Understanding the Narrow Road

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad and easy to travel is the path that leads the way to destruction and eternal loss, and there are many who enter through it. ¹⁴ But small is the gate and narrow and difficult to travel is the path that leads the way to [everlasting] life, and there are few who find it.” Matthew 7:13-14 AMP

If we study Matthew 7:13-14 in context, we will gain a much better understanding of what Jesus means by the “narrow road.”

These words of Jesus are part of the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapters 5-7. Jesus is speaking to His disciples and also to the crowds.

Often, we break Jesus’ sermon into parts because, well, there’s a lot to take in. My Bible divides it by headings such as The Beatitudes, Salt and Light, Judging Others, and The Narrow and Wide Gates, among others. And often we study them in isolation.

However, all these sections are part of one sermon known as The Sermon on the Mount. I realized we might miss something important if we study it this way. And so I started looking at the surrounding verses.

I found it interesting that immediately following verses 13 and 14, Jesus warned the crowds about false prophets and taught how to identify them.

¹⁵ “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶ By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
(verses 15-20)

Next, Jesus gives another warning,

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²² Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ ²³ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

The next verses in the passage begin with the word therefore. This is important because it ties the next 4 verses to all the previous verses (and the whole sermon, for that matter). Jesus explains the consequences of those who obey His words and those who don’t. This is how Jesus ends His sermon.

²⁴ “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

The End

Are we putting Jesus’ words into practice? Do we watch out for false prophets and teachers? That was the last thing Jesus told us to do before He ended the sermon. Are we building our house on the rock?

In His Love, Cindy

Would you like to learn more about Jesus? See my page Who Is Jesus?

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you.” Psalm 122:6

All Scripture is from the NIV unless stated otherwise.

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