The narrow gate

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a 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. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven."

- Matthew 7:13-21

For nearly two weeks, we've been going through the readings of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount. Those readings include The Beatitudes, Salt and Light, Till heaven and earth pass away, You shall not murder, If your right eye causes you to sin, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, Your father who is in the secret place, Our Father in heaven, No one can serve two masters, Solomon in all his glory and The plank in your own eye. In today's reading, Jesus begins the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount.

"Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." My study bible notes, "This description of the two ways is widespread in Judaism (Deut. 30:15-20; Ps. 1; Prov. 4:18,19; 12:28; ...), and in early Christian writings (Didache, Barnabas). Luke's version (Luke 13:24-30) is more eschatological, referring to the end of the age. Because we wrestle against human sins and weaknesses, as well as the spiritual forces of evil (Eph. 6:12), entering the Kingdom involves difficult (v. 14) labor and struggle (11:12)." Jesus has been teaching, throughout all of these readings of the Sermon on the Mount, the ways of discipleship . They are many in this long sermon, but with a common theme of dedication, choice, and the need to adhere to a way of life that promotes love in action. That includes our own sense of ourselves and our flaws, and our willingness to cast out that which is a part of our character which has to go. This is a process of discipline, growth and change - and transcendence of a more worldly notion of justice to one which is merciful and requires forbearance. Not an easy task! But his words here indicate that the choice is ours.

"Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." Again, I'll quote a helpful note: "Jesus charges us to beware because it is possible to be deceived by those who wear a mask of virtue but are false prophets (24:4,24), or wolves, who live corrupt lives (10:16; Zeph. 3:3; John 10:12; Acts 20:29)." As one can see from the note, Jesus repeatedly uses this image of wolves in sheep's clothing. It is a warning about those who would deceive - who would devour the flock they are supposed to lead and guide. Jesus calls himself "the Good Shepherd" in John's gospel, who "lays down his life for the sheep" and "whose sheep know him, and he knows his sheep." To be a ravenous wolf is to take advantage, to be predatory. He will also warn that there will be those who come in his name who are false prophets as well, and will do the same. Here, his warning is to beware that his words in the Sermon are true. Don't be fooled by those who would lead astray for their own gain. Remember his words and his teachings on love and love in action - they are the ones that his disciples - and their leaders - should live by.

"You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit." Again, another note is helpful: "As long as a person is living in wickedness, he will not be able to bear good fruit. But Jesus does not say that there is no way for the wicked to change, or for the good to fall away. (See also 12:33-35)." I've had the misfortune to be in a church where the pastor fit the description of a wolf in sheep's clothing: he was far more interested in his remuneration - what money and other goods were available to him - than the spiritual welfare of his flock. This, in turn, created dissension and strife in the church. At several successive churches, the strength of the congregation's faith fortunately saved their own churches from his behavior, but not before damage was done. Clearly, there are fruits by which we can know what is within. We could also apply this teaching to any form of cult behavior, wherever it may be found, and the damage done by bad teachings - often, again, designed to enrich the leader's pocketbook. It is the predatory nature described by the "wolf in sheep's clothing" that will create the bad fruits that we will come to know - that Jesus is warning us we must beware of.

"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." The judgment that must come will deal with the branches that bear bad fruit. My study bible points out that John the Baptist makes this same statement in Matthew 3:10: "The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

"Therefore by their fruits you will know them." As in other teachings in the gospels, Jesus tells us we are to watch - we are not blind sheep, but rational, intelligent sheep. So, an important part of the teaching of discipleship in the Sermon on the Mount is about our own responsibility for remaining aware, awake, not sleeping complacently - but knowing and understanding his teachings, and the good fruit they bear. It is a strong emphasis here on discipleship among all the followers; it is we who must watch anyone we call a leader or choose to follow. Jesus wants, if you will, an educated, intelligent following of his flock, in which his sheep are fully formed spiritually, and through this sermon (and of course, the spiritual help that will come with the Comforter) he gives them the strength and the ability to think for themselves and to understand his teachings. In this way, too, he is the Good Shepherd who gives everything to his flock.

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven." Jesus here testifies to his own deity, referring to himself as "Lord, Lord" and teaching about judgment. Today's reading finishes on this note of warning and of choice - these are the tools of discipleship. To vary from them, to produce false fruits not of these teachings of love in action, is to withdraw one's citizenship in this kingdom. Ultimately, it is also testimony to Jesus' relationship - as "Lord" - to his Father in heaven. The Father's will is the ultimate arbiter of these teachings, what he seeks to impart to us, and what will determine citizenship and participation in this kingdom.

So, what we choose is all-important. We read the words of the Sermon on the Mount, and we come to understand what it is to live our discipleship. It is love in action, and we cultivate the virtues of that love: humility, self-knowledge, mercy, peace and righteousness. We live with the justice of right-relatedness. This is the narrow gate, we are not to abuse it. And we are to be aware of abuse in any of our leaders, anyone whom we would think to follow. We are to be rational sheep, good disciples, to remember his words and to follow them. Above all, and in all, we are related to God the Father, through prayer and active seeking. We live in relationship, as he would have us relating to one another, with the will of the Father as guide to living life in that kingdom - on earth as it is in heaven. This is the narrow gate - and we are to beware of those who would lead us from it.