Enter by 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 the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."

 

- Matthew 7:13–21 

 

In our current readings, we have been going through the Sermon on the Mount (chapters 5 - 7 of St. Matthew's Gospel).  In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught, "Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.  Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.  Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." 

 "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 informs us of the "two ways" that was widespread in Judaism (see Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1; Proverbs 4:18-19, 12:28, 15:21; Sirach 15:17) -- and also in early Christian writings (Didache, Barnabas).  Luke's version of this teaching (Luke 13:24-30) is more eschatological, as it refers to the end of the age.  My study Bible explains that because we wrestle against sins and human weaknesses as well as spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12), entering the Kingdom is the more difficult way.  

"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."  My study Bible notes that because they can easily deceive others, those who put on a show of virtue or religion are more dangerous than those who are evil outright.  So, therefore, we need to be all the more cautious among those who are outwardly virtuous.  In Matthew 3:10, John the Baptist preached the same statement, "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."

 

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."  My study Bible calls this a threefold testimony to the deity of Christ.  First, He calls Himself Lord -- a reference to the divine name "Yahweh" (YHWH) of the Old Testament.  Second, He speaks of the will of My Father, which He fully knows and shares.  Finally, as judge, Christ is revealed as God, as only God can execute true judgment.  In that day is a reference to the final judgment.  

 

 In today's reading, Jesus teaches, "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 commented that this saying is also found in St. Luke's Gospel (Luke 13:24-30), but it notes that there the saying is placed in an eschatological context.  However, reading through the verses that follow here in the Sermon on the Mount, we see that indeed, Jesus also has hints of "end times" considerations here, and especially of the judgment at the end of the age.  He warns us and teaches us how to discern false prophets.  They're people who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.  For the early Church, it seems quite likely that this is a warning against false teachers, which would become an essential concern in the Church -- and remains so.  But Christ teaches us that by their fruits you will know them, so essentially this teaching becomes useful for many circumstances, and even discerning what effect behaviors and doctrines carry over into practice.  He says, "A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit," again teaching us to use discernment and to be wise, and giving us a hint of the judgment to come.  He says, in an echo of John the Baptist, "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."  As He does so, this brings in the eschatological element of judgment that is in St. Luke's Gospel.  "Therefore by their fruits you will know them," becomes the warning and teaching to all of us, for all time about who we follow and who we might trust.  Finally, He teaches, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."  This not only teaches us more about wolves in sheep's clothing, but about hypocrisy -- a focus in the Sermon on the Mount, and Christ's greatest critique of the Pharisees and scribes to come.  Moreover, He again brings in eschatological elements of judgment.  He reminds us that He's not looking for statements of faith, He doesn't want us to swear to anything to try to prove something.  He's looking for faithful behavior -- those who seek the will of God and live it, who do it.  Let us understand that the focus on eschatology is meant to give us a solemn note to emphasize the importance of the teaching, for it is not in another time -- at the end of time -- when all of this matters, but each day we live this reality is with us.  So let us find the narrow gate, the way that is not easy, because after all, in the end it's all that really matters.  It's the way which leads to life.

Enter by 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 the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."

 

- Matthew 7:13-21 

 

We are currently reading through the Sermon on the Mount.  Yesterday, we read that Jesus taught:  "Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.  Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.   Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  Therefore, whatever you want me to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." 

 

"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 comments that the description of the two ways was widespread in Judaism (Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1; Proverbs 4:17-18, 12:28, 15:21; Wisdom of Sirach 15:17). and also in early Christian writings (Didache, Barnabas).   Luke's version of this statement is more eschatological, and refers to the end of the age (Luke 13:24-30).  As we wrestle both against sins and human weaknesses, as well as spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12), to enter the Kingdom is the more difficult way.  

"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."  Jesus speaks here of spiritual fruit.  My study Bible says that because they can easily deceive others, those who put on a show of virtue or religion are more dangerous than those who are evil outright.  Therefore, it says, we should be all the more cautious among those who are outwardly virtuous.

"Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore by their fruits you will know them."  John the Baptist made this same statement about fire in Matthew 3:10.

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."  My study Bible points out that here Jesus testifies to His own deity (and continues in the following verse, which will begin tomorrow's reading).  He calls Himself Lord, referring to the divine name "Yahweh" of the Old Testament.  He also speaks of the will of My Father in heaven, which He fully knows and shares.  As we can see from this beginning statement regarding who shall enter the kingdom of heaven, this is ultimately a theme of judgment, and Himself as true Judge.

What does it mean to bear good fruits?  In John the Baptist's statement found in Matthew 3:10, the phrase refers to the good fruits of repentance.   In 3:8, he tells the Pharisees and Sadducees to "bear fruits worthy of repentance."  Then he goes on to elaborate that they can't just tell themselves that their father is Abraham, because "God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones."  (In context, see Matthew 3:7-12.)   What that means is that, if we are to be children of Abraham in the sense meant here, then we are to be "like Abraham."  Like Abraham, that is, in the sense that Abraham responded to the will of God, and was willing to understand and follow and live within this understanding.  Abraham bore the fruits of obedience and loyalty, of hospitality, of the love of God.  And what is repentance but a return to the love of God?  We so often focus on repentance as some sort of negative action, but this is not really the case at all.  It is a "change of mind" (literally in the Greek word for it), a return to the love of God, illustrated in Luke's parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32).  It is just that simple, a return to God's love -- whenever we are stuck, or we've come to a dead end, or even when we think we've got the world by the tail.  This is why Jesus teaches that His is the narrow way.  It's the devil that tempts with "all the kingdoms of the world and their glory" (Matthew 4:8).  But it is Christ who offers up that narrow way that says, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness" (in Monday's reading).  It is Christ who reminds us that there is one place to find that love and that guidance for our lives, and the discipline that goes with them, a lifelong journey of learning.  We can see all kinds of "good fronts" in the world, those with a great image, who take great care to cultivate that.  But we also might know the sharp sting of the same people and their priorities which exclude God's love, true charity, a place at the table for those who can't repay.  The world is filled with false compassion and ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing who simply seek their own ambitious and very self-centered ends.  St. Paul tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control," and adds that "against such there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23).  So where do we go to bear such fruit, to be watered and nourished in order to do so?  To whom do we go?  Are there people you know who bear those fruits?  Are you called to do so yourself?  Jesus doesn't mince words nor deceive about the narrow and difficult way, but He does call each one of us, and that is the real call of love.

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

 "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 the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."

- Matthew 7:13-21

We are reading through the Sermon on the Mount, which comprises Matthew chapters 5 - 7.  Yesterday we read that Jesus taught, "Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.  Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.  Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

 "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."  In Judaism, the description of the two ways was widespread, my study bible notes here (see Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1; Proverbs 4:15-18, 12:28, 15:24; Wisdom of Sirach 15:17).  This is also a distinguishing feature of early Christian writings (Didache, Barnabas).  In Luke's version of this saying (Luke 13:24-30), the perspective is more eschatological, directly referring to the end of the age.  We wrestle against sins and human weaknesses, as swell as spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12).  Therefore to enter the Kingdom is the more difficult way. 

 "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."   My study bible says that because they can easily deceive others, those who put on a show of virtue or religion are more dangerous than those who are evil outright.  Therefore, it says, we must be all the more cautious among those who are outwardly virtuous.  Jesus has spoken out against hypocrisy several times in the Sermon on the Mount (see Monday's reading), and He continues to warn against others who practice it here.  John the Baptist also preached, "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (3:10).  Jesus furthers the analogy for our understanding.

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."   My study bible calls this a threefold testimony of the deity of Christ.  He calls Himself Lord, which refers to the divine name "Yahweh" of the Old Testament.  Jesus also speaks of the will of My Father, which He fully knows and shares.  Finally, as judge, Christ is revealed as God, for only God can execute true judgment. 

Jesus emphasizes discipleship here.  As He comes toward the closing of the Sermon on the Mount, He approaches the subject of Judgment.  But first there is a call toward the discipline He asks of His followers.  We need good judgment, discernment, awareness, and prudence.  It's not an easy task He's answering of us.  Furthermore, the "easy" task is destruction.  It doesn't require as much alertness and watchfulness, nor the same kind of discernment.  What Jesus suggests is that He's asking us for specifics in our own conduct of our lives, we need to work at this business of being aware of who we are, where we are, what choices we're making.  He doesn't want us to sleepwalk through life.  We're to be mindful and awake to ourselves and to life around us.  We don't want to go along with the crowd.  We want to make good choices, because we choose our own direction.  In this context, He warns us to beware of false prophets.   Those who make a show of good virtue can too easily be those who will lead us astray.  Again, He calls on us for discernment.  We need to be watchful, and make the most of our capacity to understand.  He not only wants us to be on guard against our own capacity for hypocrisy, but to be aware of that possibility in others who'd lead us away from His way.  He gives us a key:  "You will know them by their fruits."  Watch what they do, watch what they produce.   In this context, the element of Judgment comes up.   Such hypocrites will not fare well in the Judgment, and He is the Judge.  The lives of hypocrites and their practices and fruits are good for nothing but the fire.   Whether this manifests in this life or at the time of Judgment, one cannot say, but Jesus' (and John's) implication is clear, such behavior bears no support in the context of the life offered by Christ.  And with that understanding we read the final line of today's text:  "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."  We can call upon Christ's name, but without sincere devotion it is meaningless.  Without a heart that chooses the treasure He has in mind, it bears no fruit.  Doing the will of His Father in heaven is the fruit Christ seeks, that bears witness to a good tree.  Once again we turn to Christ's words from an earlier portion of this Sermon:  "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."  Where do we put our trust?  What do we bank on?  What is it we really do with our lives?  With what do we ally ourselves?  What do we love?  These questions always remain pertinent and real.  They demand of us answers at every point in our lives.  And when we have fallen into a kind of sleep, or unawareness, they pull us right back into the alert state He wants of us:  that which we treasure and trust in will become our identity.  Let us count on His word and His love lest we be led where we don't want to go.

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

 "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 the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." 

- Matthew 7:13-21

 We are reading through the Sermon on the Mount, which began with the Beatitudes in Matthew chapter 5.  Currently we are in chapter 7.  In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught, "Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.  Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.  Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

 "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 reminds us that the description of the two ways was widespread in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1; Proverbs 4:15-18, 12:28, 15:24).  It is also widely found in early Christian writings (Didache, Barnabas).  Luke's version of this (Luke 13:24-30) has more of an eschatological tone, referring to the end of the age.   We wrestle against sins and human weaknesses as well as spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12), my study bible adds.  Therefore entering the Kingdom is the more difficult way.

"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."  Here is a call to discernment for Christ's followers, judging good judgment.  And Jesus tells us how to do that:  we will know them by their fruits.  My study bible says that because they can easily deceive others, those who put on a show of virtue or religion can be more dangerous than those who are evil outright.  We must be all the more cautious among those whose emphasis is on an outward show of virtue.  Here Jesus repeats yet another statement of John the Baptist:  "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire" (3:10). 

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven." Jesus testifies to His own deity here, my study bible points out.  He calls Himself Lord, which is a reference to the divine name "Yahweh" of the Old Testament.   He also speaks of the will of My Father in heaven, which He fully knows and shares.  He refers to Himself as the One who executes true judgment, something only God can do.

We often think of the Sermon on the Mount as a kind of description of the righteousness associated with prescriptions about daily life.  But Jesus includes much more than that.  In today's reading, He gives us clues about Judgment, about a kind of absolute that is a warning to us.  It isn't all positive, it's not always about what we are to do.  Here there are warnings involved, and they are not only about our own conduct but also about watching out for those who'd mislead us and cause harm.  This is all part and parcel of Jesus' care for His followers, and teachings about living this life of the righteousness of the Kingdom.  We're given a very stern warning that this life isn't for everyone, nor is it found everywhere.  We have to be discerning about what and whom we follow.  Moreover, not everyone who shows themselves as a prophet is to be trusted.  We have to see the fruits they produce.  Jesus uses this very vivid image -- those who come to us in sheep's clothing but inwardly are as ravenous as wolves -- to describe those who wish to prey on the sheep who follow Him.  Let's note the deeper tone of warning here:  not everything is as it seems.  We can't trust to appearances and we're not to be persuaded by them.  He doesn't want us to be naive but rational and forewarned sheep, discerning good fruit from bad.  He expects us to know what we are about, what He asks of us, and to recognize which fruit is which.  He repeats the words of John the Baptist, which apply to all of us (but which John also gave in the context of hypocritical leadership):  "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."   And then finally, we come to an even deeper note of seriousness and warning:  "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."   It's about the final Judgment (and will continue with tomorrow's reading), but these sobering words are meant to teach us about how we live life every day.  We seek to do as He has taught us to pray in the Lord's Prayer (or the Our Father):  "Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  That is, the righteousness of the Kingdom is part of our daily life, but is also connected to the absolute.   And it is such a life that opens the door to the Kingdom.  He's speaking of the Judgment, but the whole Sermon is all about the righteousness of the kingdom of heaven, that which we live even in this world, which He'll teach His disciples to tell others is "at hand."  This is the living word of the living Word, the words He gives us to live by each moment in the here and the now.  There is no clear distinction between "end times" and "right now" because, in truth, we live in the "end times."  In Him, all is present.  His words echo John the Baptist, and so does the teaching (also taught by the Baptist) that the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  It lives in us and among us because we use our power of cooperation with God's grace to be a part of it.  We ask and seek and knock, we look around at our lives and don't simply follow anyone who comes along just because they look good.  We use our gifts wisely, we expect to live as He has taught us to live -- as rational sheep with the power to discern.  How do you bear His truth in the world, and seek that narrow gate that He proclaims?  He prepares us for a journey that will ask of us all we can give it, every capacity for awareness.  The narrow gate is His way, the way that He teaches throughout the Sermon on the Mount.

Narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it

 "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 the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."

- Matthew 7:13-21

We are reading through the Sermon on the Mount.  We began with the Beatitudes, then we read You are the salt of the earth, Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to fulfill, Whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment, Let your "Yes" be "Yes," and your "No," "No," Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven, Pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly, Our Father in heaven, You cannot serve God and mammon, and Your heavenly Father knows you need all these things.  Yesterday, we read that Jesus preached, " "Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.  And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye;'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.  Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.  Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.  Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!  Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."

  "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 tells us that the description of "two ways" was widespread in Judaism (see for example Deuteronomy 30:15-20; Psalm 1; Proverbs 4:17-18, 12:28).  We also find it in early Christian writings such as the Didache and Barnabas.   In Luke's version (Luke 13:24-30), there is a more eschatological focus, as it refers to the end of the age.   My study bible says that because we restle against sins and human weaknesses as well as spiritual forces of evil (Ephesians 6:12), entering the Kingdom is therefore the more difficult way.

"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."   Again there is a warning about hypocrisy here, this time a warning to beware of false prophets -- those who put on a show of religion and are inwardly something quite different.  My study bible says that this type of deceit in religious guise is much more dangerous than evil outright.  It invites us to an even deeper caution among those who are outwardly virtuous!    By their fruits you will know them finds a reflection in the teachings of John the Baptist.  In Matthew 3:10, John says exactly the same thing:  "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire."  Jesus is preparing His disciples for the future, and by their fruits you will know them remains a watchword for us now.

"Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."  And here the eschatological emphasis becomes especially clear.  Ultimately, this is all about Judgment, the age which is initiated even by the call of John the Baptist.   It is an explicit kind of call to discipleship, one that relies on a depth of relationship to God, and not with those whose virtue is only outward.  This is also an explicit statement linking Christ to the Lord of the Old Testament, and thus the divine name "Yahweh"  (for which the title the Lord - "adonai" -  was interchangeable).  "The will of My Father" establishes His relationship to God the Father, and also that they share this will.  It is clearly a statement that He is Judge, a place only God can fill.

 The eschatological nature of this reality can't be mistaken in Jesus' statements, which clearly pertain to the Judgment -- the end of the age.  This is the reality initiated even by the call of John the Baptist to "Prepare the way of the Lord."  This is the time of the end, even the time we are in now, the time initiated by the coming of the Lord as human being.  It's important that we understand this focus, and the reality of Christ's life, what it meant and means for the time that we live in now.  "End times" aren't just about what might happen someday.  They happen even as we live our lives now, they unfold in the period in which we live, this "age" that began with Incarnation, the visit of our Lord, "God with us."  As such, this understanding colors the ways we see our lives and the ways in which we live our lives.  Jesus doesn't tell us to follow blindly any leader who seems to be holy.  He tells us something really different.  We are to practice discernment.  He wants rational sheep, not blind obedience to those who are themselves blind.   This is a part of the call to a depth of relationship to God.  It's a part of the call against hypocrisy, Jesus' emphasis on the internal life of the heart, on purity of heart.  All of it fits together, no matter which way we look at it.  It is all a part of the ministry that teaches that God is Spirit and is looking for those who can worship in spirit and in truth.  He's teaching those of us who would be His disciples just what that means for us, how we are to be in this world, how we are to follow His Way.   It is part of the more difficult way.   We must carry light in the world, light in our eyes against the darkness of blindness, as we carry His Kingdom within us.  He calls us to be awake and alert.  This is what it is to do the will of My Father in heaven.  We are in a time of the end, it doesn't come later, it's now, a reality with us.   We are to make His paths straight, as the Baptist said, quoting Isaiah the Prophet.   Jesus teaches us what it is to be on this straight path, this way (the word in Greek means "road") -- His Way.