2 GATES, 2 WAYS

Matthew 7:13-14

• Matthew 7:13-14 – Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide & the way is broad that leads to DESTRUCTION, & there are many who enter through it. 14 For the gate is small & the way is narrow that leads to LIFE, & there are few who find it. NASU

• Matthew 7:13-14 – Enter by the narrow [strait] gate; for wide is the gate & broad is the way that leads to DESTRUCTION, & there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate & difficult is the way which leads to LIFE, & there are few who find it. NKJV

• No sneaking into the kingdom (Luke 14:28)

• No “tag along” disciples (Luke 9:57-62)

• Conversion & commitment required (Exo 23:2; 1 Kgs 18:22; Luke 13:23-24)

Narrow Gate

Difficult Way

Narrow & Difficult

• We live in an appealing world (1 John 2:9-11).

• We are part of a minority group.

• We are God’s “peculiar people” (1 Pet 2:9).

• We pay a heavy toll: family (Matt 10:34-39), religious practice (2 Cor 6:14-17), in personal sacrifice (Col 3:5-10; Rom 6:6; Matt 16:24), in relationships (Matt 5:11; 2 Tim 3:12).

Narrow & Difficult

• The gate never widens!

• 1 Timothy 1:18-19 - This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, 19 keeping faith & a good conscience, which some have rejected & suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.

Narrow & Difficult

• The gate never widens!

• 1 Timothy 6:12 - Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, & you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Narrow & Difficult

• The gate never widens!

• 2 Timothy 4:7-8 - I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; & not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Life

Matt 25:26bTitus 1:2; 3:7