Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Two Choices

In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus presents us with two choices:  “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.  How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.”

So the choices are a narrow gate and a wide gate.  Like the different doors on “Let’s make a deal”, one door, one choice is much, much better than the other.

I find the hard part of this teaching is that while Jesus says that we need to enter through the narrow gate He also says that there will be few that find it or choose it.  We all have many family, many friends, many neighbors and to think that many will choose the path that leads to destruction while only few will find true life is very sobering.  Nevertheless, it is a choice that is freely made. 

Note also the choice of the narrow gate.  Jesus  refers to Himself as the gate in the story of the Good Shepherd in the gospel of John.  Note that while Jesus says that this choice, this door or gate is narrow, the choice itself is not difficult. 

It is the road that then follows that is difficult, not the choice.  Jesus told us, "In the world you will have trouble.” Then Jesus added, "But take heart! I have overcome the world" (John 16:33)

The road can be difficult because of persecution. This is all too frequent today in places like Egypt, Nepal and Iran and Jesus warned of that as well (Matthew 5:11-12).  Jesus also said that us that the world would hate us (John 15:18-19).

The Greek word that is translated for the word strive when Luke refers to this teaching and Jesus says, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow gate” is agonizomai.   You don’t need to know Greek to see the similarity with our word, “agonize”.   

We choose the narrow gate, the right path and then we struggle and strain.  Along with the trouble and the persecution we are often like a athlete straining towards to end-zone, an Olympian putting all of their effort behind their opportunity to gain the gold.    

I’ve referenced other great scholars commenting on this teaching and they are all clear:  Our striving and our effort, no matter how great will not save us.  The Bible is very clear that salvation is by the grace of God through of faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). 

We don’t earn heaven by striving for it.  This narrow gate is Jesus Himself and the door is open to us; to those few who make the choice.




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