A Series Interruption to Ask A Serious Question: Exactly What is the Narrow Door/Way?
September 10, 2008 by lionelwoods7
Here are the verses:
Luke 13:22-30
22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
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. 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
Here is my two cents. Me and Lawerence D were wrestling through this yesterday. Typically the “narrow way” is used in reference to morality and to challenge “luke warmness”. I believe it is neither. In our bible study methods we say that “context drives definition”. In other words, we can’t read something into the text to proof it for our benefit, no matter how right we are on the two points. Or in other words, the “narrow way” is biblical and “being moral” and “not being lukewarm” is biblical. The problem lies in us cutting and pasting the two together to make a theological point. So here are the questions.
1. In the context what is the problem?
2. In the context what is the solution?
3. When will these people be shut out? (you have to go a bit further in Matthew to figure this out)
4. Does it seem like these people are struggling with morality?
5. What does the people in Matthew tell Jesus they have done?
6. What does Jesus tell them?
7. Finally what do you think is being conveyed?
Posted in Christian Living, Current Issues, Studying the Scriptures | Tagged Studying the Scriptures | 6 Comments
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1. Man’s seperation from God due to sin (we are shut “outside”…)
2. Jesus (the narrow gate…) through his death and resurrection.
3. “on that day…” (the day of the Lord). When all of human history is climaxed with the return of Jesus and the judging of the world.
4. Jesus is not describing people who struggle with morality, because he in fact never describes human beings that way. Rather, he flatly calls us all evil, dead in our own sin. There is nothing to struggle over, we are incapable of leading a “moral” life in the eyes of God. (hence the purpose of the law…)
5. The people did all sorts of things in Jesus’ name, with the impression that they were doing his will… (miracles, driving out demons, prophesying…)
6. “I never knew you….”
7. Appearances are deceiving… We must have discernment to tell recognize the wolves from the sheep, and the different trees by their fruit. The words that people say are not as important as where they actually put their trust. Those who claim to have faith in Jesus, but really trust in their own righteousness, are really those bounding down the broad path that leads to destruction.
Daniel,
That is my point exactly. I belive this to not be an issue of morality but a matter of self rightouesness vs. a dependcy upon Christ for a foreign righteousness. This verse is usually used in a way that deals with morality and as a scare tactic towards an immoral lifestyle. I do believe that someone who practices sin is not born of God, I don’t think this is what Jesus is communicating here.
Daniel,
Man, you made such a powerful point with #7. Think about the logic of what is being preached today concerning “self examination”. The way it is expounded basically boils down to you focusing on you (and your acts/behavior) in order to have assurance that you’re really saved. And text like this teach against that very thing!
How many weak, new, or easily trusting Christians are being demoralized, oppressed and destroyed because some preacher slammed the pulpit 5 times and repeated “Examine yourselves”. No man, examine Christ. Take His yoke and learn of Him. Not you. As you said in #4, we already know what we are! Ah man, you don’t know how much this grieves my heart!
I don’t teach or believe in “easy believeism”. But I also don’t believe that we should teach a salvation that is a constantly moving target. Nor should we go out of our way in reaction to “easy believeism” and actually close the narrow gate. (Matthew 23:13)
That’s funny BLD, cuz I almost said something about the irony of that very same thing! Seems like that happens a lot, the very verses that are so specific, and so razor-sharp when it comes to salvation, somehow end up being the ones so often used to distort the entire gospel…
You know, I was thinking about this the other day as I was reading over a conversation at some other blog (I forget where…) when I saw someone use the term “Christ-like”, in the usual sense that Christians typically use it. (we’re called to be Christ-like, right?) And even though I’ve heard that term a million times, it just hit me, NO! That’s not even possible! You want to base your salvation on how closely you can be like Jesus? Good luck with that. I don’t know, but for whatever reason it was very obvious to me that we aren’t supposed to try and be Christ-like, but rather Christ-bought. And Christ-filled. And Christ-led. But not Christ-like, that is one of those words that leads to a “Lord, Lord” situation, where Jesus says back, “I never knew you.” Pursuing “Christ-likeness” is really a recipe for trying to achieve your own righteousness….
By the way, Keith’s blog (http://subversive1.blogspot.com/) has a post today that totally connects with this one….
Daniel
Daniel, Lionel and Bro. Lawrence D.-
Well said.
Surely we should guard against a false gospel that leads to a licentious lifestyle, as Paul taught-but it is interesting that he taught and warned like Christ did about three times as often against a legalistic and works related false gospel.
Why the overwhelming focus in scripture on watching out for the teachings of the Judaizers and the Circumcision group as opposed to the false profession that leads to a licentious lifestyle?
As I have considered this over the years, I have come to the following conclusions:
Many times legalists who teach extra biblical rules and regulations and a strict and formal lifestyle many times can be hard to spot as people who adhere to a works related salvation because they can look so good on the outside.
Whitewashed Tombs Etc.
But after observing someone over a long period of time, it becomes readily apparent if someone claims Christ and is not progressively growing in grace and living an unruly and unregenerate lifestyle.
No I do not mean we judge anyone’s salvation especially on an episodic basis as Paul taught in Galatians those who “practice” such things will not inherit eternal life. He did not say that those who have ever done such things or those who currently do such things but those who practice (working hard to perfect) such things as a consistent way of life will not inherit eternal life. Praise the Lord! That good news for us!
But those who look good on the outside but are inwardly full of filthy bones and uncleanness due to the fact that they trust in their own works related self righteousness (filthy rags) as Bro. Lawrence D. said, they are not entering the Kingdom and if that is not bad enough their works related teachings prevent others from entering as well.
“How many weak, new, or easily trusting Christians are being demoralized, oppressed and destroyed because some preacher slammed the pulpit 5 times and repeated “Examine yourselves”. No man, examine Christ.”
That is so well said. As I was preparing to preach on this text this week, I was reminded just how marvelous God’s Grace really is. The grace God gives us is not one we earn or even deserve. God gives it freely; it is up to us to accept His grace. When we do, we strive to be more Christ-like not because it is a “requirement for salvation,” but rather because we are changed. As John Wesley put it: our hearts are strangely warmed. We are changed from the inside – out.
Many times we preach that the way is narrow and that we must change ourselves if we are to enter that “narrow gate.” Yet when we are trying to change ourselves by ourselves, we miss a major theological truth: it is not us that change us, but it is God’s grace, the redemptive power of Jesus Christ, and the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit within us that allows us to change; to become dead to our old selves and become anew.
Yes we do “examine ourselves,” but it is God alone that changes us. Yes the road is narrow and Jesus warns us to aim for that narrow passage, but it is God’s grace and guidance that not only points us in the right direction but also allows us to enter in.
Just food for thought. Blessings to you all this week.
countryrev