This week delves into the concept of two paths of life and their ultimate destinations as explored in Matthew 7 by Pastor Greg Johnson. He contrasts the wide road of self-indulgence and personal desires leading to destruction with the narrow road of humility, righteousness, and trust in Jesus leading to eternal life with God. Emphasizing the importance of surrendering to Jesus for salvation rather than relying on one's own efforts, Pastor Greg urges listeners to choose the narrow gate that leads to true life and freedom. By referencing biblical passages and encouraging introspection, the sermon challenges individuals to consider which path they are on and calls them to walk the narrow road of discipleship with Jesus.

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Matthew 7:13-14

There was a series out on Amazon Prime a few years back called “The Man in The High Castle”, detailing an alternative reality where the Axis powers, primarily Nazi Germany and Japan, won World War 2 and took over the world – it was a chilling picture of how things might have turned out if the Allied powers had not won the war, an alternative to reality – Hollywood is fixated on idea - Tenet, Inception, Adjustment Bureau, Matrix, Back to Future, Butterfly Effect – all pitch the idea that there is ALTERNATE REALITY, another road to take, with different results

Today, as Jesus is winding down the SOM, and over the next couple of weeks, he will be contrasting the life he is inviting the listeners into vs the life they are currently living and are accustomed to – Jesus is showing them an alternative to the norm, and laying out clearly where both alternatives lead  - today, he will illustrate what we know today as the gospel, that through Jesus, we get eternal and abundant LIFE with God, and without him we are destined for death, DESTRUCTION, and eternity apart from God – Jesus will say today that, unfortunately, most people will choose the latter over the former – We will see 2 gates, two roads, two destinations and 2 groups of people - Matthew 7:13-14

Two gates – Jesus shows two options: a NARROW gate and a WIDE gate – Contextually, he has laid out the two gates throughout this sermon – the Wide gate is the religious reality they have been living in – Hebrews 10:1-4, 11 – the gate of religious sacrifice was a temporary fix, but never permanently satisfied the payment for sin – this was a hopeless reality, that there was an annual reminder of failure an inability to be free from the bondage of sin – But Jesus said there was a narrow gate that led to life and freedom – can you imagine how that must have made the original listeners lean forward? A new gate that led to life and freedom – what was Jesus talking about?

Jesus referred to himself as THE GATE in John 10:9-10 – “whoever enters through me will be SAVED, and have life TO THE FULL” – remember, Jesus said earlier in 5:6 that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness would be filled, and in 5:17 that he was the fulfillment of the law – Jesus was saying here that there was an alternative gate for them, a second option – but, make no mistake, there are only TWO GATES - John 14:6 – Jesus is clear: NO MAN COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH HIM – 

Clearly, nothing has changed – the words of Jesus for this Jewish audience have the same impact on you and me today – the WIDE GATE is you trying to earn your way to prosperity through your own righteousness – Here is the problem, the same problem the Jews had: YOU CAN’T FIX YOURSELF – as hard as you try to be better, and keep trying harder to be better, it always leads you to the same place: UNFULFILLED, DISAPPOINTED and DISCOURAGED

In short, the WIDE GATE of religion says, “DO more, BE better to EARN your way to GOD’S ACCEPTANCE” – But the SMALL GATE of JESUS says, “YOU can’t DO better, but I’ve ALREADY DONE BETTER for you” Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23 – The NARROW GATE is the CROSS – Jesus, through his death on the cross, his ultimate sacrifice for ALL SIN FOR ALL TIME, created a new entry point into the Kingdom of Heaven – 

Two roads – Jesus said that there is a BROAD ROAD and a NARROW ROAD – Think Freeway vs farm road – Coming home from San Antonio a couple of weeks ago, had two options: I-10 or back roads to get home – one was a slower, mostly 2 lane road that required patience, while the other was a multi-lane expressway – but one was more scenic, while the other was fast and furious - Psalm 1:1-6 lays out these two roads pretty well – the one who follows the path of delighting in and meditating on the law of the Lord is prosperous, while the one who rejects it are like chaff that the wind blows away

Unfortunately, Jesus says that the wide road is the more commonly traveled road – it is the road of self-indulgence, self-sufficiency, and it actually feels right because I want what I want when I want it – Proverbs 16:9 – It is the intuitive path – the original hearers were on a BROAD PATH of just playing follow the leader – The law consisted of 248 Dos and 365 Don’ts – and the Pharisees were taking the lead, telling the people what they needed to do to be acceptable to God – Based on the SOM, this is what they were promoting: 

• Arrogance – full of self
• Power brokers
• Hunger and thirst for self
• Judgmental
• Warmongers
• Take the easy way out
• Don’t commit adultery, but lust ok
• Don’t commit murder, but hate ok
• Ok to hate and seek revenge 
• Give, pray, fast as a public act – make sure you are seen by all
• Forgiveness is subjective – holding grudges fine
• Store up treasure on Earth – get what you can while you can – hold onto your stuff tightly – greed is good
• Worry, anxiety ok
• Seek your way always – your righteousness is enough
• Judging people fine, especially if they’re clearly in the wrong – love not necessary

Jesus was showing them the NARROW PATH – remember the characteristics of those on this path?

• Recognizing spiritual bankruptcy
• Mourn over sin
• Meek
• Hunger and thirst for righteousness
• Merciful
• Pure in heart
• Peaceful
• Perseverant
• Looks beyond actions into the heart
• No hate
• No lust
• No divorce
• Loves all, even enemies
• Goes extra mile, shirt off back
• No worry
• Gives, prays, fasts in private with grateful heart
• Forgives
• Stores up treasures in heaven, doesn’t hold onto stuff – understands it’s all God’s
• Seeks God first in all things
• No Judgment
• Boldly approaches God through prayer

In short, the BROAD PATH promotes actions/activities required for righteousness, while the NARROW PATH promotes a HEART POSITION that is only achievable by entering through the NARROW GATE – By entering through Jesus, I am no longer in control, because he is transforming my heart – Galatians 2:20 – the NARROW ROAD is ONLY ACCESSIBLE through JESUS – Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 119:105 – Only Jesus can illuminate and make your path straight – It is a life of living FROM Jesus, not FOR Jesus

Two destinations – Jesus says it here: the BROAD ROAD leads to DEATH and DESTRUCTION, while the NARROW ROAD leads to LIFE and FREEDOM – It is a life WITH GOD or WITHOUT GOD – Heaven or Hell – Eternity is in the balance – The Jews had experienced literal death and destruction throughout their history – they were currently living in a war-torn nation and in desperate need of an alternative – Jesus was saying that they can enter the KINGDOM OF HEAVEN is accessible through HIM – Living in the Kingdom of the WORLD leads to DEATH, while living in the KINGDOM of HEAVEN leads to LIFE

Remember, we have said recently that the goal of the Spiritual life is not to get to Heaven but to get Heaven in you – Jesus made the bold proclamation that the Kingdom of Heaven had arrived with him, and all who enter through him and follow the less traveled road get the Kingdom and the life that goes with it – it is the “NOW and NOT YET”, because we still live in a broken world, but he postures your heart so that even in the worst of circumstances, the enemy doesn’t win in your life – Hebrews 12:27 calls it an unshakable kingdom, and Revelation 11:15 foretells that God will swallow up the Kingdoms of the world – Here is the most important part: YOU GET TO CHOOSE! The destination is determined by which gate you enter

Two groups of people – Jesus is pretty black and white here -– Large crowd (many) on wide road (irreligious, religious/Pharisee), small crowd (few) on narrow road (everything defined in SOM) – He will underscore this over the next few verses, but the point is this: FEW PEOPLE enter through the NARROW GATE of JESUS – Why? Because we all want to be in control, and we all gravitate toward selfishness, self-protection, self-promotion, and to give yourself over to the way of Jesus is HARD – Luke 9:23, Deny self, take up cross – in short, DEATH TO SELF – 

ILLUS - walked both roads - WIDE gate, and walked the BROAD path, DESTRUCTION–entered through the SMALL GATE of JESUS and walking the NARROW PATH that leads to LIFE and FREEDOM – the results are not even close 

Jesus, throughout SOM, is showing an ALTERNATE REALITY, that a different life, a NEW LIFE is available – 2 Cor. 5:17 – YOU GET TO CHOOSE