Matthew 7:13–29

Bible Studies for Life
Academic Dean at Beeson Divinity School, Samford University

Your Decision

Matthew 7:13–29

Life or Destruction (13–14)
I wonder how many times each day someone who is lost and asking for directions hears the line, “You can’t miss it!” The irony, of course, is that countless people do indeed miss their destination despite the quality of the directions.

We intuitively know that finding a new destination usually takes a series of twists and turns that are new to us. So here at the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us that in order to enter into the way of the Kingdom we must enter through the small gate into the narrow way. 

Significantly, however, Jesus never promises that the narrow way will be straight. There will be twists and turns, obstacles and pitfalls. D.A. Carson has noted that the word for “narrow” in verse 14 is related to the word for “tribulation.” The suggestion is that those who choose to follow Christ will not walk a straight path of ease but will endure opposition and suffering.

The imagery here is intriguing. On the one hand there is a narrow gate followed by a correspondingly narrow path; on the other hand there is a wide gate leading to an equally wide path. 

When entering through a wide door it is easy to take baggage, and keeping that baggage throughout the trip is possible because the road never narrows. On the contrary a narrow door leaves no room for baggage, and because the path never widens there is never any opportunity to add baggage as you go.

Here is a call to repentance in order to enter into the kingdom of God that reminds us that sin, our baggage, must be checked at the door. Self-righteousness, pride, greed, gluttony, lying — the list of sins goes on, but none of them belong in the Kingdom. We enter the Kingdom as we entered the world, with nothing to offer and in total dependence.

Genuine or Counterfeit (15–23)
In light of the demands of entering the kingdom of God, it is entirely fitting that Jesus should move on to help people identify false prophets: those who lead others astray down the broad path.

The metaphor of fruit is very helpful and instructive. Jesus will use this metaphor again later in the Gospel, and every time it is used we are reminded that what we do is directly related to who we are. 

A pear tree will not produce oranges, and a wicked person will not act for the good of others. A preacher is not good, he lacks the righteousness of Christ, if he takes from those who are needy to enrich himself or proclaims a gospel that does not consistently call for repentance from sin and trust in the death and resurrection of Christ.

The warning in verse 19 is stark. Those who do not bear fruit consistent with the Kingdom will be condemned in final judgment. 

The message is clear: if false prophets will meet this end, so too will those who follow them. At first the broad gate and road may have seemed the more appealing because it allows for more baggage and less resistance and suffering. But in light of the final judgment, the burden of choice is reduced.

Rock or Sand (24–29)
Drawing this to a conclusion Jesus paints a picture for us that every child in Sunday School knows. 

The point of the imagery is to place the decision to follow Jesus in sharp relief. The wind and the rain are certainly the trials of life but are most poignantly representative of the final judgment. At the risk of mixing metaphors, the good choice to follow Jesus means that the wise man who builds his house upon the rock will be able to withstand the buffets along his journey and will pass through the final judgment successfully. The only question that remains is what decision you have made.