Enter Ye At The Strait Gate

[samkadya]

Matthew 7:13-14. Please write it down. Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate”--what kind of gate? Have you ever looked that up in your Bible? Now, many of you think it means straight like a straight line. It doesn’t mean that at all. That kind of straight is spelled S-T-R-A-I-G-H-T. But the strait in this text is spelled S-T-R-A-I-T. You should look it up in the dictionary. It means austere, difficult; it means strict. Jesus is saying, “Enter ye in at the strict gate.” The strict gate.

 

Yet we quarrel with God. We want easy religion. We want to join the church, oh yes, but we want to be in a church where we can still keep on doing what we’re doing. We want a church where we don’t have to give up anything. We want a church where we can keep on sinning with the approval of the pulpit , where we can keep on drinking and smoking and the preacher will join in with us. We want a church where he will say pleasant things and talk politics and social issues and will not read to us the straight message from the Word of God. We don’t want a church that is too strict.

 

Yet Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strict gate.” Why Lord? Because “wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction and many there be that go in thereat.” Because “narrow is the way and strait is the gate that leads unto life and few will there be that find it.” Yes, the way to God’s Kingdom is strait and narrow, and we as Christians shouldn’t be surprised at that, should we? What kind of concept do you have of God? Do you see Him as a ship-shod haphazard God who winks and grins like something silly, and indulges in a cocktail now and then? Do you picture God as the irreligious character portrayed by George Burns, standing around cracking jokes with a cigar hanging out of his mouth? Is that how you see God? Oh beloved, our God is high and lifted up. Even the smallest sin is an offense to Him. Our God is the very personification of holiness and perfection. The angels who have never sinned come into His presence with reverence. Yet we dare to joke about God! We think that we can spit in His face all week, openly disobeying Him and then make up for it on the weekend with a big offering? No way! God is not like that. Would you say Amen?

 

The way to hell, the way to damnation is broad and easy. If you don’t want to make any sacrifice, if you don’t want to give anything up, you can find a church that will let you do anything. They’ve even got homosexual churches now. They’ve got lesbian priests ordained in the ministry of what once were very conservative churches. All you have to do is read it in the papers. They’ll let you do whatever you please. You want to gamble? They have churches where you can gamble every Tuesday night. But if you want to go to heaven, then that’s something else. Would you say Amen out there? You may get your name on a church role somewhere, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to heaven. Jesus said, “Enter ye in at the strait gate.” Follow the strict way. 

Read more: http://www.christiansermonsandmusicvideos.com/2015/07/depart-from-me-i-never-knew-you-lost-in.html

[pnattmbtc]

The word is Strong's Greek 4728, more or less "stenes", and means "narrow" (not austere, strict or difficult).

Remember Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you, for my yoke is easy, and my burden is light".  Whatever theology
we come up with in regards to Matt. 7:13, 14, it needs to be in harmony with Jesus' teaching elsewhere as well.

You asked the question of what God's character is in your post, if He is haphazard.  I think this is an excellent
question to ask!  However we interpret any verse, this question should be primary in our minds.  What does this say about God?

Finally, this post reminded me of one of my favorite Spirit of Prophecy quotations:

Yet do not therefore conclude that the upward path is the hard and the downward road the easy way. All along the road that leads to death there are pains and penalties, there are sorrows and disappointments, there are warnings not to go on. God's love has made it hard for the heedless and headstrong to destroy themselves. It is true that Satan's path is made to appear attractive, but it is all a deception; in the way of evil there are bitter remorse and cankering care. We may think it pleasant to follow pride and worldly ambition, but the end is pain and sorrow. Selfish plans may present flattering promises and hold out the hope of enjoyment, but we shall find that our happiness is poisoned and our life embittered by hopes that center in self. In the downward road the gateway may be bright with flowers, but thorns are in the path. The light of hope which shines from its entrance fades into the darkness of despair, and the soul who follows that path descends into the shadows of unending night. (MB 139)

Edited August 4, 2015 by pnattmbtc