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Eric Casagrande / Genelyn Novabos

The Wide and Narrow Gates

In one of my very recent articles, entitled, Heaven Full & Hell Empty, I provided sizeable amounts of scriptural evidence, refuting the highly unbiblical suggestion that only a relatively few will be in heaven – while far greater numbers will end up in hell. In fact, it is just the opposite. There will be far more people spending eternity in heaven, as compared to the number of people in hell.

Responding to the abovenoted article, one of my puzzled readership sent me the following question: “Eric … I really like what you said, and I agree with it. But how would you interpret Matthew 7: 13-14 , in light of this?”

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate

and broad is the way leading 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.“

Well first of all, whenever you are reading the four gospel messages, it’s important to remember that both the events they describe - and what Jesus said – took place during the last few years of the Old Covenant.

It was the printing company that inserted the “New Testament” introductory page in front of the Gospel of Matthew – it wasn’t placed there by the Holy Spirit or the disciples. The New Covenant did not actually begin until after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ … which events took place at the end of the Gospel recountings. You cannot have a covenant without there first being a shedding of blood in order to ratify the agreement (Hebrews 9: 14-23), and this happened at the cross.

So while we (the born-again Church), can learn many things from the Gospel accounts, nevertheless, they were primarily addressed to those who were under the Mosaic Law (the Jews). My friends, it’s called ‘rightly dividing the Word.’

You know, I must confess to finding it amazing how people can so easily discover contradictions in the Bible. There could be five hundred verses telling us how God is a good God, and how many will be saved … yet people will ignore all those, and choose instead to focus on mabye one or two verses which – because of their lack of understanding and revelation -seem to contradict the five hundred other scriptures.

It’s like they check their brains in the parking lot, and say: “Whatever…”.

No! It’s not ‘whatever’. All of the Bible is in perfect agreement!

In Matthew 7: 13-14, Jesus is speaking directly to the Pharisees – and what He said to them is true! The great mass of that legalistic crowd, who were grumpy, ornery, and relying upon their own self-efforts in a performance-based religion (the WIDE ROAD) … they wouldn’t make it!

Jesus is telling the Pharisees – and to all who trust in their own abilities to make themselves right with God, rather than simply trust in Him - He is telling them point blank: “You ain’t gonna make it. You’re not getting through!”

Trying to save yourself via the Mosaic Laws (or your own self-effort), isn’t ‘Mission Difficult’ my friends … it’s ‘Mission Impossible‘. It’s the way of death (2 Corinthians 3: 4-11).

So that is what Jesus is saying here. For those who trust in themselves to become righteous, the road leading to their guaranteed destruction is very wide … and correspondingly, their ability to see that Jesus is the Messiah and turn to Him, is both narrow and very small.

It is by no means a difficult and narrow road to be saved by Jesus. No! The road to Jesus is smooth and wide for all who call upon His name! But to those who reject Him as Messiah, and trust in their own self effort – just like Adam did in the Garden – the road is so tiny and narrow that it’s impossible to make it.

In fact, Jesus made a similar comment in Luke 13: 23-24, where it reads:

“Then one said to him: Lord, are there few

who can be saved? And he said to them:

Strive to enter through the narrow gate,

for many, I say to you, will seek to

enter, and not be able.“

Now does this mean that it’s really difficult to become saved? Is this the message of salvation we are supposed to bring to the world? To say:

“Come to Jesus … strive to come to Jesus.

But even if you come to Jesus, only a few will make it!“

Is that what our message to the world is all about? We go to the four corners of the earth, and do missions and evangelistic outreaches, and say things like:

“Jesus died for the sins of the world … but a few

maybe only a few of you who call upon His

name, might have a shot at it!“

Not at all! We preach what Simon Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, and what Paul preached in all the cities he went to – that Jesus Christ is accessible to everyone, and that whoever calls upon His name shall be saved (Acts 2: 17-21).

This is for everyone – without discrimination – from the east, from the west, from the north, and from the south. It’s Good News for the whole world! Oh hallelujah!

And the message stands today. For those who rely on their own performance, it’s a difficult road indeed. If you’re relying on your fasting, your prayers, your Bible reading – all of them good things – but if that’s what you’re counting on to be found righteous in the sight of God, and to get your family saved … well my friend, you will never make it!

The only hope is that you would discover Jesus, and how awesome He is, because then you can get off that road, that wide road of legalistic, performance-based religion … and get onto the road called – JESUS!

This is why the first century Church were called – ‘The People of the Way’. He is the way, and it’s not that difficult and hard, where only a few can make it. No! The way is called – JESUS!

Eric Casagrande / Genelyn Novabos

The Wide and Narrow Gates

Responding to the abovenoted article, one of my puzzled readership sent me the following question: “Eric … I really like what you said, and I agree with it. But how would you interpret Matthew 7: 13-14 , in light of this?”

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate

and broad is the way leading 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.“

Well first of all, whenever you are reading the four gospel messages, it’s important to remember that both the events they describe - and what Jesus said – took place during the last few years of the Old Covenant.

So while we (the born-again Church), can learn many things from the Gospel accounts, nevertheless, they were primarily addressed to those who were under the Mosaic Law (the Jews). My friends, it’s called ‘rightly dividing the Word.’

It’s like they check their brains in the parking lot, and say: “Whatever…”.

No! It’s not ‘whatever’. All of the Bible is in perfect agreement!

In Matthew 7: 13-14, Jesus is speaking directly to the Pharisees – and what He said to them is true! The great mass of that legalistic crowd, who were grumpy, ornery, and relying upon their own self-efforts in a performance-based religion (the WIDE ROAD) … they wouldn’t make it!

Jesus is telling the Pharisees – and to all who trust in their own abilities to make themselves right with God, rather than simply trust in Him - He is telling them point blank: “You ain’t gonna make it. You’re not getting through!”

Trying to save yourself via the Mosaic Laws (or your own self-effort), isn’t ‘Mission Difficult’ my friends … it’s ‘Mission Impossible‘. It’s the way of death (2 Corinthians 3: 4-11).

So that is what Jesus is saying here. For those who trust in themselves to become righteous, the road leading to their guaranteed destruction is very wide … and correspondingly, their ability to see that Jesus is the Messiah and turn to Him, is both narrow and very small.

In fact, Jesus made a similar comment in Luke 13: 23-24, where it reads:

“Then one said to him: Lord, are there few

who can be saved? And he said to them:

Strive to enter through the narrow gate,

for many, I say to you, will seek to

enter, and not be able.“

Now does this mean that it’s really difficult to become saved? Is this the message of salvation we are supposed to bring to the world? To say:

“Come to Jesus … strive to come to Jesus.

But even if you come to Jesus, only a few will make it!“

Is that what our message to the world is all about? We go to the four corners of the earth, and do missions and evangelistic outreaches, and say things like:

“Jesus died for the sins of the world … but a few

maybe only a few of you who call upon His

name, might have a shot at it!“

Not at all! We preach what Simon Peter preached on the day of Pentecost, and what Paul preached in all the cities he went to – that Jesus Christ is accessible to everyone, and that whoever calls upon His name shall be saved (Acts 2: 17-21).

This is for everyone – without discrimination – from the east, from the west, from the north, and from the south. It’s Good News for the whole world! Oh hallelujah!

The only hope is that you would discover Jesus, and how awesome He is, because then you can get off that road, that wide road of legalistic, performance-based religion … and get onto the road called – JESUS!

This is why the first century Church were called – ‘The People of the Way’. He is the way, and it’s not that difficult and hard, where only a few can make it. No! The way is called – JESUS!

It’s the road we offer our city!

It’s the road we offer our country!

It’s the road we offer the world!

It’s a GOOD ROAD! …. Come to Jesus!

Oh hallelujah!

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