One often forgets the importance of our hearing or listening abilities in our everyday life. Seldom does a person give much thought to all of the things that one has listened to or given ear to in any given day. Yet, it is that which one does hear, which forms the basis or foundation of what will be the moral and ethical values in one’s life. When a person listens to wrong things, and does not make the proper or adequate effort to correct or overthrow those thoughts (by bringing every thought into the obedience of Christ), the mind then will start to become clouded or blinded, and it is then that a person begins to make wrong decisions or choices.
Jesus Christ plainly tells us that He is the way, which is established in and by the truth of God’s Word, and it is only by and through Him that one is able to maintain their walk on that strait and narrow path which will eventually lead one to eternal life. Most people will say that they hear Him and His Word, but few are there that then do those things that He asks of them. (Luke 6:46)
The less time that one has for God and His Word, the less time and nourishment is there for the mind to be renewed in and on the proper things. The less the mind is renewed in His Word, the more one is apt to stray from God, for this allows the mind to return to it’s old nature and ways, and soon the flesh again in control. (Gal 3:1-5, 1Cor 3:1-5, Rom 8:8, Heb 11:6, Heb 3:12-14).
Matthew 7:13-14, 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. KJV
There are but two ways for a person to travel, the way of the flesh and sin, or the way of the Spirit by His Word. Right or wrong; good or evil; the way to heaven or the way to hell, there is no middle road or path, no middle ground, no gray areas. It is either the Spirit of truth, or by the spirit of error that one will choose to follow.
The wide gate or way, is the path that most people choose to walk and travel on. It is the way of the flesh, and the lusts and desires of the flesh in which it thrives and grows on. It allows one to do that which they want to do. It puts no limitations or restrictions on what one thinks that they can do, and then will do.
The broad path which leads to destruction, which many choose to take or follow, (as people are often apt to follow the example of the many), gives them a false sense of security by assuming that there is safety in numbers. Yet, in following the crowd or majority, they are following the way of evil, and this will certainly lead onto death, spiritual death!
The broad path is the path of wayward woes. (Wayward = perverse; froward; disobedient. Woes = grief or sorrows.) As one is caught up in the moment, in the frenzy of the crowd, the wayward woes do not seem to be that far off or wrong. After all, there are many people traveling along with you, and all the people seem to have alike interests, which again gives one a false sense of security. One also rationalizes, how could so many possibly be wrong? How could so many good people be in error?
Also on the broad path, are many wolves that are in sheep’s clothing. Their only purpose is to keep the flock going in the wrong direction, down the wrong path. They will do or say whatever is necessary to keep the people moving along this broad path. And this will be quite easy for them to do, since few have taken the time, or put forth the effort, to not only hear God’s Word, or make the effort to understand it, and then allow it to become a way of life for them. They choose not to be led and taught by His Spirit, thus, they are not able to develop the ability to discern between good and evil. And since they have no discernment, how can they know which way to go? How can they possibly choose the right path? How will they know who or what they should listen to?
[For wide is the gate, and broad is the way] And very broad, euruchooros (grk 2149), from eurus, broad, and choora (grk 5561), a place, a spacious roomy place, that leadeth forward, apagousa (grk 520), into THAT destruction, eis (grk 1519) teen (grk 3588) apooleian (grk 684), meaning eternal misery; intimating, that it is much more congenial, to the revengeful, covetous heart of fallen man, to take every advantage of another, and to enrich himself at his expense, rather than to walk according to the rule laid down before, by our blessed Lord, and that acting contrary to it is the way to everlasting misery. With those who say it means repentance, and forsaking sin, I can have no controversy. That is certainly a gate, and a strait one too, through which every sinner must turn to God, in order to find salvation. But the doing to everyone as we would they should do unto us, is a gate extremely strait, and very difficult, to every unregenerate mind. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)
[Because strait is the gate] Instead of hoti (grk 3754), because, I prefer ti (grk 5100), how, which reading is supported by a great majority of the best MSS., versions, and fathers. How strait is that gate! This mode of expression more forcibly points out the difficulty of the way to the kingdom. How strange is it that men should be unwilling to give up their worldly interests to secure their everlasting salvation! And yet no interest need be abandoned, but that which is produced by injustice and unkindness. Reason, as well as God, says, such people should be excluded from a place of blessedness. He who shows no mercy (and much more he who shows no justice) shall have judgement without mercy. <James 2:13> (from Adam Clarke Commentary)
The way to the kingdom of God is made sufficiently manifest-- the completest assistance is promised in the way, and the greatest encouragement to persevere to the end is held out in the everlasting Gospel. But men are so wedded to their own passions, and so determined to follow the imaginations of their own hearts, that still it may be said: There are few who find the way to heaven; fewer yet who abide any time in it; fewer still who walk in it; and fewest of all who persevere unto the end. Nothing renders this way either narrow or difficult to any person but sin. Let all the world leave their sins, and all the world may walk abreast in this good way. (from Adam Clarke Commentary)
So then, when the crowd is followed, instead of His Word, one places themselves in a very precarious position. They imitate that which the crowd is doing. They mimic or say that which the majority is doing, yet within their heart they have no real assurance of whether what they are doing is indeed that which the Word asks of them. They have now reached the place where they place more reliance and trust in the flesh, then they do in God and His Word.
Matthew 7:24-26, 24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: KJV
The strait and narrow path is traveled on by those few that have taken the time to hear His Word, and then apply it to their life, by allowing it to become an actual way of life. Let’s look at a few of Matthew Henry’s comments on these verses.
(1.) some that hear his sayings and do them: blessed be God that there are any such, though comparatively few. To hear Christ is not barely to give him the hearing, but to obey him. Note, It highly concerns us all to do what we hear of the saying of Christ. It is a mercy that we hear his sayings: Blessed are those ears, <Mt 13:16-17>. But, if we practise not what we hear, we receive that grace in vain. To do Christ's sayings is conscientiously to abstain from the sins that he forbids, and to perform the duties that he requires. Our thoughts and affections, our words and actions, the temper of our minds, and the tenour of our lives, must be conformable to the gospel of Christ; that is the doing he requires. All the sayings of Christ, not only the laws he has enacted, but the truths he has revealed, must be done by us. They are a light, not only to our eyes, but to our feet, and are designed not only to in form our judgments, but to re form our hearts and lives: nor do we indeed believe them, if we do not live up to them. Observe, It is not enough to hear Christ's sayings, and understand them, hear them, and remember them, hear them, and talk of them, repeat them, dispute for them; but we must hear, and do them. This do, and thou shalt live. Those only that hear, and do, are blessed <Lu. 11:28; Jn. 13:17>, and are akin to Christ. <Mt 12:50>. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)
[2.] that there is a rock provided for us to build this house upon, and that rock is Christ. He is laid for a foundation, and other foundation can no may lay, <Isa. 28:16; 1 Cor. 3:11>. He is our Hope, <1 Tim. 1:1>. Christ in us is so; we must ground our hopes of heaven upon the fulness of Christ's merit, for the pardon of sin, the power of his Spirit, for the sanctification of our nature, and the prevalency of his intercession, for the conveyance of all that good which he has purchased for us. There is that in him, as he is made known, and made over, to us in the gospel, which is sufficient to redress all our grievances, and to answer all the necessities of our case, so that he is a Saviour to the uttermost. The church is built upon this Rock, and so is every believer. He is strong and immovable as a rock; we may venture our all upon him, and shall not be made ashamed of our hope.
[3.] that there is a remnant, who by hearing and doing the sayings of Christ, build their hopes upon this Rock; and it is their wisdom. Christ is our only Way to the Father, and the obedience of faith is our only way to Christ: for to them that obey him, and to them only, he becomes the Author of eternal salvation. Those build upon Christ, who having sincerely consented to him, as their Prince and Saviour, make it their constant care to conform to all the rules of his holy religion, and therein depend entirely upon him for assistance from God, and acceptance with him, and count every thing but loss and dung that they may win Christ, and be found in him. Building upon a rock requires care and pains: they that would make their calling and election sure, must give diligence. They are wise builders who begin to build so as they may be able to finish <Lu. 14:30>, and therefore lay a firm foundation. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)
Note, It is possible for people to admire good preaching, and yet to remain in ignorance and unbelief; to be astonished, and yet not sanctified.
2. The reason was because he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. The scribes pretended to as much authority as any teachers whatsoever, and were supported by all the external advantages that could be obtained, but their preaching was mean, and flat, and jejune: they spake as those what were not themselves masters of what they preached: the word did not come from them with any life or force; they delivered it as a school-boy says his lesson; but Christ delivered his discourse, as a judge gives his charge. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)
Matt 16:16-18, And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.(KJV)
It is in and upon this, the revelation of Christ, that He will build His Church. It is against this revelation that the gates of hell shall not prevail. This is the sure and solid foundation of which we are to build upon. This is the mystery that Paul talks about.
Ephesians 3:9, And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: KJV
How sure are you, of the path that you are taking? How sure are you of the words that you have been listening to? Today, will you follow the crowd, or follow Him?
That you may know Him,
In the service of Jesus Christ.
www.builtanewministries.org
Copyright © 2001 Built Anew Ministries all rights reserved