Life Walk Lesson 29 — The Narrow Gate
Matthew 7:13-14 The Narrow Gate
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
John 10:1-9 Jesus is the Gate
1 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.
4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.
6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
7 Then Jesus said to them again, Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.
8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them.
9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”
Ezekiel 40-42 The Windows and doors all have narrow openings
According to Professor Kleiner, of Yale University, in her lectures on Roman Architecture, most cathedrals have windows which are made narrow for this reason: to symbolize the narrow road.
Matthew 17:1-20; Luke 9:28-43 The Mount of Transfiguration and the healing of the boy at the base of the Mountain
The narrative makes clear that the demon did not bother the child, always, but sometimes left him alone. Jesus declares that it is a perverse generation which has clear choices, and remains powerless to make them for lack of faith in God to protect them, which continually succumbs to the prevailing evil, unlike Jacob who prevailed against spiritual warfare. He was a man of faith, who walked in the promise and believed, just as his father and grandfather before him did.
The Glory Cloud in which God Appears Even in a Perverse Generation
Deuteronomy 5:24
“And you said, ‘The LORD our God has shown us His glory and His majesty, and we have heard His voice from the fire. Today we have seen that a person can live even if God speaks with them.’”
Deuteronomy 18:15
“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.”
1Kings 18:44
“The seventh time the servant reported, ‘A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.’ So Elijah said, ‘Go and tell Ahab, “Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”
God Came Down in a Glory Cloud on the Mountain of Transfiguration to Discuss with Jesus His Departure
Deuteronomy 32:20
“I will hide my face from them,’ He said, ‘and see what their end will be; for they are a perverse generation, children who are unfaithful.’”
Christ is the Wisdom of God
Proverbs 2:12-15
12 “Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,
13 who have left the straight paths to walk in dark ways,
14 who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil,
15 who’s paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.”
Unbelief in the Goodness of God results in Perverseness
Luke 9:41
“‘You unbelieving and perverse generation,’ Jesus replied, ‘how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.’”
John 4:47-48
47 “When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.
48 ‘Unless you people see signs and wonders,’ Jesus told him, ‘you will never believe.’”
Making Kingdom Choices
Let’s look at a similar concept from an ancient writing:
4Ezra 7:1-25 [Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament, Volume 2, R.H. Charles, Pages 580-581; in context, regarding choosing the narrow road.]
4Ezra 7:6-9
6 “Again, another illustration. There is builded a city which lies on level ground, and it is full of good things; but its entrance is narrow and lies on a steep [in precipiti in the height], having fire on the right hand and deep water on the left; and there is one only path lying between them both, that is between the fire and the water, and so small is this path, that it can contain only one man’s footstep at once. If, now, this city be given to man for an inheritance, unless the heir pass through the danger set before him, how shall he receive his inheritance?”
You can see the concept here, of Jesus, Who came to save that which is lost, the Heir of the inheritance, the One, Who for the joy set before Him endured the Cross so that those struggling “between the fire and the water,” to stay on the narrow road, just as this young boy experienced in the natural, could be saved.
In Matthew 19:23-25, the Kingdom of God is likened unto a camel going through the eye of a needle. It represents the narrowest road of all, which leads to the broadest place of blessing, as represented in the analogy prior to that of the city, in 4Ezra 7:1-5.
1 “When I had finished speaking these words, the angel who had been sent to me on the former nights was sent to me again,
2 and he said to me, "Rise, Ezra, and listen to the words that I have come to speak to you."
3 I said, "Speak, my lord." And he said to me, "There is a sea set in a wide expanse so that it is broad and vast,
4 but it has an entrance set in a narrow place, so that it is like a river.
5 If any one, then, wishes to reach the sea, to look at it or to navigate it, how can he come to the broad part unless he passes through the narrow part?”
The impossibility of entering in, without being in Christ, the Heir of the inheritance Who goes before us through the danger, which is the Cross, is just as impossible as a camel getting through the space where a thread goes through a needle.
If one isn’t in the “thread” like *Rahab and her family — in the Blood-line of Christ — one cannot enter. For by grace we are saved, by His Blood, for He Who paid for us to enter into His Glory brings us into the Presence of our Father in Heaven by the power of His precious Holy Spirit. [*Joshua 6:23]
Matthew 19:23-25
23 “Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven.
24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the Kingdom of God.’
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who them can be saved?’”
There is nothing wrong with God-given wealth, as we see in Deuteronomy 8:18, as part of the Abrahamic Covenant.
“And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
If people hang on to earthly riches, as though that is all there is, they will not be inclined to let go of what they know for what God has for them, without the indwelling Holy Spirit Who knows what God has in store for the righteous.
Choosing the Right Thread
Now, let’s look at what Abram said to one of the kings, after the battle, as an example of letting go of earthly riches for God-given wealth.
Genesis 14:23
“that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or a strap of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, ‘I made Abram rich.’”
Here is an example of the birthright marked by the scarlet thread:
Scripture Reading: Genesis 38 Tamar gives birth to twins, Perez and Zerah, by her father-in-law, Judah; Zerah wears the scarlet thread.
Genesis 38:28
“As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, ‘This one came out first.’”
Only God can make us rich, and *no sorrow comes with it, for He is El Shaddai, the Almighty. Simply said, He is the God of more than enough. Only God determines birthright, and keeps His promises, so that as children of God we are privileged to enjoy all the blessings of an heir in Christ. [*Proverbs 10:22]
When Donkeys Speak
Let’s look at another “narrow road” experience:
Numbers 22:24-41; Chapters 23-24 Balaam meets the angel of the Lord on the narrow road, and is instructed to speak only what God says to say.
Numbers 23:19
“God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He
should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?
Numbers 24:3-4
3 “and he spoke his message: ‘The prophecy of Balaam, son of Beor, the prophecy of one whose eye sees clearly,
4 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who sees a vision from the Almighty [El Shaddai], who falls prostrate, and whose eyes are opened:”
Numbers 24:17-19
17 “I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near. A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel. He will crush the foreheads of Moab, and the skulls of all the people of Sheth.
18 Edom will be conquered; Seir, His enemy, will be conquered, but Israel will grow strong.
19 A ruler will come out of Jacob and destroy the survivors of the city.”
We know from history that the Jewish leaders of Israel, the line of Herod, during the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry were not from the line of Jacob, but of Esau. They usurped the throne, and the birthright which had been given to Jacob, once again, and Jesus took it back as King of kings, and Lord of lords.
God Keeps all of His Good Promises
Isaiah 55:11
“So is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
An example of a good promise kept:
Genesis 1:2
2 “Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
3 And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
4th Ezra 6:38-59 (Apocrypha and Pseudepigrapha of the Old Testament, Volume 2, R. H. Charles, Pages 578)
4Ezra 6:38-40
“And I said, ‘O Lord, of a truth thou didst speak at the beginning of creation upon the first day, saying: let heaven and earth be made! And Thy word perfected the work. Then was the Spirit hovering; darkness and silence were on every side; the sound of man’s voice was not yet before Thee. Then Thou didst command a ray of light to be brought forth out of Thy treasuries, that then Thy works might become visible.”
Revelation 22:4-5
4 “They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.
5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”
There will always be light: during the period called “time” and for eternity, when there will be no more accounting of time.
When Jesus comes, may He find us Faithful
John 12:42
“Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue;”
Under the Law of Moses, if one’s sins were the kind of infraction of the Law so as to separate one from the congregation — to be cut off from Israel — it was like being separated from God’s love, and like being cast out of the Kingdom of God.
In their effort to stay connected to the Congregation of Israel, they were willing to deny their faith in Christ publicly, if need be, but Jesus asked them to step out in faith and listen to God, believe, and follow Him on the Narrow Road, that Highway which Isaiah said was far above the adversaries of our faith, the Way of Holiness. [Isaiah 35:8]
Staying on the Narrow Road is a choice, as seen by the miracle of the healing of the boy on the day after Jesus was transfigured in secret. For those who give in secret are rewarded openly with affirmation by, and accreditation from God Himself, our Father in Heaven.
There is a singularity of heart, which God is looking for in all of us, which loves, serves, believes, and follows God. There is a “convinced of this I know” that comes with belief, according to the Apostle Paul. [Romans 4:21, Romans 14:5]. Even if one’s spouse does not believe, the rest of the family may be covered by the believing spouse, when they are pleased to dwell together. [1Corinthians 7:12-14]
I truly believe this is why Jesus said, “Pray for your enemies.” When we believe in Jesus, we not only have eternal life, according to John 11:26, but we sanctify others in our sphere of influence, so that they have a chance to repent, and be included in the Blood Line. [1Corinthians 7:14]
Jesus declared that, for some, the enemy of their soul would be the members of their own household. [Matthew 10:36] So we pray for one another, love one another, and sanctify one another, for the sake of our household, so that the peace of Christ may reign in our hearts, and in our homes.
The Righteous and Believing Shall See God
Matthew 5:8 [AMPC]
“Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous—possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!”
Galatians 3:5
“So again I ask, ‘does God give you His Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the Law, or by your believing what you heard?”
John 1:47
“When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, ‘Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.’”
John 1:51
“He then added, ‘Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of man.” [NIV Note: Genesis 28:12]
Jesus prophesied over Nathaniel that he too would have a “Jacob’s Ladder” experience.
Cross references: Mark 1:13 and Mark 8:38 — our witness of, and our belief in, Jesus Christ is before the angels who will gather the elect. [Mark 13:27]
Of interest, perhaps, to the Bible Student at this point, is an ancient writing, translated by Sir E.A. Wallis Budge, published in1913, called the Coptic Apocrypha in the Dialect of Upper Egypt, the longest portion of which is an Apocryphon attributed to the Apostle Bartholomew, also known as Nathaniel, called, “Book of the Resurrection” wherein he describes the descent of our Lord into hell, and all that occurred there, His resurrection, and ascension into Heaven. It is a powerful documentation of the events which took place which the Holy Spirit showed Nathaniel, as promised.
God Keeps His Word
Keep the faith. Keep believing. Keep trusting God, for He keeps all of His good promises.
Joshua 21:45 [AMPC]
45 “There failed no part of any good thing which the Lord had promised to the house of Israel; all came to pass.”
Joshua 23:14
14 “And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. Know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God promised concerning you. All have come to pass for you; not one thing of them has failed.”
1Kings 8:56
56 “Blessed be the Lord, Who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. Not one word has failed of all His good promise which He promised through Moses His servant.”
Sent and Supplied
Exodus 3:21
21 “And I will give this people favor and respect in the sight of the Egyptians; and it shall be that when you go, you shall not go empty-handed.”
Exodus 23:15
15 “You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread; seven days you shall eat unleavened bread as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month of Abib, for in it you came out of Egypt. None shall appear before Me empty-handed.”
Hosea 14:2
2 “Take with you words and return to the Lord. Say to Him, Take away all our iniquity; accept what is good and receive us graciously; so will we render [our thanks] as bullocks [to be sacrificed] and pay the confession of our lips.”
Don’t come before God empty-handed. Always come before the Lord with words of belief.
