Two Gates, One Way Series

Dr. Bradford Reaves

CrossWay Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD

www.mycrossway.org

We come now to what I consider to be the conclusion of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, beginning in verse 13 to verse 27. Here, Jesus will sum up his sermon by poignantly and clearly stating that the way to heaven is not easy, nor based on self-righteousness. His conclusion has four points to it, and we will cover 1 each week.

The first part of Jesus’ conclusion has to do with the road or gate that leads to heaven (vv. 13-14). The second are the dangers along that path and how to recognize false teachers (vv. 15-19). The third deals with the rejection of the hypocritical and counterfeit believers (vv. 21-23). Finally, Jesus concludes with the necessity of believers to build their lives on the rock of God’s Word (vv. 24-27).

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few. (Matthew 7:13–14)

Philosopher Peter Kreeft says, "If all roads lead to the same place, it makes no ultimate difference which road we take.” Looking at the passage I just read, it is quite obvious that that is not what Jesus is teaching. In fact, I hope in some way you are finding Jesus’ words frightening and alarming as he brings about the climax of his sermon. Because that’s exactly what he wants to do - wake you up and shutter.

Jesus is clear throughout his ministry that there is only one way to heaven - faith in him.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (1 Timothy 2:5)

In fact, this entire passage we are studying this morning is setting us up to read the most shocking words found in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:21: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven.” In many ways, that is contrary to what we are sometimes taught. What Jesus is saying in this morning’s passage is that a decision has to be made between two gates, two paths, two crowds, and two destinations. There is no middle road; there is no alternate path. He is crystal clear - you chose the gate you want to enter and the path you want to go, but only the narrow and narrow paths will take you to where you are heading. The other leads to destruction.

Now, we constantly make decisions in our lives. Just this year, Andrea and I had to make some very important decisions. After someone ran into our car, we had to decide what kind of car we were going to buy. We needed to decide where we were going to send Noah to school. We needed to decide where we were going on vacation. We needed to decide if we were eating Mexican or Italian. Every day we make decisions and have to find the best solution.

Sometimes we make a bad choice. The line in the grocery store we chose was slow. The chicken wasn’t as good as the steak. The response to my boss was wrong. The words I said to my spouse was in poor taste. I should’ve taken the other job. I should not have had that drink or taken those drugs. But there is no greater choice we make in life than if we will put our faith in God or the world. The narrow gate or the wide gate. This is nothing new that Jesus is saying because God makes it very clear in Deuteronomy and Joshua that the choice is ours.

“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. 16 If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I command you today, by loving the Lord your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. 17 But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, 18 I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. (Deuteronomy 30:15–18)