Narrow Gate Series

We’ve reached week six. Over the last five weeks, Jesus showed us the holy values found within God’s kingdom. He identified unrepented sins open the wide gate door and adherence to God’s word keeps us on the narrow path.

Today Christ teaches us the truth about money, worrying, and judging others. They are three unwise behaviors found in the wide gate.

Christ spoke these words on money:

²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 6:24

In this scripture, Christ uncovers the money problem. Here’s something we both can agree on: currency brings on sin. Robberies, theft, embezzlement, and financial scams are a few sins caused by mammon. Besides its wicked allurement, poverty emerges, leaving many people without food, shelter, and other necessities.

Misers are excellent examples of this truth. They hoard money and their obsession with it causes problems. Greed is the prime culprit behind loving money. People chase after it, hoping they find happiness, but they never find satisfaction in this deceptive love.

God understands humanity created a financial institution to get basic needs. But He opposes the love of money (1 Timothy 6:10). That’s why Christ pointed out serving money is a wide gate trait. God leaves no doubt placing wealth ahead of Him leads to vanity (Ecclesiastes 5:10).

The Ineffective Value of Worry

Worry is a universal human tendency. Everyone struggles with this ineffective behavior. And Christ shared God’s take on why worrying isn’t holy.

Jesus explained it this way:

²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?

Matthew 6:25

Christ began by saying worrying about food, and clothing has a small value. Jesus clarified life is more than eating and fashion. The interesting part of this verse is He answered with a meditative question. He wanted us to think of life.

He went on and said,

²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:26

This scripture shows us God’s incredible provisions. As stated by Jesus, God feeds the birds. In fact, Christ reminds us humanity has dominion over animals (Genesis 1:27-28). Again, our Savior answers with a thought-provoking question.

In the next two verses, He reemphasized the useless practice of worrying over clothing (Matthew 6:28). He showed God’s brilliant creation of lilies and their exceptional abilities (Matthew 6:29).

Seek God’s Kingdom

His next words unveil why worrying isn’t worthwhile.

Christ voiced it this way:

³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

Matthew 6:30

It’s in this verse Christ discloses the reason worry doesn’t fit in our walk with God. Jesus defines worry as little faith. Indeed, worry illustrates a lack of trust in our Father’s supernatural power.

Here’s our Messiah’s last message on worrying.

³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  

Matthew 6:31-34

Did you recognize in verses thirty-one and thirty-two He showed nonbelievers consume themselves with worry? The last two verses tell the truth about why we shouldn’t concern ourselves with food or clothing. Christ tells us when we make seeking God’s kingdom our top priority, He never fails to provide us with food or clothing. Christ mentioned worrying about the future prevents us from dealing with the problems of today.

The Hypocrisy of Judging Others

In this part of Jesus’s sermon, He sheds wisdom on judging others.

Let’s see what Christ said:

“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. ² For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

Matthew 7:1-2

Jesus says when we judge others, we receive our own criticism. Passing judgment on others is a common human habit. No one is immune from judging others because each of us sees the spiritual ugliness sin creates. Christ tells the way we judge others will be the way others judge us. His message shows us when we judge, we are judging ourselves. In reality, His directive tells us the inappropriate behavior we condemn in others is the same sins we commit.

He goes on and identifies why we shouldn’t judge.

³ “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ⁴ How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? ⁵ You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:3-5

It’s here where Christ gives insight for self-examination. These three scriptures are powerful truths. He commands us to look within ourselves and seek correction for our wrongdoing. For example, when I accuse others of sinning and do not tend to my own transgressions, then I become a hypocrite. My effectiveness in helping others turn away from sin depends on the removal of my inequities. Once God frees me from sin, then discernment emerges and I can lead others to the Gospel.

Remember, Jesus told us we are the Light of God’s kingdom (Matthew 6:19) and this means our outer behavior shows the inward holiness He manifests in our hearts.

Christ ends His conversation by disclosing we shouldn’t force the Gospel on people who hate God  (Matthew 7:6, Matthew 10:14). He referenced dogs and swine. These two descriptive comparisons aren’t new. Proverbs mentioned dogs (Proverbs 26:11) and Apostle Peter used both of them (2 Peter 2:22). Jesus warns us to move past people who won’t listen to God’s truth. And understanding who we can reach comes from the Holy Spirit.

Well, this week comes to a close. Christ taught us God’s truth behind money, worrying, and judging others. This is a brief discussion. A more comprehensive examination awaits in your study of God’s word.

Until next week, peace, love, and joy will be with you, my friend in Christ.