Enter by the Narrow Gate

August 3, 2025

Preacher: Andrew Love

Series: Mini-Series - Sermon on the Mount

Passage: Matthew 7:13-27

Service Type: Sunday Morning

Introduction

Reading 7:13-14
2 gates, 2 ways, 2 peoples, 2 destinations
Jesus on the Sermon on the Mount gives many contrasts
- Examples – giving, praying, fasting
- You have a decision
Jesus challenges people over the ‘old way’ of thinking
- Jesus provides a deeper interpretation of the word of God
- 2 treasures, 2 masters
Jesus has 2 audiences – the disciples and the larger crowd
- v11 – to the larger crowd
  - Make a choice for salvation
2 builders – hearing and doing what God says
Jesus’ sermon – He presents two options: the narrow gate (Jesus) or the broad gate (the world)

Personal example – a narrow gate is easy to miss
- Luke says you must "strive" to enter the narrow gate
- Jeremiah says "seek God with all your heart"
Why easily missed?
- People get confused and think that coming to God is a mixture of belief and doing good
  - A mixture of belief and ethics/morals
- The narrow gate is yielding to a Person
  - Understanding that it is something you could never achieve
  - Understanding that it is something God has done for you – explanation
  - "I am the way, the truth and the life" – Jesus Christ
  - Only one mediator between God and man
  - "I am the door"
- No other name, religion, guru, good work, systems of belief
- Salvation is by grace alone in Jesus Christ

Things you must leave behind
- You must repent of sin
- You must turn your back on the world
Jesus always spelt out the cost
- But the great benefit – peace with God and full forgiveness of sins
Some want an easy way but do not want to give up their sin
- Example of the Rich Young Ruler – Matt 19:16ff
Have you entered the narrow gate?

Matt 10:34-37
- The gospel brings division – those who accept and reject it, those who accept and reject Christians
- The gospel brings a choice
- Example of Pilgrim’s Progress
- Jesus is not just a friend and Saviour – He is Lord and King
Matt 10:38-39
- Are you in indecision – are you prepared to take up your cross?
- Jesus tells us His burden is light
- If you try to hold onto your life – you will lose it, if you give it up to Christ – you will keep it
Those who stick at it (example of athletes) are those who overcome
- God gives you the needed resources

Experiential but often sorrowful – explanation
- Example of some celebreties
- It never satisfies the human soul

Spurgeon gave many examples to illustrate the situation
- Do you see the seriousness?
Jesus warned over and over
- Matt 7:22-23
- What will be your destination?
- When will be your time?
  - Spurgeon gave warnings over relying on death bed conversions