Thinking in 3’s - Matthew 7:13-14 - Two Ways

Thinking in 3’s - Matthew 7:13-14 - Two Ways

Matt. 7:13   “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. ¹⁴ For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

These words of Jesus found in the Sermon on the Mount are easy to remember. We have two sets of three, and each entry in the first list is matched by its opposite in the second list: wide/narrow; easy/hard; leading to destruction/life. Jesus is drawing on a Biblical theme called “the two ways.” One is right. The other is wrong.

An Old Testament example of the doctrine of the two ways is found in Psalm 1: 1,2: 

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

These two descriptions are not parallel, but they are two different paths, or, two different sets of influences. We could look to Proverbs as well for the many contrasts between the wise and the foolish - people or individuals on two very different paths.

Again, for context and importance, Jesus identifies Himself as “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). The Gospel teaches us that believing in and following Jesus is one way; the other is to reject Jesus and go our own way. Again, two very different ways.

In our passage, Jesus is marking the contrast between the two ways. One is widely (get it, wide?) accepted by great numbers of people. It is intuitive to them and their mindsets. Most all religions in the world other than Christianity are “works” oriented - “How can I climb my way into heaven?” - and that makes sense to all sorts of people. It would denote the wide way, or gate. Many go down that path.

On the other hand, while the Gospel message itself is simple, it is narrow. “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). Christianity is exclusive to faith in Jesus. The way is narrow, and it rubs against our sensibilities until we have been introduced to the wonder of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.

It makes sense that a wide entrance leads to an easy way. It leads naturally, according to one’s natural sensibilities. It almost would make sense that the easy way leads on a downhill slope. On the other hand, Jesus’ way is hard, because it leads upward. No, we don’t climb our way to heaven, and, as Jesus says, “the burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). But the way is hard because it goes against the current of the world. We must constantly work against our own intuitions and the world’s opinions.

The third contrast has to do with the two paths’ destinations. And since they are two very different paths, they have two very different destinations. One “leads to destruction;” the other “leads to life.” All the people on both paths seems to be alive, and they are, physically. But the destination refers to an eternity of spiritual death, or spiritual life; of eternal distance from God, or eternal fellowship with Him. The first will be stripped of every grace that God has ever given, both to “the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). The second will live in the favor of God forever. The difference can hardly be exaggerated.

You could argue that this passage is not really a case of “thinking in 3’s.” There are actually four descriptions and contrasts. And so maybe this passage will show up again in the collection on “4’s.” But these first three contrasts speak about the path. The last speaks about those who travel on the path: the many, and the few.

The majority does not get to determine the truth. Truth belongs to God, and whether there be many who take Him at His Word, or few, the truth does not change. You can read the story of the Bible and be consistently impressed at how the righteous are greatly outnumbered by the ungodly: Noah building the ark; Elijah vs. the prophets of Baal; the apostles against both Jewish and Gentile unbelievers. We should not be surprised if it is true in our day as well.