ENTER INTO LIFE
MATTHEW 7:13-14
“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.”
Introduction:
This is the conclusion of the Lord’s Sermon on the Mount. The Lord admonished man to seek the Lord for salvation and of regulating his conduct.
Our Lord declares “that the way pointed out by him is indeed one hard to find and follow, and that there is great danger of being deceived by false guides, and of self-deception; yet he does not present these facts as an excuse for shrinking back, nor even say that in spite of these things we must make the effort, but urges the very difficulties as a reason for going forward.” —John A. Broadus.
I. AT THE STRAIT GATE
A. The way is narrow:
1. Your righteousness MUST EXCEED the righteousness of the Pharisees in order to enter the narrow gate, Matthew 5:20, “For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
2. You must be CONVERTED in order to enter in at the Strait Gate, Matthew 18:3 “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
3. The RICH man finds it ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE to ENTER at the Strait Gate, Matthew 19:23, “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a RICH man shall HARDLY [with difficulty] ENTER into the kingdom of heaven.”
a. The ENTRY is NOT stressed, but rather the CHOICE, Matthew 19:16, “And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
b. One chooses BETWEEN the WORLD and LIFE eternal, Matthew 19:21-22, “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.”
c. You CAN’T choose both, Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
B. The way is DIFFICULT TO FIND.
1. There are FEW who find the way to heaven, Romans 9:27, 29, “Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: 29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.”
2. FEWER yet who ABIDE any time in it, Matthew 13:22, “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.”
3. FEWER STILL who WALK in it, Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
4. And FEWEST OF ALL who PERSEVERE unto the end, Acts 14:22, “Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”
5. NOTHING renders this way EITHER NARROW or DIFFICULT to any person, BUT SIN, Romans 6:10-11, “For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
II. IF YOU ENTER AT THE WIDE GATE
This sentiment has been beautifully versified by Watts:—-
“Broad is the road that leads to death,
And thousands walk together there;
But wisdom shows a narrower path,
With here and there a traveller.”
A. STRIVE to enter at the Strait Gate, Luke 13:24, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.”
B. There is the BROAD WAY that leads to DESTRUCTION, Genesis 6:5, 12, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 12 And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth.”
1. The way that SEEMS RIGHT, Proverbs 16:25, “There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”
2. The END RESULT of that way is DEATH, 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 9 Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;”
C. MANY GO IN at the BROAD gate, Isaiah 5:14, “Therefore hell hath enlarged herself, and opened her mouth without measure: and their glory, and their multitude, and their pomp, and he that rejoiceth, shall descend into it.”
CONCLUSION
The Lord concluded with the difficulty in finding the Strait Gate. He did not say it was impossible, but he did say that few there be that find it. Our sin is what keeps us from the narrow way to life.