Two Paths, Two Destinations
Matthew 7:12-14 ERV "Do for others what you would want them
to do for you. This is the meaning of the Law of Moses and the teaching of the
prophets. (13) "You can enter true life only through
the narrow gate. The gate to hell is very wide, and there is plenty of room on the
road that leads there. Many people go that way.
(14)
But the gate that opens the way to true life is narrow. And the road
that leads there is hard to follow. Only a few people find it.
Matthew 7:12-14-Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
Christ came to teach us,
not only what we are to know and believe, but what we are to do; not only
toward God, but toward men; not only toward those of our party and persuasion,
but toward men in general, all with whom we have to do. We must do that to our
neighbour which we ourselves acknowledge to be fit and reasonable. We must, in
our dealings with men, suppose ourselves in the same case and circumstances
with those we have to do with, and act accordingly. There are but two ways
right and wrong, good and evil; the way to heaven and the way to hell; in the
one or other of these all are walking: there is no middle place hereafter, no
middle way now. All the children of men are saints or sinners, godly or
ungodly. See concerning the way of sin and sinners, that the gate is wide, and
stands open. You may go in at this gate with all your lusts about you; it gives
no check to appetites or passions. It is a broad way; there are many paths in
it; there is choice of sinful ways. There is a large company in this way. But
what profit is there in being willing to go to hell with others, because they
will not go to heaven with us? The way to eternal life is narrow. We are not in
heaven as soon as we are got through the strait gate. Self must be denied, the
body kept under, and corruptions mortified. Daily temptations must be resisted;
duties must be done. We must watch in all things, and walk with care; and we
must go through much tribulation. And yet this way should invite us all; it
leads to life: to present comfort in the favour of God, which is the life of
the soul; to eternal bliss, the hope of which at the end of our way, should
make all the difficulties of the road easy to us. This plain declaration of
Christ has been disregarded by many who have taken pains to explain it away;
but in all ages the real disciple of Christ has been looked on as a singular,
unfashionable character; and all that have sided with the greater number, have
gone on in the broad road to destruction. If we would serve God, we must be
firm in our religion. Can we often hear of the strait gate and the narrow way,
and how few there are that find it, without being in pain for ourselves, or
considering whether we are entered on the narrow way, and what progress we are
making in it?
The Wide Road
It is so easy to
choose to wide and easy road, especially when the road is heavily travelled.
The reason that this road has many travelers is because those who travel it
would rather go along than stand alone. Christians go from church to church,
trying to find the place with the best crowd, the liveliest choir, the most charismatic
preacher and the prettiest building, taking no consideration as to whether the
word of God is being preached. As long as we can get that feeling, we feel that
we are in the right place. Pro 14:12 says “ There is a way which seemeth right
unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death”.
Dr. J. Vernon McGee - This is a verse which should be applied to
the cults and "isms." They sound so reasonable and so nice and so
attractive. Recently a friend said to me, "Why is it that this certain
cult keeps growing as it does?" I said, "Because it appeals to the
old nature of man. It appeals to the flesh. It tells you that if you are a nice
sweet fellow and follow certain rules, you are going to make it." My
friend, "there is a way which seemeth right unto a man," but notice
the end of this proverb: "but the end thereof are the ways of death."
The end is eternal separation from God. How important it is to be in the right
way! The Lord Jesus said, "… I am
the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by
me" (Joh_14:6).
Matthew Henry - We have here an account of the way and end of a
great many self-deluded souls. 1. Their way is seemingly fair: It seems right
to themselves; they please themselves with a fancy that they are as they should
be, that their opinions and practices are good, and such as will bear them out.
The way of ignorance and carelessness, the way of worldliness and
earthly-mindedness, the way of sensuality and flesh-pleasing, seem right to
those that walk in them, much more the way of hypocrisy in religion, external
performances, partial reformations, and blind zeal; this they imagine will
bring them to heaven; they flatter themselves in their own eyes that all will
be well at last. 2. Their end is really fearful, and the more so for their
mistake: It is the ways of death, eternal death; their iniquity will certainly
be their ruin, and they will perish with a lie in their right hand.
Self-deceivers will prove in the end self-destroyers. Pro_13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise:
but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
The Narrow Road
First, That the gate
is strait. Conversion and regeneration are the gate, by which we enter into
this way, in which we begin a life of faith and serious godliness; out of a
state of sin into a state of grace we must pass, by the new birth. This is a
strait gate, hard to find, and hard to get through; like a passage between two
rocks. There must be a new heart, and a new spirit, and old things must pass
away. The bent of the soul must be changed, corrupt habits and customs broken
off; what we have been doing all our days must be undone again. We must swim
against the stream; much opposition must be struggled with, and broken through,
from without, and from within. It is a strait gate, for we must stoop, or we
cannot go in at it; we must become as little children; high thoughts must be
brought down; nay, we must strip, must deny ourselves, put off the world, put
off the old man; we must be willing to forsake all for our interest in Christ.
The gate is strait to all, but to some straiter than others; as to the rich, to
some that have been long prejudiced against religion. The gate is strait;
blessed be God, it is not shut up, nor locked against us, nor kept with a
flaming sword, as it will be shortly, Mat_25:10.
Secondly, That the
way is narrow. We must endure hardness, must wrestle and be in an agony, must
watch in all things, and walk with care and circumspection. We must go through
much tribulation. It is an afflicted way, a way hedged about with thorns;
blessed be God, it is not hedged up. The bodies we carry about with us, and the
corruptions remaining in us, make the way of our duty difficult; but, as the
understanding and will grow more and more sound, it will open and enlarge, and
grow more and more pleasant. Thirdly, The gate being so strait and the way so
narrow, it is not strange that there are but few that find it, and choose it.
Many pass it by, through carelessness; they will not be at the pains to find
it; they are well as they are, and see no need to change their way. Others look
upon it, but shun it; they like not to be so limited and restrained. Those that
are going to heaven are but few, compared to those that are going to hell; a
remnant, a little flock, like the grape-gleanings of the vintage; as the eight
that were saved in the ark, 1Pe_3:20.
Let us see what there
is in this way, which, notwithstanding this, should invite us all to it; it
leads to life, to present comfort in the favour of God, which is the life of
the soul; to eternal bliss, the hope of which, at the end of our way, should
reconcile us to all the difficulties and inconveniences of the road. Life and
godliness are put together (2Pe_1:3); The gate is strait and the way narrow and
up-hill, but one hour in heaven will make amends for it. Conversion is hard
work, but it is needful, and, blessed be God, it is not impossible if we
strive, Luk_13:24.
Suggested Listening:
Beware of Wolves is Sheep Clothing:
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