Matthew 7:13 and Luke 13:24

There are Two Ways of Life that are put before us. One leads to eternal life with Christ Jesus and the other to eternal damnation. It is a narrow path that we humbly walk with God, choose wisely. In Matthew 7:13 it is preceded by the command to love your neighbor as you love yourself. We need to examine ourselves and determine if we are doing the right thing For the right reason…LOVE. Any action not done in love is wrong in God's eyes. You will know them by their fruits…...the fruit of the Spirit is love, peace, mercy, and goodness.

Matthew 7:12 This so-called "Golden Rule" is the practical application of Lev. 19:18: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Matthew 7:13-14 13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Luke 13:23-24 23 Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them, 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

 

Proverbs 2:8–13 The phrase paths of justice (v. 8) contrasts strongly with ways of darkness (v. 13). This contrast introduces one of the dominant themes of Proverbs, the contrast of two roads. Jesus spoke of two roads, one narrow and the other broad (Matt. 7:13, 14). The right road is marked by demands of righteousness, justice, and equity (see 1:3). These demands come from God's law.

 

Deuteronomy 30:15 Moses challenged the people to determine what path they would follow. One way led to life (Ps. 1:6; John 14:6) because God's blessings rested on it (Ps. 23:6). The other way led to death and evil because God's curses rested on it. Likewise, Jesus in His ministry challenged the people to determine what path they would take (Matt. 7:13, 14).

 

 

16:25 Contrasts of God's way with the way of the wicked figure in the teaching of Jesus as well as the proverbs (Matt. 7:13, 14). This proverb likens the wicked to being on the wrong road. They think they are going the right way, but in the end it leads to death (see 14:12). Death refers to physical death (as in 1 Cor. 11:29, 30; see also Rom. 6:23; 8:13; James 1:15; 5:20).

 

 
 

The Conclusion of the Sermon. The Lesson of Personal Righteousness Driven Home by Powerful Parables

Matthew 7:13-8:1 13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. 15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' 24 "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 "But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall." 28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.

Luke 6:43-49 43 "For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. 45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. 46 "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do the things which I say? 47 Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: 48 He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. 49 But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently; and immediately it fell. And the ruin of that house was great."