Welcome to the narrow gate series. Over the next nine weeks, we will unmask God’s outlook on the separation between believers and those who reject His omnipotence.   

Early in Christ’s ministry, He preached on the narrow way. This was Jesus’ sermon and found in Matthew’s Gospel. It covered the fifth, sixth, and seventh chapters.

Let’s see what Christ Jesus spoke:

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads 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.

                                Matthew 7:13-14

In these two scriptures, Jesus brings us to a decision. Here, He shows a choice between entering His kingdom or walking away from salvation. So, one is a destructive force, and the other leads to heaven.

It isn’t by accident these two verses emerge towards the end of His homily. Before this point of His message, He identified the distinction between the two gates.

The Narrow Verses Wide Gate

In our first week, we’ll focus on specific qualities inducive of entering the narrow gate. This includes reviewing the Beatitudes, believers’ light, and Jesus’ fulfillment of God’s Law (Matthew 5:1-20).

Week two switches to the wide road. Here Christ explains God’s truth about anger, adultery, divorce, and swearing (Matthew 5:21-37). I’ll think you’ll agree with me when I say in our society these sinful actions people accept as normal without consequences. This exposes the high number of people living a self-destructive lifestyle. 

Our third week covers selfishness, hate, and prideful behavior (Matthew 5:38-48, 6:1-4). Jesus doesn’t hesitate to share His stern warning against these infractions of God’s holy compass. We’ll learn how Christ teaches us to overcome those temptations.

Here’s something we both can agree on is prayer’s powerfulness. So, in week four, we’ll engage with Christ’s blueprint for proper praying (Matthew 6:5-15). You don’t want to miss out on how praying from the heart catches God’s attention.

The fifth week unveils God’s preference of fasting, meditating on heaven, and radiating Christian light to the world (Matthew 6:16-23). These three lessons heighten the essence of God’s will.

Choosing Salvation

Then in week six, we discover how the love for money, worry, and judging others destroys the Christian heart (Matthew 6:24-34, 7:1-6). They lead to a life filled with corruption and full of evil deeds.

Our seventh week brings us in alignment with why relying on God holds an important role in our lives (Matthew 7:7-12). It’s in these scriptures Christ brings to light how human knowledge isn’t enough to live in favor with God.

It’s in week eight we understand the reason for letting Christ know our choice (Matthew 7:13-14). Followed by Christ’s infinite wisdom on false teachers, the penalty for their lies, and the rewards He gives to faithful followers (Matthew 7:15-29).

In our last week (week 9), I’ll share my final thoughts on this exceptional revelation. I hope this series brings you added awareness to Christ’s Deity. Because without hearing Jesus’ words, the entry into God’s kingdom remains shut (John 14:).

Come join me and let’s correspond. I love to hear your perspective on the narrow way.