THE KINGDOM AND JESUS' ILLUSTRATIONS - THE TWO GATES

Text: Matthew 7:13-14 (CSB) – “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. ¹⁴ How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.”

We are continuing our study of the Sermon on the Mount in the Book of Matthew. We are drawing this study to a close over the next few days. I pray that it has been encouraging and challenging.  We last looked at the Exhortations of Jesus. He challenged us about our responsibility to the Saved, Ourselves, the Ungodly, the Lord, and the World.

Now we are looking at the topic of the Kingdom and Jesus’ Illustrations. An illustration is something that serves to illustrate such as

·      A picture or diagram that helps make something clear or attractive

·      An example or instance that helps make something clear

·      Something that illustrates, like a picture in a book or magazine.

·      A comparison or an example intended for explanation or corroboration.

·      The act of clarifying or explaining; 

Jesus is in this passage giving us 5 illustrations for what we need, how to treat others, and how to live as a true child of God. Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount continually keeps bringing us back to our motives over our actions. Remember that God looks at the heart, not the outward designs. Being the Master Teacher of all times – He has given us what He wants us to learn. And, to close this lesson He is using some illustrations to cement the concepts into our minds – and lives.

We will start with the first illustration He uses, calling it “The Concept of Two Roads.” These are given in the passage above. He begins with the Broad Highway to Hell (see verse 13). The Gate is wide and many choose this way to their own destruction. It is a smooth downward path. It is easy to not go against the flow. Basically, it is “Man seeking God.” Man’s idea and plan of Salvation – WORKS. “If I just do the right things.” “God would not send anyone to Hell.” “All I have to do is have more good works than bad ones.” “All roads lead to Heaven.” Fundamentally, this is the way of the world.

However, Jesus and the Bible teach about the Narrow Road to Heaven (see verse 14). He warns us that the gate is narrow and very few find it. Often hard, often painful, often against our friends, often uphill, it is God’s concept of Salvation – GRACE.

The entire Bible makes it clear that Jesus is The Way. Only those who choose this gate will find the path. The difference between the broad gate and the narrow gate is the fact that this way is “God seeking Man.” Christianity is not a religion of DOING, it is a relationship based upon DONE. It is not my works, it is the finished work of Christ upon the cruel Cross of Calvary.

I can be a part of the Kingdom of Heaven – not by what I do – but by what He has done. Not my works, but as the Bible teaches – “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 CSB).

So, where does work come in? We do these good works as Paul went on to say in Ephesians 2:10 (CSB) – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do.” We work – not to get salvation, but because we have salvation. They show the world what God has done!

So, today, make sure you have gone through the right gate – and then show it off to the worlds around you.