Jesus used a narrow gate as a metaphor to describe the entry to a path that he called “the way that leads to life.” He quickly pointed out “there are few who find it.”
Conversely, Jesus says, there is a wide gate that opens to a broad way “that leads to destruction.” “Many” will go through that gate and walk that road (Matthew 7:13-14).
The importance of the two opposing gates with the two different paths to which they open is that they lead to different destinations. Jesus used the terms “life” and “destruction” to indicate the end results of going down these two paths. According to Jesus, life or destruction awaits us at the conclusion of the choices we make which determine the course we take.
How can we be sure that we are one of the few who have found the narrow gate? How do we know whether we are on the path of life?
Identifying the narrow gate comes through hearing and understanding the teachings of Jesus. In another place (Luke 13:24), Jesus tells a questioner “strive to enter through the narrow gate.” The word “strive” means to struggle, to endeavor fervently, to go all out. Jesus is advocating that we make every effort to find and enter the narrow gate and walk down the path that leads to the narrow gate. The reward of life will be worth every effort made.
In Luke 13:22-29, we find Jesus busy teaching, as he goes through cities and villages, on his way to Jerusalem. Along the way, a man questioned Jesus “will only a few be saved?” Jesus’ reply, “strive to enter through the narrow gate”, shows that there is action needed on our part. Jesus is not telling us that if we end up on one path or the other it was because we were predestined for that path, it was beyond our control or that it was “meant to be”, no its what we chose to do!
His warning in Matthew 13:24, is followed by a look at the two possible destinations available for mankind. Jesus answers the man’s question (“will only a few be saved?”) by equating salvation with gaining entrance into the coming kingdom of God. To those who do not enter through the narrow gate, Jesus says, “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out (Mattfhew 13:28).”
The entire focus of all Jesus’ teaching was the coming kingdom of God. Here in the twenty-first century there is a dire need for us to make every effort to understand what Jesus meant as he spoke to those of his own culture. It is vital that we grasp what his intention was when he spoke to his listeners and how they understood the things he said, based on their shared culture and understanding of the law and the prophets.
Matthew, for example, in reporting the teachings of Jesus, uses the phrase “kingdom of heaven” as a synonym for “kingdom of God” over 30 times in his gospel. Matthew is the only Bible writer that uses the phrase “kingdom of heaven”. It is evident from the parallel verses in the other gospels, and even in Matthew’s own writing, that his purpose is to convey the same meaning when he uses the phrase “kingdom of heaven” as the other Bible writers mean when they use the phrase “kingdom of God” (compare Matthew 4:12-17; Mark 1:14-15; Matthew 13:11; Mark 4:11; Matthew 19:23; Matthew 19:24, etc.).
Many of Jesus’ parables begin with “The kingdom of heaven is like…” or “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?” In Matthew 13:47-49 Jesus says, “…the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age.” The point of this parable is the same as Jesus’ answer to the man in Luke 13 cited earlier.
There are two possible destinations for mankind. The “good” that are put into baskets and preserved are those who gain entrance into the kingdom of Heaven/God. What Jesus calls destruction in the story of the two paths in Matthew 7 he elaborates on here in Matthew13:49-50. “The angels will come forth, separate the wicked from among the just and throw them into the furnace of fire, there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.” The wailing and gnashing of teeth happens, according to Luke 13, “when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and yourselves thrust out.” In other words, the wailing and gnashing of teeth is due to the verdict one receives, the exclusion from the kingdom of God and the sentence of being cast into the fire to experience the second death and to be destroyed.
This should not be confused with the popular teaching of an eternal torment that leaves the recipient of judgment forever wailing and gnashing their teeth.
To tie this all together, Jesus taught that in order to avoid the grief and horror of being thrust out of the kingdom of God, at the end of the age, and being thrown into the furnace of fire for the purpose of destruction, one must walk down the path that leads to life. And, in order to walk down the life path, one must enter by the correct door or gate. In another illustration (John 10:9), Jesus said, “I am the door, if anyone enters through me he will be saved.”
Jesus only taught about one kind of salvation. So, even though this is a different illustration, we can be assured that Jesus is the entryway to the path that leads to life, meaning entrance into the coming kingdom of God. If we understand Jesus to be the door to salvation, what is it that we need to know about Jesus or from Jesus in order to get through the door onto the right path, leading us to our desired destination?
Jesus put great emphasis on believing his words, which he said the Father gave him. In Mark 8:38 Jesus says, “For whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” When Jesus comes with the holy angels is the same time that the angels will cast those into the fire that are not allowed entry into the kingdom of God (see Matthew 25:31,41).
Matthew, Mark and Luke all record Jesus speaking of the cost of being his disciple. He said, “Whoever wants to follow me, he must deny himself [die to self interest] and take up his cross.” This must certainly relate to walking down the right path. What must we suppose is the self-denial that is being referenced here? Jesus is our supreme example in this. He is not demanding something from us that he was unwilling to do. The Apostle Peter tells us “…the Messiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps… When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly (1 Peter 2:21,23)”.
Trusting God, rather than retaliating, in an abusive situation is an aspect of denying oneself that is undoubtedly more difficult and more to the point of “taking up your cross” than denying yourself that second bowl of ice cream. The concept of self-denial that Jesus taught also includes the laying down of our desires and aspirations by making them subordinate to the will of God. In this regard Jesus said, “what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his life?” There is nothing to be gained in this world that compares to becoming a glorified immortal man/woman in the coming kingdom of God. “What can a man give in exch"ange for his life?” is a question that exposes the fallacy of seeking after the things obtainable in this age. Mattfhew 6:33: "Seek you first the kingdom of God..."
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