The narrow way?

Christina M · Jan 29, 2007

Matthew 7:13-14
"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."

What do these scriptures mean to you as a Christian?

~RENEE~ · Jan 30, 2007

Christina M said:
Matthew 7:13-14
"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."

What do these scriptures mean to you as a Christian?

to me it means that heaven is not all that easy to get into it is something that we really have to work at.

DreamerOfDreams · Jan 30, 2007

Since Peter defines a "few" to mean 8... then 8 people will make it in.

1 Peter 3:20
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

jrlinz · Jan 30, 2007

It means (to me) that we do not have to stray far from the path to miss the entrance. Satan does not have to totally decieve us to keep us out, just a little will do fine.

jrlinz · Jan 30, 2007

DreamerOfDreams said:
Since Peter defines a "few" to mean 8... then 8 people will make it in.

1 Peter 3:20
20 Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

Oh, yeah, you are serious about discerning the scriptures.

MollyBrown · Jan 30, 2007

To me, it means that out of the billions of people who have lived since the beginning of time, the thousands of religions that have been created, there is only ONE means, ONE way to make it to God.

Not ten, not two. ONE.

To imply the life of a Christian should be hard work counters what Jesus said in Matthew 30 :28"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

I am beginning to see those of you who think otherwise, are seeming to wear that belief as a badge as if you are proud of your striving.

rushingwind62 · Jan 30, 2007

To me it means, it is easy to take the sinful way in life. That path is broad and wide.But to walk a Holy and righteous walk with God is difficult because it goes against our very nature. The path is wide that leads to destruction and we can do any number of things that will lead us down this path. But narrow is the gate that leads to life, It doesn't mean we can't make mistakes because we all do. But there is a fine line we must strive to walk. It is the walk our forefathers walked (Abraham, Issac, Jacob). It is not always the most popular way to walk but it is the only walk that leads to life.....Peace and Blessings to ALL

~RENEE~ · Jan 30, 2007

this is a yoke it don't look simple to me.

jrlinz · Jan 30, 2007

Proud or striving people probably need to get closer to Jesus. I think neither are particularly Holy. I also think the Gospel tells us to be on guard, to behave as the Word instructs. Otherwise we might be "sifted". God does see the heart, but he see's it with extreme clarity.

MollyBrown · Jan 30, 2007

~RENEE~ said:
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...m=10&hl=en&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-33,GGGL:en&sa=N
http://images.google.com/imgres?img...m=10&hl=en&rls=GGGL,GGGL:2006-33,GGGL:en&sa=N this is a yoke it don't look simple to me.

Are you implying Jesus misrepresented His own words? Please clarify because surely I have misunderstood you. He said His yoke was easy, light, and He gave rest.

Dave01 · Jan 30, 2007

It is not a hard passage, but one of those hard to define into words since it can have multiple meanings.

The narrow gate is defined as life in the passage, and my best choice would be eternal life.

Two paths are layed before a person when they are born into this world. Few are the people who find that true life, in this life, because the path to it is troublesome and constricted. Many are the people who hurl themselves unto destruction though, not seeking any other path away from it, because that path in this world is easy and available.

I would say that it is describing those who become born-again, the elect.

jrlinz · Jan 30, 2007

Says we are in a race, too. Not restful. But, we do not need to worry about anything. God has plans for us, and they are good. Rest in that.

DreamerOfDreams · Jan 30, 2007

jrlinz said:
Oh, yeah, you are serious about discerning the scriptures.

The point is (seriously)...
few and many are relative terms.

How many is many?

Luke said there were many swine in this herd:

Luke 8:32
32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

Mark specifies how many "many" is:

Mark 5:13
13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand and were choked in the sea.

About two thousand.

Few of what?
8 out of 10 would be many.
But 8 out of 8 billion would be reaalllly few.

So what is the group that is being selected from?

All mankind?
All Religions?
All Christendom?
All Holiness churches?
Christina and her family?

You have to be specific.

DreamerOfDreams · Jan 30, 2007

Dave01 said:
It is not a hard passage, but one of those hard to define into words since it can have multiple meanings.

The narrow gate is defined as life in the passage, and my best choice would be eternal life.

Two paths are layed before a person when they are born into this world. Few are the people who find that true life, in this life, because the path to it is troublesome and constricted. Many are the people who hurl themselves unto destruction though, not seeking any other path away from it, because that path in this world is easy and available.

I would say that it is describing those who become born-again, the elect.

And you are correct...

MollyBrown · Jan 30, 2007

MollyBrown said:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Is this better? :o

"Come to me, all you who have the weight bearing capacity , and I will give you more work. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am a taskmaster and hard in heart, and you will find striving for your souls. For my yoke isn't simple and my burden is heavy."

jrlinz · Jan 30, 2007

DoD, I am not sure the idea was to convey some exact number to us. More that you have to keep on the narrow path laid out in scripture. Most will not.

rushingwind62 · Jan 30, 2007

jrlinz said:
Proud or striving people probably need to get closer to Jesus. I think neither are particularly Holy. I also think the Gospel tells us to be on guard, to behave as the Word instructs. Otherwise we might be "sifted". God does see the heart, but he see's it with extreme clarity.

I don't understand what you are getting at here. There is a vast difference between proud people and striving people. Proud people try to do everything on their own and are often very conceited. But striving people strive to be ever closer to the Lord IMHO. We all fall short of the glory of God but does that mean we should not strive to walk the straight and narrow path???

jrlinz · Jan 30, 2007

People who make fun of scripture do not amuse me.

Tamara224 · Jan 30, 2007

That's an interesting translation of that verse 14. Is that the NLT?

The NIV, NAS, and KJV all use the word "narrow" instead of "difficult".

The original word in that verse is interesting. Here's the definition according to Studylight:

Thlibo:

to press (as grapes), press hard upon
a compressed way
1. narrow straitened, contracted
metaph. to trouble, afflict, distress

IMHO, 'narrow' is a better translation. That's because of the contrast Jesus employed.

13 "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

See, wide is contrasted with small and broad is contrasted with narrow.

So, IMO, "difficult" doesn't convey the correct meaning. Jesus wasn't saying that once we're on the road it will be up to us to stay on the road because it's difficult to stay on it. He was saying that the road is narrow, pressing - like going through a wine press.

I believe that once we find the road and enter through the small gate, the author and finisher of our faith will keep us on that road. We may stumble along the way, but He'll pick us up again and set us back on the path.

Jesus is the gate through which we enter. He said "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." (John 10:9).

Unfortunately, many people will not find the door, or they will try to get in another way. But it will lead to their destruction.

I believe all Christians (those who are born-again) are on the 'straight and narrow', even if we mess up along the way.

jrlinz · Jan 30, 2007

rushingwind62I don't understand what you are getting at here. There is a vast difference between proud people and striving people. Proud people try to do everything on their own and are often very conceited. But striving people strive to be ever closer to the Lord IMHO. We all fall short of the glory of God but does that mean we should not strive to walk the straight and narrow path???

Ok, so I saw striving as different. I can see it thaqt way. I saw it as trying to be righteous, good on your own power.

The narrow way?

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