Enter through the narrow gate

‘Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.

‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

- Matthew 7:13-21

In yesterday's reading, Jesus' words told us that we should not judge of ourselves, and that we would be judged with the measure by which we judge others. Today's passage teaches us more about Judgment and discernment.

The description of the "two ways" is widespread in Judaism, according to my study bible. It was also prominent in early Christian writings. Luke's statement of this idea is more eschatological, referring to the end of the age. But here we get a sense of the necessary effort on our part, what kind of endeavor we make. We need to practice discernment, to think about our choices. We should make them carefully, by paying attention, and thinking about our condition. Furthermore it takes self-awareness; we don't want to sleepwalk through our lives and our choices.

‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from thistles? In the same way, every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus you will know them by their fruits.' We are warned in other gospels about false prophets. There are those seem virtuous, but are internally corrupt. I think this image is a clear illustration of character: sheep are those who follow our Shepherd and who are of the flock and care for it. The image of the wolf is predatory - he is there to steal what he can, not to support. Verse 19, 'A good tree cannot bear bad fruit...' is a repetition of a statement also made by John the Baptist in chapter 3. We are to practice discernment, 'you will know them by their fruits.'

‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven.' Again, as with the metaphor of ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing, and as he has so often in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns against hypocrisy, even as he warns us to be discerning of those who practice hypocrisy in his name. He calls himself Lord, and speaks of the will of his Father. The religion he is preaching is not to be one of empty words, but each will be judged according to a deeper standard. The next verse, regarding Judgment, is not included in this reading. For now, we can take this passage as an application to ourselves about discernment and "good judgment" and how we are to truly be his followers.

How do we practice discernment? Through prayer, we seek the relatedness to God we need and the help of the Spirit for the wisdom to understand. We are to guard ourselves against wolves in sheep's clothing, to keep our eyes open. I think there's an important understanding about the difference between practicing false judgment and doing as Christ teaches us by being aware and practicing discernment. All too often, the differences are glossed over. But this is the "narrow" way, the middle way, that requires of us to be the rational sheep that we are. We must learn to negotiate that path. He's also charging us with a responsibility: not only must we endeavor to follow His narrow way in our own conduct, but part of that also is to learn discernment about who we take as our leaders. We are responsible, we are here to learn and grow. The way is narrow, but we are always to call on the Lord for help.