Bible League: Living His Word "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few."In our verse for today, Jesus uses the word "gate" as a metaphor for the entrance into a complete way of life and "way" as short for the complete way of life itself. There are only two gates leading to two ways and everyone must pass through one or the other. It's just a question of which one. The first gate that Jesus mentions is wide. This refers to the fact that one can enter it in many different ways. The entrance is wide because the terms of entrance have been determined by human beings, rather than by God. Any religious position, other than the Christian religious position, will do. The first gate leads to the first way and Jesus says that this way is easy. This refers to the fact that it does not require submission to God's specific requirements for life. It is not hard, because it encompasses such a broad spectrum of possibilities. Any of its multiple ways of life will do. Many people find this first gate and way for the very reason that the gate is wide and the way is easy. The trouble is – it leads to destruction. The second gate that Jesus mentions is narrow. This refers to the fact that there is only one way to enter it. The entrance is narrow because the terms of entrance have been specifically determined by God, rather than by human beings. One must accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in order to go through it. Indeed, Jesus Christ is himself the gate or door (John 10:7). The second gate leads to the second way and Jesus says that this way is hard. This refers to the fact that it requires submission to God's specific requirements for life. It is hard, because there is only one specific way – the way of denial to self and submission to God (Matthew 16:24). Relative to the first gate, few find the second gate and way for the very reason that the gate is narrow and the way is hard. The good thing is – it leads to life. If you follow the crowd, then, it will end in destruction. If you follow the few, on the other hand, it will end in eternal life. Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingJob 38, 39 Job 38 -- God, Speaks, Convinces Job of Ignorance NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Job 39 -- God Speaks of His Creation NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Acts 15:1-21 Acts 15 -- The Council at Jerusalem; James' Support; Barnabas and Paul Part Ways; Second Missionary Journey begins NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion “I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”Insight Overflowing love is the natural response to forgiveness and the appropriate consequence of faith. But only those who realize the depth of their sin can appreciate the complete forgiveness God offers them. Jesus has rescued all of his followers, whether they were once extremely wicked or conventionally good, from eternal death. Challenge Do you appreciate the wideness of God's mercy? Are you grateful for his forgiveness? Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Judges 16:6 Tell me I pray thee wherein thy great strength lieth.Where lies the secret strength of faith? It lies in the food it feeds on; for faith studies what the promise is--an emanation of divine grace, an overflowing of the great heart of God; and faith says, "My God could not have given this promise, except from love and grace; therefore it is quite certain his Word will be fulfilled." Then faith thinketh, "Who gave this promise?" It considereth not so much its greatness, as, "Who is the author of it?" She remembers that it is God who cannot lie--God omnipotent, God immutable; and therefore concludeth that the promise must be fulfilled; and forward she advances in this firm conviction. She remembereth,why the promise was given,--namely, for God's glory, and she feels perfectly sure that God's glory is safe, that he will never stain his own escutcheon, nor mar the lustre of his own crown; and therefore the promise must and will stand. Then faith also considereth the amazing work of Christ as being a clear proof of the Father's intention to fulfil his word. "He that spared not his own Son, but freely delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Moreover faith looks back upon the past, for her battles have strengthened her, and her victories have given her courage. She remembers that God never has failed her; nay, that he never did once fail any of his children. She recollecteth times of great peril, when deliverance came; hours of awful need, when as her day her strength was found, and she cries, "No, I never will be led to think that he can change and leave his servant now. Hitherto the Lord hath helped me, and he will help me still." Thus faith views each promise in its connection with the promise-giver, and, because she does so, can with assurance say, "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life!" Daily Light on the Daily Path 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.Psalm 51:3,4 For I know my transgressions, And my sin is ever before me. • Against You, You only, I have sinned And done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak And blameless when You judge. Luke 15:20 "So he got up and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion for him, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. Isaiah 44:22 "I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud And your sins like a heavy mist. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you." 1 John 2:12 I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name's sake. Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. Romans 3:26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Ezekiel 36:25 "Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Revelation 3:4 'But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. 1 John 5:6 This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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