Matthew 7:13-14 Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction… We wish not to discourage, but awaken Christians from their languor. 1. The figures Christ has employed set forth the difficulty of salvation. A warfare in which we must engage; a building we must erect. 2. Perhaps the places where Christ speaks without figures will be less severe. "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence." "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven." 3. The exalted perfection of the law of Jesus Christ joined to the extreme weakness of man in the state of corrupt nature. 4. What shall I say of outward obstacles? 5. Those who have been influenced by sincere desire to work out their salvation have perfectly understood its difficulty. 6. Wily has God made the way to heaven so difficult? (1) It does not belong to us to cult God to account. (2) The difficulty comes from man, to whom God has given all necessary strength to do well. (3) All good men have had other sentiments on this alleged difficulty, wonder that God for so few things should save His people. (4) When a thing is not absolutely necessary difficulty may dishearten; but when of indispensable necessity, there is nothing that we ought not to surmount. (5) Above all, we must have recourse to God with this prayer, "Lord, save us, or we perish." (Cheminais.) Parallel Verses KJV: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: |
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