THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. Matt. 5, 6, 7 (46)

January 5, 2019

18-12-18

Key: SCHAFF: “When the Lord open his mouth, we should open our ears and hearts” 

TWO GATES, TWO WAYS, TWO ENDS AND TWO GROUPS OF PEOPLE. Mat. 7:13, 14.

We are now in the concluding section of the Sermon on the Mount. “The requirements which have been made in the course of the discourse are very rigorous. Our Lord does not soften this rigour at all, but goes on to declare that the way pointed out by him is indeed one hard to find and follow, and there is great danger of being deceived by false guide, and self-deception…We cannot drift with the crowd, without purpose or effort, through the narrow gate; to act thus would lead through the wide gate of destruction. Heedfully and diligently we must go in through the narrow gate, along the straitened and difficult way, which leads to life.” Broadus John A.

  1. Matt. 7:13-14 “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”
    1. “Enter ye in” Enter in to life Matt. 7:14; 18:8; 19:17, or the Messianic kingdom, as in Matt. 5:20; 7:21; 18:3; 19:23. Compare Matt. 19:17 and 23. “What makes the way so narrow? Nothing but the world, the flesh and the devil” Schaff
    2. Two Gates. 7:13-14 the strait or narrow gate Lk. 13:24, Jn. 10:1, 9, Lk. 10:24, we also have the wide gate. “The broad road: (1) Men are in it without finding or entering; (2) They pursue it without difficulty or effort; (3) They have plenty of company; (4) But it leads them to perdition.: – Luther.
    3. Two ways or two roads Is. 35:8, Jer. 6:16, Pro. 8:20, Jn. 1:46 the way of the cross 1Cor. 1:18, 23; 2:2 and the way of religion or the Law Gal. 3:1-2; 5:1-4, the way of sin and the way of righteousness Rom. 7:8, 14-21; 6:6-14; 3:19-28. Henry says, “No man, in his wits, would chose to go to the gallows, because the way to it is smooth and pleasant, nor refuse the offer of a palace and a throne, because the way to it is rough and dirty; yet such absurdities as these are men guilty of in the concern of their soul” Remember there is foolishness in man. Eccl. 9:3
    4. Two destination. A place of rest or labour/crisis Matt. 11:28-19 Heb. 4:3, heaven, paradise or hell 2Cor. 5:1, 4-8, Mk. 9:43-48, Lk. 16:19-31, Jn. 3:13, Act. 7:55-60, Phil. 1:21-23, 2Cor. 12:2, 4, Jn. 17:24, new Jerusalem or the lake of fire Rev. 20:10-15; 21:8; 4: 10-11; 21:9-27.
    5. Two Groups, of faith and flesh Heb. 11:1-4, Jews and Gentiles Eph. 2:11-18, of the spirit and of the flesh, Gal. 4:22-31
      1. You can follow either the minority-few or majority-many. Mat. 24:10-13, Rev. 3:4, Jn. 6:60, 66; 2Chr. 30:17, Ezr. 10:10-13, 24, 44; 2Cor. 16:14-18, Jas. 4:4, Rev. 7:26, 2Cor. 2:17, Phil. 3:17-19, 2Pet. 2:1-2.