January 16, 2024

“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.”  mat 7:13-14 nkjv

These scriptures have always troubled me. Frankly, to me, they are ominous and intimidating. They give me pause every time I read them. Something inside me takes a step back and looks at them again. I think its an inner body scan… nothing you’re thinking misses the watchful eye of the Holy Spirit. The backdrop for these verses are here in Luke chapter 13:

Verses 13:1-5, He speaks of persons who perished during two different tragic events… which by His comments, some folks present must have attributed their dramatic demise being caused by their sin. Which He said, not so, but unless you repent… likewise, you too will perish. Hum, maybe they thought they were not sinners… otherwise, why did He warn them? Perhaps its easy to think were ‘ok’ with Yahweh because things are well and maybe we are prosperous or whatever… should that be our yardstick to measure our spiritual condition?

Verses 13:6-9, He speaks of a fig tree that seems to be barren, no fruit produced, after the owner having checked it for the past three years… He tells his vineyard keeper to cut it down; the keeper said, “let me fertilize it and give it one more year… if it fails then you can cut it down.” How may this relate to us? Yeshua said you will know them by their fruit… seems the options are bear fruit or burn. Not just any fruit… but good fruit, especially fruit of the Spirit.  Gal 5:22-23 nkjv

Verses 13:10-17, He tells of the indignant hypocrisy of a synagogue leader who faulted Him for healing a woman, on the Sabbath, that had an infirmity for 18 years… saying He should do such “work” on the other six days… Yet they took their animals out for water on the Sabbath [business as usual]. If we hang around with “works” hammers, maybe simple good deeds of others may look like “nails.” Religion can overpower you… fellowship with Yeshua sets you free. Good works are always appropriate when done in love.

Verses 13:18-19, Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.” I think it takes good soil in the heart and time in the “growth” phase of life, as a faithful disciple, to grow into a mature “doer of the word.” As it seems the Kingdom of God is. Most likely, the “hearer’s only” will miss the narrow gate.

Verses 13:20-21, And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” When believers are contagious with loving Yeshua like nature and ministry, people can and will be “leavened” with the same spiritual values.  Ps 145:4 reads: “One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.” I think its how we got here, and who we are.

Verses 13:23-29, In response to the question, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” Yeshua warns them, and says, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” He warns that once the “gate door” is shut, many will knock and seek passage. Then He tells them these frightening words: “I do not know you, where you are from, Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.”

It is importantly notable that these people are not new or clueless to who Yeshua is and what miracles he has done… they said: “We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.” This is likely a reference to His feeding the multitudes; I recall the verse saying, “you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled..”   jn 6:26 nkjv.   Why do we consider Him, for what purpose? Namely, it should be because He loves us [and we love Him] and Yeshua is the ONLY way through the “narrow gate.” I surmise that many [then and now] consider His expectations of us as too burdensome and interfering into our selfish and indulgent lifestyles… going to church an hour a week should get me past the gate… you think? I have known Catholic persons who call themselves Easter and Christmas mass parishioners. Since Moses gave Israel the Torah, nothing has changed… maybe read Deuteronomy chapters 6-8 and consider “then and now.”

Why do you think Yeshua said, “Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity [lawlessness]?” Remember these were not pagans… but were someway “representing” His ministry, and claimed to have prophesied in His name, cast out demons in His name, and done many wonders in His name?  Mat 7:21-23 nkjv   Perhaps the key is the word iniquity [lawlessness, “anomia” in Greek; transgress Yahweh’s Law]. There seems to be a “do it my way” problem here… Only His way is the gateway into the Kingdom.

Shalom, John