Question:
Go through the narrow gate what does it mean ? Mathew 7:13 +14?
an-noy
2008-06-21 08:23:25 UTC
I have been taught you just have to accept Jesus as your saviour & you will be saved. Some have told me God will save the good.
If this is correct why does Mathew 7 say narrow is the gate to life & few find it ?
How do you find the right gate ?
Fourteen answers:
BC
2008-06-21 13:21:11 UTC
Your question seems to be the wrong way around -- shouldn't you be asking, how can people say just accept Jesus when the Bible says no one is saved until they endure till the end (Matthew 10:22 & 24:13)? Which is the foundation of truth, what people say or what God's Word says?



Let's look at an example of how narrow the gate can be.



In John 6, Jesus had a very large following -- in the thousands. And then he revealed something to them that was difficult for them to understand. The result? "From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more" (John 6:66).



Jesus also warned his disciples, "In the world you will have tribulation" (John 16:33).



When Persecution came upon the Church in the early centuries, some gave up their beliefs rather than suffer. But Jesus' example was to endure suffering right to the end of our physical lives. Hold on to our faith in God no matter what.



So, basically Jesus was saying there are two broad paths in life: follow the crowd, or follow Christ. The majority of the world is following the path of least resistance -- the easy and "safe" path -- but it is the one that leads to destruction. The popular and worldly philosophy is "Go with the crowd," "When in Rome, do as the Romans do."



But God says, "You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice" (Exodus 23:2).



Human nature wants to feel safe, behind walls, even if those walls are of lots of people -- we feel comfortable with others sharing our actions and beliefs. But God's people are to trust in God, in his strength and love.



The world, even the vast majority of those who CALL themselves "Christian," are leading lives trusting to crowds that do not know where they are going. And when "the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch" (Matthew 15:14).



God will save his people -- those who keep his commandments and keep the faith of Jesus Christ

"Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12).

.
Gregory
2008-06-21 08:30:41 UTC
Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.



This is the way to Salvation.



Jesus is the Strait gate

Mat 7:13 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:

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.



The greek word for strait is sten-os which means narrow.



These verses say it all.

Wide is the way and broad our the gate that leads to destruction. Narrow is the way to Salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ and few are they that find it.
HealedEagle
2008-06-21 08:27:47 UTC
Sin and rebellion against God is the wide gate that leads to distruction that many find. The narrow gate is the one where you accept Jesus as Saviour, and live the life HE want's you to. Seeking his will in your life, and doing it. Many people accept Jesus as Saviour, but still live the life they choose. Even they are not going to heaven. To put it bluntly and simply, it's a matter of obedience to God.
Marco J
2008-06-21 12:33:37 UTC
God is the spirit of truth.



For one moment in history and it was a short moment.



Just by being watchful.



This is my summation. Knowledge from experience



Here's evidence that God exist! on Sept 15 2005 we witnessed a cloud in the sky supernaturally transform into an ancient relic Cross.



Here’s evidence from the bible:



The cloud can be traced to God's glorious and physical appearance.



And there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud Exodus 16:10



The Cross which is the power of God (1Cor 1:18).



May be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed(1Pt.1:7).



Ok how genuine is a cloud you see them everyday right, until one evening one turns into a cross, Now you got something to work with.



What is your responsibility at this point to share your testimony right.



The experience was an awaken of the heart and nothing short of pure raw fire and brimstone! A snap shot of heaven!



It is in the verse “at that time they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory“.(Luke 21:27). and what better symbol than the cross describes the power of God.



No longer is faith abstract but a substantial reality.



Jesus revealed himself as promised.



Paul used the expression.



My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words but with a demonstration of the spirit’s power so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom but God’s Power. (1Cor 2:4-5).



The experience had a judgmental quality.
chutedent
2008-06-21 08:35:52 UTC
You have been taught wrong because the bible also say to count the cost of following Jesus. While there nothing you can do to earn salvation , in order to be saved you have to do something otherwise what the use of preaching the gospel. for example.if you need a shower and I offer you the soap, the water and the towel absolutely free.do you know until you step into the shower and turn on the water and clean yourself you will still be dirty.
2008-06-21 08:43:38 UTC
Matthew 7: 13 is one way that our Lord is saying that salvation for many people will be difficult because many will have their own way of doing things that they think will earn them points with God.



But our Lord Jesus is saying that He is the only gate to salvation and not many people will come to Him.



Coming to Christ means that one would have to give up everything of this world to obtain everything in Christ. And many will not do that because they love the things of the world more than the eternal life we have in Christ our Lord and Savior.
2008-06-21 08:32:49 UTC
It say,s the road to destruction is wide and many will find it



but the road to eternal life is narrow and few there be that find it,,,,it mean,s a lot of people will not believe in God

and there will be more that goes to Hell than those

that go to Heaven,,,,just stand by God and you will

be O.K.
Anthony W
2008-06-21 08:29:58 UTC
Great question! John 14 :6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.. The narrow way is through belief in Christ alone, His works ...His grace . So many still try to earn their way in, this is proof of unbelief. Trust in what Christ has done, that is the only way!
2008-06-21 08:35:36 UTC
We know statistically how many members organized religion has (man just loves to count things). I would say, that is the broad path which many are on. The high rocky path which few are on is the preferred path - atheists are on this path. This would correspond with statistics which show atheists are in the minority compared with those that claim to believe in a god invented by man.
Allegory
2008-06-21 08:44:38 UTC
1. Broad Way: leadeth to destruction

2. Narrow Way: only "leadeth unto life", by "go on", to

3. More Excellent Way: is life, eternal life void of death



BroadWay<-->NarrowWay-->MoreExcellentWay

Draw Back<-->Law/Grace-->Go on unto perfection: Grace

Perdition<-->Them/Them-->Us-ward has no Them vs Them

http://www.godshew.org/Usward.htm



ManyDeceived<-->Many/Few-->All saved & aware what from

http://www.godshew.org/RevelatorySermons6.htm



Desolation<-->Divsion & Not Peace-->Peace & Not Divided



Be ye reconciled (through Jesus-->Christ)-->to God.



God is not a man that he should lie(law),

neither Son of man that he should repent(change).



Which things are an "allegory" & "mystery" to solve.



Connect your biblical dots, grasshopper;

And do it before your @ss is grass,

for being sow dog gone law<--law.



The GRACE of our Lord J-->C with you-->all. Amen.
Sherry B
2008-06-21 09:06:15 UTC
Hi An-noy....



You probably think I'm stalking you LOL! So did you get an answer to your question? Doesn't sound like it.



Do you remember when Jesus talked to the Samaritan woman at the well? Do you know what a Samaritan was?



The Assyrians captured and carried away the Jewish people of the Northern 10 tribe kingdom of Isreal, and replaced them with people who were not of Jewish descent. Maybe in time some of the Jews returned to their homes, but for the most part the "Samaritans" were those who lived in the northern area, but who had never known the Jewish laws or had any sort of "true religion".



These people believed that it was important to "honor" the gods of the land where they lived, so some of them THOUGHT they were worshipping the true God, but they didn't worship the way the Jews did, they still worshipped in the mountains (the high places) and they didn't worship at the temple.



They really didn't know what they were doing, their religion had been mixed with falsehoods for so long that they were really pretty confused about what was right and what wasn't.



Yet Jesus didn't hesitate to talk to the woman at the well. She was surprised, because most of the Jews were very prejudiced against Samaritans and even very much so against women.



So what did Jesus tell her? Read John chapter 4. She mentioned the differences between the Jewish teaching that people should worship in Jerusalem and her people's beliefs that she should worship in the mountains.



Jesus told her "you worship what you do not know, we worship what we know." The Jews had it more accurate, but then he said



"23 Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him. 24 God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth."



That narrow gate involves guidance by the holy spirit and it involves truth as laid out in the Bible. Pray for holy spirit to guide you, and study the truth as outlined in the Bible.



Don't accept man made wisdom or the "traditions of men" which contradict God's word. We don't want to be like the Pharisees that Jesus condemned with the words:



"7 YOU hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about YOU, when he said, 8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. 9 It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.’” " (Matthew chapter 15)



Jesus knows those who are his own: "27 My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 And I give them everlasting life, and they will by no means ever be destroyed, and no one will snatch them out of my hand." John 10:)



Also John 6: 44 No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him; and I will resurrect him in the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by Jehovah.’ Everyone that has heard from the Father and has learned comes to me. 46 Not that any man has seen the Father, except he who is from God; this one has seen the Father. 47 Most truly I say to YOU, He that believes has everlasting life."



God has to DRAW us, call us to come to him. Who does he call?



Matthew 18:2 "So, calling a young child to him, he set it in their midst 3 and said: “Truly I say to YOU, Unless YOU turn around and become as young children, YOU will by no means enter into the kingdom of the heavens. 4 Therefore, whoever will humble himself like this young child is the one that is the greatest in the kingdom of the heavens; "



Jehovah has ALWAYS called humble people. The Bible says of Moses that he was the "meekest" man in the earth at that time. King Saul when he was called to be king went off and hid, he was that humble. Later when he became proud and arrogant God rejected him as king and chose David a humble shepherd boy.



It has been that way throughout history, all the history of the Bible involves meek, teachable, humble people receiving God's favor and blessing. Those who became "wise in their own eyes" or "arrogant" or "haughty" he opposed.



But remember the road IS narrow. You can be excited about what you are learning, you can be delighted and want to share it with others (and that is GOOD) but don't expect them to thank you for it. Most won't.



1 Corinthians 1: "26 For YOU behold his calling of YOU, brothers, that not many wise in a fleshly way were called, not many powerful, not many of noble birth;



27 but God chose the foolish things of the world, that he might put the wise men to shame; and God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put the strong things to shame;



28 and God chose the ignoble things of the world and the things looked down upon, the things that are not, that he might bring to nothing the things that are,



29 in order that no flesh might boast in the sight of God. 30 But it is due to him that YOU are in union with Christ Jesus, who has become to us wisdom from God, also righteousness and sanctification and release by ransom;



31 that it may be just as it is written: “He that boasts, let him boast in Jehovah."



Not many wise, not many powerful, not many of noble birth.



God chose "the things looked down upon". (Who is more looked down upon than Jehovah's Witnesses? I think you can see that on Y/A very clearly can't you?)



Oh well. let them look down. The road IS narrow after all.
hasse_john
2008-06-21 08:27:59 UTC
The Savior YAHOSHUA always did those things that please the Heavenly Father. Torah (law) is the marriage contract between YHVH and mankind. You cannot be the 'bride' without the marriage contract.
Jim Wright
2008-06-21 08:37:50 UTC
Jesus explained that in these verses - the wide path is the one taken by the "workers of iniquity" - the word iniquity means "NO LAW".



http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=458&t=KJV



The fruit of the false prophets have taken the wide path - they refuse to obey God's Law = they are workers of iniquity:



13. 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:

14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

15. Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

16. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?

17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

19. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

21. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Matthew 7.13-23



The Catholics and Protestants have built on sand - their man made traditions will never be accepted:



24. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

28. And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

29. For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7.24-29



7. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,

8. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.

9. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15.7-9



Blessings -

Jim
2008-06-21 08:29:10 UTC
Seek and you shall find.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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