SUNDAY STUDY: Wide is the Gate
Excerpted from Search the Scriptures 24/7 with T.A. McMahon (radio online).
Discussion between Dave Hunt and Tom A. McMahon @ www.thebereancall.org
Matthew 7:13-14 “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. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
“Are these verses talking about salvation?
Or …could they apply to living the Christian life? For example, in 2 John 1:4, John writes, “I rejoiced greatly that I have found some of your children walking in truth, as we received commandment from the Father.” So couldn’t this apply to the way you live your life, the choices that you make?
This is not about living the Christian life. This is about whether or not you have life. Whether or not you have entered into life through Christ who is the door and, the contrast is – the broad road (that) leads to destruction.
You couldn’t say that the Christian who isn’t living the Christian life is on a broad road to destruction. (This teaching comes from) the various clergymen leading people astray. Jesus said the blind are leading the blind and they will all fall into the ditch. This is the broad road: anything goes, any higher power. I’ve got my faith and you’ve got your faith. This is the broad road that leads to destruction. And Jesus is pointing out that there is a narrow way that leads to life.
Why a narrow way? I have a degree in mathematics. Two plus two is four. Always is, always was, always will be. You can’t say – why can’t we be broad-minded and let two plus two be five, at least on Thursdays? It won’t work! Nowhere in this universe can you do that sort of thing!
You can’t even play a game without rules, right? And the referee whistles you down and you say, well, I can do anything I want. No, it doesn’t work anywhere in this life and yet, people think it works with God. And Jesus is saying, “Wait a minute, God has got some rules too.” He’s the Creator, He made this universe. We have offended Him. We have broken His laws and that means there are serious consequences to this and you are not going to be made right with God except on His terms. We don’t dictate terms to God…
Or, you are going down a one-way street with an arrow pointing the opposite direction, and you’re going with arrows all over the place and you say, “yeah, but I am sincere“. Come on! Your conscience, the universe, everything tells you, now look – this is a narrow path. It is narrow because God says this is THE way. There is no other way. Why not follow it?
Truth has to be narrow or what else is there? There’s either truth or everything else is bogus. Everything else is a lie…
(These verses) are not talking about living the Christian life. There are plenty of verses talking about living the Christian life, pleasing the Lord. “If you love me, keep my commandments…”(John 14:15) and so forth. Walking in the Spirit—”Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.” (Gal. 5:16)
But here it is very clear. This is about entering into life – or on the road to destruction – and it’s narrow because truth does not accommodate itself to error, into lies. But that’s what people want today. We have an ecumenical mood. You’ve got your faith, I’ve got my faith. You’ve got your higher power; I’ve got mine.
Well, try that with God and I guarantee you on the basis of His Word and common sense it will not work. You think God is offended when you mix Him up and confuse Him with pagan gods and forces and so forth? And you think you can just do whatever you want and it’s going to be okay with God? Common sense would tell you that’s not right and the Bible certainly condemns it.”