Narrow

Narrow (by David Peterson)

Jesus conducts his first sermon on a mountain just west of Capernaum. This first discourse of Jesus is recorded in Matthew Chapters 5 to 7. In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus states: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.”

Jesus is telling us that there are 2 ways of life: one way leads to death and the other way leads to life. The narrow gate is through faith and through Jesus. The wide gate essentially leads nowhere and is wholly undesirable yet it attracts many people.

Pastor John MacArthur once wrote: “The gospel according to Jesus is the gospel according to His apostles. It is a small gate and a narrow road. It is free but it costs everything. And though it is appropriated by faith, it cannot fail to produce the fruit of true righteousness in the life and behavior of the believer.” MacArthur illuminates the truth that Jesus said in that His way is the narrow way, a way that is constricted and precise, but that it leads to salvation.

A Scottish Presbyterian minister by the name of William Fleming Stevenson, wrote a hymn by the name of “The Narrow Way”. The first stanza and chorus is:

There is a way, a narrow way,

For all who heav’n would win;

Though strait the gate, yet all who strive

Will surely enter in.

Refrain:

The narrow way, the narrow way,

All others lead astray;

We’ll bear the cross, nor count the loss,

And walk the narrow way.

Stevenson goes on to state that the wide or broad gate leads to darkness and despair.

Let us pray: Precious Jesus, save us from our natural, sinful desires that mislead us and lead us away from you. Teach us to love your way, follow your way, and walk your narrow way to salvation! Amen.