Identity crisis!
Part 3
V23 n40
Matthew 7:13 "Enter by the narrow gate; for
wide is the gate and broad the road which leads to ruin, and many there are who
enter by it; 14 because narrow is the gate and contracted the road which
leads to Life, and few are those who find it. (
Let’s look at a few of Adam Clarke’s
comments on these verses.
[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.
[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>
[Few
there be that find it.] The strait gate, stenee (grk 4728) pulee (grk 4439), signifies literally what we call a wicket, i. e. a little door in a large gate. Gate, among the Jews,
signifies, metaphorically, the entrance, introduction, or means of acquiring
anything. So they talk of the gate of repentance, the gate of prayers, and the
gate of tears. When God, say they, shut the gate of paradise against Adam, He
opened to him the gate of repentance. The way to the
One must die to self daily,
as they press forward towards the
Let’s look at a few of Matthew
Henry’s comments on Matthew 7:13-14.
The account that is given
of the bad way of sin, and the good way of holiness. There are but two ways,
right and wrong, good and evil; the way to heaven, and the way to hell; in the
one of which we are all of us walking: no middle place hereafter, no middle
way now: the distinction of the children of men into saints and sinners,
godly and ungodly, will swallow up all to eternity.
Here
is, (1.) An account given us of the way of sin and sinners; both what is the
best, and what is the worst of it.
[1.]
that which allures multitudes into it, and keeps them in it; the gate is wide,
and the way broad, and there are many travellers in
that way. First, "You will have abundance of liberty in that way; the gate
is wide, and stands wide open to tempt those that go right on their way. You
may go in at this gate with all your lusts about you; it gives no check to your
appetites, to your passions: you may walk in the way of your heart, and in the
sight of your eyes; that gives room enough." It is a broad way, for there
is nothing to hedge in those that walk in it, but they wander endlessly; a
broad way, for there are many paths in it; there is choice of sinful ways,
contrary to each other, but all paths in this broad way. Secondly, "You
will have abundance of company in that way: many there be that go in at this
gate, and walk in this way." If we follow the multitude, it will be to do
evil: if we go with the crowd, it will be the wrong way. It is natural for us
to incline to go down the stream, and do as the most do; but it is too great a
compliment, to be willing to be damned for company, and to go to hell with
them, because they will not go to heaven with us: if many perish, we should be
the more cautious.
[2.]
that which should affright us all from it is, that it leads to destruction.
Death, eternal death, is at the end of it (and the way of sin tends to it),--
everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord. Whether it be the high
way of open profaneness, or the back way of close hypocrisy, if it be a way of
sin, it will be our ruin, if we repent not.
Here
is an account given us of the way of holiness.
[1.]
What there is in it that frightens many from it; let us know the worst of it,
that we may sit down and count the cost. Christ deals faithfully with us, and
tells us,
First,
That the gate is strait. Conversion and regeneration are the gate, by which we
enter into this way, in which we begin a life of faith and serious godliness;
out of a state of sin into a state of grace we must pass, by the new birth,
<Jn. 3:3,5>. This is a strait gate, hard to find, and hard to get
through; like a passage between two rocks, <1 Sam. 14:4>. There must be a
new heart, and a new spirit, and old things must pass away. The bent of the
soul must be changed, corrupt habits and customs broken off; what we have been
doing all our days must be undone again. We must swim against the stream; much
opposition must be struggled with, and broken through, from without, and from
within. It is easier to set a man against all the world than against himself,
and yet this must be in conversion. It is a strait gate, for we must stoop, or
we cannot go in at it; we must become as little children; high thoughts must be
brought down; nay, we must strip, must deny ourselves, put off the world, put
off the old man; we must be willing to forsake all for our interest in Christ.
The gate is strait to all, but to some straiter than
others; as to the rich, to some that have been long prejudiced against
religion. The gate is strait; blessed be God, it is not shut up, nor locked
against us, nor kept with a flaming sword, as it will be shortly, <Mt
25:10>.
Secondly,
That the way is narrow. We are not in heaven as soon as we have got through the
strait gate, nor in Canaan as soon as we have got through the Red Sea; no, we
must go through a wilderness, must travel a narrow way, hedged in by the divine
law, which is exceedingly broad, and that makes the way narrow; self must be
denied, the body kept under, corruptions mortified, that are as a right eye and
a right hand; daily temptations must be resisted; duties must be done that
are against our inclination. We must endure hardness, must wrestle and be in an
agony, must watch in all things, and walk with care and circumspection. We must
go through much tribulation. It is hodos tethlimmene-- an afflicted way, a way hedged about with
thorns; blessed be God, it is not hedged up. The bodies we carry about with
us, and the corruptions remaining in us, make the way of our duty difficult;
but, as the understanding and will grow more and more sound, it will open and
enlarge, and grow more and more pleasant.
Thirdly,
The gate being so strait and the way so narrow, it is not strange that there
are but few that find it, and choose it. Many pass it by, through carelessness;
they will not be at the pains to find it; they are well as they are, and see no
need to change their way. Others look upon it, but shun it; they like not
to be so limited and restrained. Those that are going to heaven are but few,
compared to those that are going to hell; a remnant, a little flock, like the
grape-gleanings of the vintage; as the eight that were saved in the ark, <1
Pet.3:20>.
The
great concern and duty of every one of us, in consideration of all this; Enter
ye in at the strait gate. The matter is fairly stated; life and death, good
and evil, are set before us; both the ways, and both the ends: now let the
matter be taken entire, and considered impartially, and then choose you this
day which you will walk in; nay, the matter determines itself, and will not
admit of a debate. No man, in his wits, would choose to go to the gallows,
because it is a smooth, pleasant way to it, nor refuse the offer of a palace
and a throne, because it is a rough, dirty way to it; yet such absurdities as
these are men guilty of, in the concerns of their souls. Delay not, therefore;
deliberate not any longer, but enter ye in at the strait gate; knock at it by
sincere and constant prayers and endeavors, and it shall be opened; nay, a wide
door shall be opened, and an effectual one. It is true, we can neither go in,
nor go on, without the assistance of divine grace; but it is as true, that
grace is freely offered, and shall not be wanting to those that seek it, and
submit to it. Conversion is hard work, but it is needful, and, blessed be God,
it is not impossible if we strive, <Lu. 13:24>. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary)
One is saved by grace through faith,
this is the gift of God. (John 17:3, Eph 2:8-9) To know Christ and the power of
His resurrection, is what one must strive for.
Luke
13: 24 "Strain every nerve to force your way in through the narrow
gate," He answered; "for multitudes, I tell you, will endeavour
to find a way in and will not succeed. (
Let us look at Adam Clarke’s
comments on this verse.
[Are there few that be
saved?] A question either of impertinence or curiosity, the answer to which can
profit no man. The grand question is, Can I be saved? Yes. How? Strive earnestly
to enter in through the strait gate-- agoonizesthe (grk 75), agonize--
exert every power of body and soul-- let your salvation be the grand business
of your whole life.
[Many,
I say unto you, will seek] They seek-- wish and desire; but they do not strive:
therefore, because they will not agonize-- will not be in earnest, they shall
not get in.
(from Adam Clarke Commentary)
How willing are you to loose your
own (fleshly) identity, that you may identified as one of Christ’s?
That
you may know Him,
In
the service of Jesus Christ.
Larry
Gazelka
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© 2001 Built Anew Ministries all rights reserved