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Matthew 7:13, 14 - The Narrow or Wide Way.

Matthew 7:13, 14 (NIRV) Enter God's 
kingdom through the narrow gate. The gate is large 
and the road is wide that lead to death and 
hell. Many people go that way. But the gate is 
small and the road is narrow that lead to life. 
Only a few people find it.  

Matthew 7:13, 14 (NLT) You can enter 
Gods Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The 
highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for 
the many who choose that way. But the gateway to 
life is very narrow and the road is difficult, 
and only a few ever find it.  

INTRODUCTION

   In the closing section of the Sermon on 
the Mount (Matt. 7:13-29), Jesus gave a clear 
gospel application. Here are two gates, two ways, 
two destinations, and two groups of people (vv. 
13, 14); two kinds of trees and two kinds of 
fruit (vv. 17-20); two groups at the judgment (vv. 
21-23); and two kinds of builders, building on two 
kinds of foundations (vv. 24-28). 
   Christ is drawing the line as clearly as 
possible between the way that leads to destruction 
and the way which leads to life. 
   Both the narrow gate and the wide gate 
(vv. 13, 14) are assumed to provide the entrance 
to God's kingdom. Two ways are offered to 
people. The narrow gate is by faith, only through 
Christ, constricted and precise. It represents true 
salvation in God's way that leads to life eternal. The 
wide gate includes all religions of works and 
self-righteousness, with no single way (see Acts 4:12), but 
leads to hell, not heaven. 
   Christ continually emphasized the 
difficulty of following Him (10:38; 16:24, 25; John 
15:18, 19; 16:1-3; see Acts 14.22). Salvation is by 
grace alone, but is not easy. It calls for 
knowledge of the truth, repentance, submission to 
Christ as Lord, and a willingness to obey His will 
and Word. [MacArthur Daily Bible 2003] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   Like ports worldwide, Tampa Bay has a 
carefully charted narrow shipping channel - the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) 
chartbook leaves no guesswork for a boater, whether a 
day sailor or a freighter captain.  
   My husband once went sailing on the 
Chesapeake Bay with a friend, running aground in 
shallows, only to be towed off the sandbar hours later 
by the coast guard.  
   In 1980, a ship drifted off course in a 
blinding storm and plowed into the Tampa Bays 
Sunshine Skyway Bridge; thirty-five people died. 
Drifting is dangerous. Sometimes fatal. The perils 
are detailed and documented. Go outside the 
lines and you may get stuck on a sandbar, or 
worse.  
   Even as a Christian, I admit Ive 
caught myself drifting outside Christs channel, 
sometimes even openly defying Gods chartbook, the 
Bible. Ive run aground, harmed another, or been 
damaged as a result. Now I can see how I ignored 
Jesuss gentle nudge or other early warnings that 
wouldve averted trouble. When going my own way 
became too painful, Jesus was there waiting to 
welcome me back, His grace gently steering me to 
safe waters and healing me from harm. Jesuss 
ways, like the shipping channel, guide me to my 
destination in the best way possible.  
   When we drift, Jesus lovingly welcomes us 
back. by Isabella Yosuico  
   Faith Step: Are you drifting spiritually? 
Ask Jesus to steer your ship back on track. 
[Mornings With Jesus 2020 Devotional by Guideposts and 
Zondervan] 

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE

Matthew 7:13, 14 - The Narrow or Wide Gate 
and Path. 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2019/20190807-1410.html 

YOUR COMMENTS

If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or 
testimony on this passage of Scripture, either 
personal or otherwise, I would be interested in 
hearing from you.  Thanks in advance and let's keep 
uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred 
Gibbs  

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

Most Important Decision in Life: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 

A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo 

Seeking God Made Real: 
http://vimeo.com/31489782 

Prayer Made Real: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE 

Importance of Choice: 
http://creationhealth.com/CREATION-Health/Choice [click on video]  

Medical Seminar on Healthful Living by David 
DeRose, MD, MPH: 
https://www.smartlifestyletv.com/lifestart 

LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES 

Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: 
http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ 

Amazing Facts Bible Studies: 
http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx  

Hope Awakens Bible Study Guides: 
https://www.hopeawakens.study/lesson-header;id=2 

Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: 
http://www.bibleresearch.info/ 

LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS

Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of 
Adventist World Radio (currently live): 
https://bible.awr.org/the-warning/ 

Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: 
https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens 

The Last Day of Prophecy by Pastor Doug 
Batchelor: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmGvdtMCf1aJTiC59-lPtuUMEq_uEn0BK 

Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: 
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657