Matthew 7:13-20: a reflection

13“Enter in by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it. 14How narrow is the gate and the way is restricted that leads to life! There are few who find it. 15“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves. 16By their fruits you will know them. Do you gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles? 17Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit. 18A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit. 19Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Jesus sets before us a choice between two ways. Enter in by the narrow gate, he says; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter by it. How narrow is the gate and the way is restricted that leads to life! There are few who find it. Two ways lie before us: a wide, easy way that many take, which leads to destruction; and a narrow, hard way that few find, which leads to life. The way to life is the narrow, harder one, not the broad and easy way the crowd takes.

Notice the contrast between the two ways: the broad easy way to destruction, and the narrow hard way to life. The wide gate and broad way are easy, requiring little, taken by many; but they lead to destruction. The narrow gate and restricted way are harder, requiring more, found by few; but they lead to life. The way to life is not the easy, popular way the crowd takes, but the narrow, harder way that few find. To enter life, one must choose the narrow gate, not follow the many on the broad road. The easier, more popular way is not the way to life.

That choice is worth taking to heart, for we can be drawn to the broad, easy way that many take, rather than the narrow way to life. The broad way is easy and popular; it asks little and is crowded with those who take it. And we can be drawn to it, following the crowd on the easy road; but it leads to destruction, and the way to life is the narrow, harder one that few find. Do not follow the crowd onto the broad, easy way simply because it is easy and many take it; enter by the narrow gate, choosing the harder way that leads to life, though few find it. Choose the narrow way to life over the broad way to destruction, not swayed by the easiness or popularity of the broad road, but entering by the narrow gate that leads to life, as Jesus urges, for the way to life is narrow and found by few, while the easy, crowded way leads to destruction.

Lord Jesus, you set before us a choice between two ways. Enter in by the narrow gate, you say; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter by it. How narrow is the gate and the way is restricted that leads to life! There are few who find it. Two ways lie before me: a wide, easy way that many take, which leads to destruction; and a narrow, hard way that few find, which leads to life. The way to life is the narrow, harder one. Show me the contrast between the two ways: the broad easy way to destruction, and the narrow hard way to life. The wide gate and broad way are easy, taken by many; but they lead to destruction. The narrow gate and restricted way are harder, found by few; but they lead to life. The way to life is not the easy, popular way the crowd takes, but the narrow way that few find. Take that choice to my heart, for I can be drawn to the broad, easy way that many take, rather than the narrow way to life. The broad way is easy and popular, crowded with those who take it. And I can be drawn to it, following the crowd; but it leads to destruction. Keep me from following the crowd onto the broad, easy way simply because it is easy and many take it; help me enter by the narrow gate, choosing the harder way that leads to life. Help me choose the narrow way to life over the broad way to destruction, Lord, not swayed by the easiness or popularity of the broad road.