The Broad Rewards Of The Narrow Road

THE BROAD REWARDS OF THE NARROW ROAD

TEXT: Matthew 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13-14 KJV 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: [14] Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matthew 7:13-14 Moffatt NT Enter by the narrow gate: for [the gate] is broad and the road is wide that leads to destruction, and many enter that way. [14] But the road that leads to life is both narrow and close, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:13-14 Murdock Enter ye in by the strait gate; for wide is the gate and broad the way which leadeth to destruction; and many are they that walk in it. [14] How small the gate and straitened the way that leadeth to life, and few they who find it!

Matthew 7:13-14 Weymouth "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad the road which leads to ruin, and many there are who enter by it; [14] because narrow is the gate and contracted the road which leads to Life, and few are those who find it.

I. INTRODUCTION—THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT

-There has never been a sermon preached like this one that is called the Sermon on the Mount, nor do I expect that there will ever be one to rival it ever again. It was the inaugural sermon of the Lord, after that one in His hometown where He read from Isaiah, that opened up the eyes of men to having some insight into the form and the way the Kingdom of God would operate.

-This sermon is filled with metaphors about the Christian life and the characters who populate its Kingdom.

-Here are some of the characters:

• The Poor

• The Mourners

• The Meek

• The Hungry and Thirsty

• The Merciful

• The Pure in Heart

• The Peacemakers

• The Persecuted

• The Gift-givers

• The Forgivers

• Those who give alms

• Those who pray

• Those who fast

• True and false prophets

• Sheep and wolves

• Builders on the rock

• Builders on the sand

-Here are some of the metaphors:

• Salt

• Light

• A City

• Candles

• Candlesticks

• Amputation

• Prayer closets

• Treasures that pass with time

• Treasures that never pass with eternity

• Strait gates

• Wide gates

• Broad ways

• Narrow ways

• Grapes of thorns

• Figs of thistles

• Good trees and good fruit

• Corrupt trees and evil fruit

-Matthew concludes with sermon with an observation:

Matthew 7:28-29 KJV And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: [29] For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

-It needs to be established from the outset that this message that was given by the Lord dealt first and foremost with spiritual matters. He was having reference to the entrance into Heaven and how that there is a very narrow and specific way that men and women are to be saved.

-We adhere to the concept of the New Birth. . . being born again of water and Spirit. . . John 3:3-5 and Acts 2:38. . . That way seems so exclusive and narrow to many who profess themselves to be Christians but have never really entered into the way of true salvation. We have to be born again! No exceptions!

-On the other hand, we are men and women who live in a world that is just as much physical as it is spiritual and there are principles and parameters that fit in both of them. The Lord was clearly informing us that we could be successful in our spiritual walk if we were willing to embrace these spiritual principles.

-But what about engaging these principles in our everyday and very much daily lives of where we live, work, go to school, play, and fulfill responsibilities that we are required to do. If the world ever needed people to live their lives in an upright and godly fashion it is in 2014. At the same time, I believe that these principles of the Lord can bring tremendous success to us in our work, our school, our families, and our church if we are willing to really grasp the fact that the narrow way is the best way.

II. THE BROAD REWARDS OF THE NARROW ROAD

A. Discipline

-If there is one word that could sum up what Jesus was saying when He mentioned strait gates and narrow ways it would have to be the word discipline. That is such an outdated concept in our times that really has no concept of what it means to delay gratification.