by a narrow gate to the city, it would require effort and thought. (Ed: And likely would incite considerable persecution from the fellow wayfarers on the broad way to hell!) So, says Christ, diligence is needed to enter into life. None go of course. All must strive to obtain it; and so narrow, unfrequented, and solitary is it, that very few find it.
How to navigate the narrow road?
1. Bearing and Producing Good FRUIT (vs. 13-20)
Starting with vv. 13-27 there is a series of contrasts related here.
• the two ways of performing religious duties (vv. 13-14)
• the two types of religious leaders (vv. 15-23)
• the two foundations of a religious life (vv. 24-27)
The question is not to which group of religious people Jesus referred, but to how religious people respond to their understanding of God’s will. Some use religion as a guise to gain immediate praise and rewards from men. It is a “me” and “now” focused lifestyle (cf. Isa. 29:13; Col. 2:16-23). True disciples order their lives in light of Jesus’ words about the present and coming Kingdom of God.
“for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction” “Way” can be (1) a metaphor for lifestyle and (2) the earliest title of the church (cf. Acts 9: 2; 19: 9,23; 22: 4; 24: 14,22; 18: 25-26). This verse implies that salvation is not an easy decision which fits in with the mainstream of culture, but a decisive change of life which issues in obedience to the principles of God. The fact that one way leads to destruction shows the ultimate outcome of those who live lives independent of God. Often they seem very religious.
In a day of “easy-believeism” this is a needed balance! This is not saying that Christianity is dependent on human effort, but rather that the life of faith will be filled with persecution. “Narrow” in this verse shares the same root word as “tribulation” or “persecution” in other NT passages. This emphasis is the exact opposite of Matthew 11: 29-30. These two verses could be characterized as the “gate” and the “way.” We come to God through Jesus as a free gift of God (cf. Rom. 3: 24; 5: 15-17; 6: 23; Eph. 2: 8-9), but once we know Him, it is the pearl of great price for which we sell all that we have to follow Him. Salvation is absolutely free, but it costs everything that we are and have.
This parable is unique to Matthew. This is a future indicative used as a present imperative (see also v. 20). The question expected a “no” answer (like v. 10). “Know” is emphatic, implying that believers can and must recognize false proclaimers. We can know them by their lifestyle priorities and their doctrinal teachings. It has often been questioned as to which of these make up one’s fruit, when actually, both do. Every tree that does not bring forth good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. How dreadful then is the condition of that teacher who hath brought no sinners to God! It is difficult to hold together the twin truths of an absolutely free invitation to a free salvation, with the demand of Christlikeness. Yet both are true!
2. Pursuing and Doing the WILL of GOD (vs. 21-23)
This is a haunting passage. It seems to fly in the face of salvation by grace as a kind of works salvation. I didn’t want to do it but I had to take that seriously when I was studying for this sermon. I noted that Jesus never says faith in this section. Only once does his use the word faith in the Sermon on the Mount, in Chapter 6, but it does not have to do with eternal salvation as these eschatological warnings do. After careful consideration, I concluded that this passage does not stand against salvation by grace. It stands against empty confessions and empty works. It stands against any salvation that is devoid of discipleship. Lordship is the Issue. He must be our Lord and we Must, Must, Must be his disciples. Let’s examine.
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Simply saying Lord, calling Jesus Lord is not enough. The Pauline confessional formula in Romans 10: 9 “if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Might be challenged if confession only means rehearsing the words with the mouth. Jesus requires that God’s will be done! Jesus requires discipleship. It is not enough to simply declare yourself a Christian. According to Matthew’s Jesus,
The only people who enter the Kingdom of Heaven, do more than SAY Jesus is Lord, the follow him. They live their lives after him; they do the will of God.
This, as it may regard private Christians, intends not merely outward obedience to the will of God, declared in his law, nor barely subjection to the ordinances of the Gospel; but more especially faith in Christ for life and salvation; which is the source of all true obedience, and without which nothing is acceptable to God. He that sees the Son, looks unto him, ventures on him, commits himself to him, trusts in him, relies on him, and believes on him for righteousness, salvation, and eternal life, he it is that does the will of the Father, and he only; and such an one, as he is desirous of doing the will of God in all acts of cheerful obedience to it, without dependence thereon; so he shall certainly enter the kingdom of heaven, and have everlasting life; but as these words chiefly respect preachers, the sense of them is this, that only such who are faithful dispensers of the word shall enter into the joy of their Lord. Such do the will of Christ’s Father, and so his own, which are the same, who fully and faithfully preach the Gospel of the grace of God; who declare the whole counsel of God, and keep back nothing that is profitable to the souls of men; who are neither ashamed of the testimony of Christ, nor afraid of the faces of men; but as they are put in trust with the Gospel, so they speak it boldly, with all sincerity, not as pleasing men, but God, and commend themselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God: such as these shall have an abundant entrance into the kingdom and glory of God.
Note: A student learns from a teacher in a classroom environment. In each of these cases, it is essential to not just hear the truth but to listen to the truth. Anyone who is married knows that there is a difference. Anyone who has a teenager knows that there is a difference between hearing and listening. The key to listening is to interact with the one doing the speaking. The best listeners I know are people who ask lots of clarifying questions such as: “What do you mean?” “Are you saying...?” “Can you explain that further?” These questions show that a person is listening. We should ask clarifying questions when interacting with Christ’s words. Is God warning me of something? Do I need to repent? Is this a promise that I can claim or a command I need to obey?
3. Building firmly on Strong FOUNDATION (vs. 24-29)
This is the same thing as doing the will of Jesus’ father. Any faith that claims to Be Christian, but does to practice the things Jesus teaches, builds on another foundation. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. Both houses stand, today. The houses of the Many and the Houses of the few. The houses of those who act under the Lordship of Jesus, and the houses of those who only confess that He is Lord. There now stand the houses of those who work righteousness, and the houses of those who work miracles. All appears to be well today. But at the Judgment those houses that are built on any other foundation than the teachings of Jesus, will fall. And great will be the crashing.
When personal storms come many lives will be destroyed and left in shambles. Most people don’t find the narrow gate (7: 13–14). Most people don’t build on the foundation of Christ’s words. But if you construct your life according to Christ’s building codes you will not be disappointed. While obedience to Jesus’ words is not a protection from the troubles; it is a protection in the troubles. Yes, you may lose some widows and the house of your life may be shaken but it will not collapse and be swept away. I want to encourage you: All the time that you have invested in laying your biblical foundation will pay off. If you haven’t already seen the results and benefits, I can assure you that one day you will. Building on the rock is the best flood insurance you can invest in. Storms will come and go. You are either in a trial, coming out of a trial, or entering into a trial. Nevertheless, if you’ve built your life on the foundation of Christ, you have nothing to fear. A good storm will demonstrate the stability of your foundation.
Do you know what many Christians do when it starts raining? They try to change foundations. When the sky gets dark, the winds pick up, and the rain begins to pour they pick up the telephone, call the most spiritual people they know, and say, “Help me build a new foundation under my house. It’s falling apart.” But you can’t change foundations when you’re in the midst of a storm. You have to lay your foundation before the storm comes, so that when the rain, the floods, and the winds come, your house is secure. This is also true in the natural realm. It is hard to lay a foundation when it’s raining. Workers have to stop pouring concrete when it begins to rain. The foundation has to be poured on sunny days.
Application: Does the house of your life have a rock? Have you built your life on a strong foundation? We all need the rock. Without the rock, we would all just roll away. Place your faith in Jesus Christ today. If you’ve already placed your faith in Him continue to grow in Him. How is your foundation? Is it built upon the rock or is it built upon sand? If it’s built upon the rock, keep on. Continue doing what you’re doing. Seek to stretch yourself further in God’s Word. Pray that He gives you an even greater hunger and thirst for His Word. If your foundation is built upon sand and you know you’re sinking down, build your foundation on the rock of God’s Word. Today, I invite you to do a building inspection of your life. If you want a stable life - one that doesn’t cave in when the rain comes - build it on the rock TODAY.
The path that fools have trod is a well-beaten one.
