SOTM 36-Narrow

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“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” (Matthew 7:13-14).

Resistance
There's considerable resistance to this teaching:

• Because it’s difficult (today’s devotional)
• Because there are many who will try to talk us out of it (tomorrow’s offering)
• Because there’s no third option—just two ways

Jesus' words are challenging

• There are only two options.
• The truth is easy to understand, but not necessarily easy to follow.
• (Many stripes and flavors of quasi-Christian faith are actually clever ways to get around the holy demands of Jesus.)_
• The majority of humans prefer the broad road.
• This isn’t a teaching only for non-Christians. It’s for you and me—for all of us who have set out on the way.
• The two roads may be discerned in virtually every book of the Bible. Two choices in the Garden. Two ways in the Psalms (Psalm 1:1-6). Two ways in the Prophets—follow the Torah, or ignore its demands. (Follow Yahweh, or spurn him.) Two ways theme—every book of Bible.

The early church
For the first few centuries, most Christians accepted the truth of the two roads. Although they were totally outnumbered, there were many individuals and groups in the following centuries willing to sacrifice to walk the narrow road, even willing to die if their lives were demanded when the world—or worldly Christianity—pushed back.

• Didache: “There are two ways: one of life and one of death. But there is a great difference between the two ways. The way of life, then, is this: First, you shall love God, who made you. Second, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Didache1.1-5
• Epistle of Barnabas: “There are two ways of teaching and authority, the one of light and the other of darkness. But there is a great difference between these two ways. …The way of light is as follows: If anyone desires to travel to the appointed place, he must be zealous in his works. The knowledge given to us for the purpose of walking in this way is the following: You shall love Him who created you. You shall glorify Him who redeemed you from death. You shall be pure in heart and rich in spirit. You shall not join yourself to those who walk in the way of death… You shall be meek and peaceable. You shall tremble at the words which you hear.” Epistle of Barnabas 18
• Origen: “This way is narrow because the majority cannot bear to walk in it, for they are lovers of their flesh… The ones who believe in Him are those who walk in the straight and narrow way that leads to life. This way is found by few.” Commentary on the Gospel of John, 6, 10.28
• Lactantius: “This road… is steep because that goodness which is very high and lofty cannot be reached without the greatest difficulty and labor.” The Divine Institutes7

Luke 13

• In Luke 13 is a parallel passage. Somebody asks him if only a few are going to be saved. The Lord replies with an imperative: “Strive to enter through the narrow door” (Luke 13:24).
• This isn’t only a passage about becoming Jesus’s disciple; it’s also for those who are followers.

Conclusion:

• This teaching is difficult before we’re followers, when we’re trying to come to terms with the teaching.
• It’s difficult also for those who have been born again.
• It may feel even more challenging for those who are drifting, or those who have left the narrow road and are toying with the idea of coming back.
• While many will object that such thinking is simplistic, I say it is just simple. They say they’ve tried it and it doesn’t work. Some may have tried it, but very few have experienced authentic Christianity. For those near to Christ, who have tasted that the Lord is good, know that his teachings work.
• Those who will try to talk you out of the truth may be wonderful people in various respects—but Jesus calls them false prophets.

Next: Prophets?