Enter the narrow gate

Matthew 7:13-29

The Narrow and Wide Gates

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. ¹⁴But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

A Tree and Its Fruit

¹⁵"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. ¹⁶By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? ¹⁷Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. ¹⁹Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.

²¹"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. ²²Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' ²³Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

The Wise and Foolish Builders

²⁴"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."

²⁸When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, ²⁹because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

7:13 「你們要從窄門進去；因為那通向滅亡的門是寬的，路是好走的，朝 著這方向走的人很多。7:14 那通向生命的門是多麼窄，路是多麼難走，找到的人也很少。」 7:15 「你們要提防假先知。他們來到你們面前，外表看來像綿羊，裏面卻是凶狠的豺狼。7:16 你們能夠從他們的行為認出他們。荊棘不能結葡萄，蒺藜也不能結無花果。7:17 好樹結好果子；壞樹結壞果子。7:18 好樹不結壞果子；壞樹也不結好果子。7:19 不結好果子的樹都得砍下，扔在火裏。7:20 所以，從他們的行為，你們能夠認出假先知來。」 7:21 「不是每一個稱呼我『主啊，主啊』的人都能進天國；只有實行我天父旨意的才能進去。7:22 在末日來臨的時候，許多人要對我說：『主啊，主啊，我們曾奉你的名傳上帝的信息，也曾奉你的名趕許多鬼，行許多奇蹟。』7:23 那時候，我要公然地告訴他們：『我從不認識你們；你們這些作惡的，走開吧！』」 7:24 「所以，所有聽我這些話而實行的，就像一個聰明人把房子蓋在磐石上；7:25 縱使風吹，雨打，水沖，房子也不倒塌，因為它的基礎立在磐石上。7:26 可是，那聽見我這些話而不實行的，就像一個愚蠢的人把房子蓋在沙土上，7:27 一遭受風吹，雨打，水沖，房子就倒塌了，而且倒塌得多麼慘重！」 7:28 耶穌講完了這些話，群眾對他的教導都感到十分驚奇；7:29 因為耶穌跟他們的經學教師不同，他的教導帶有權威。

一、中心內容：

內容：
1>要進窄門---通向永生的門。（v13-14） Enter through the narrow gate—the gate to eternity. (v13-14)
2>從果子分辨樹---提防假先知。（v15-20）Distinguish the tree by its fruit. Watch out for false prophets. (v15-20)
3>唯有遵行天父旨意，才能進入天國。（v21-23）Only those who do the will of God can enter the kingdom of heaven. (V21-23)
4>兩種人，兩種根基。（v24-27）Two kinds of people; two kinds of foundations. (v 24-27)
5>耶穌的教導充滿權威（權柄）。（v28-29）Jesus’ teaching is full of authority. (v28-29)

主題：
1>要進窄門。Enter the narrow gate.
2>兩種根基。Two kinds of foundations

二、上帝、耶穌基督、聖靈是誰？

1>旨意美善的上帝。（v21）God of perfect will. (v21)
2>名字帶著權柄的耶穌基督。（v22） The name of Jesus Christ is with authority. (v22)
3>教導帶著權柄的耶穌基督。（v29）The teaching of Jesus is with the power of authority. (v29)

三、給我的教訓（命令、應允、榜樣、責備、警告）是什麼？

1>要努力進窄門 Diligently enter the narrow gate
主耶穌以「兩條路」或「兩扇門」來形容世人的信仰抉擇。主耶穌的形容如下：
第一條路：永生之路，門是狹窄的，是難走的；找到的人稀少。
第二條路：滅亡之路，門是寬廣的，是好走的；行走的人眾多。
主耶穌說：你們要從窄門進去！因為，唯有窄門才通到永生！窄門難過，顯示：使人得救的信仰，有更高標準的要求；小路難行，顯示：通到 永生之路，需要付上代價。

Jesus used “two ways” or “two gates” to describe human’s decision of faith as follows:

The first way: The road to eternity. A narrow and difficult way, only few people find it.

The second way: The road of destruction. Its door is wide and it is an easy way, many people walk on it.

Jesus says to enter the narrow gate, because it leads to eternity! It is difficult to enter the narrow gate. It indicates that the higher standard is set by the faith that saves souls. There is a price to pay to enter the kingdom of heaven.
反省：「好走的」與「難行的」兩條路，我選擇哪一條路？「狹窄的」與「寬廣的」兩扇門，我選擇哪一扇門？
Reflection: “Easy way and hard way”, which one will I choose? “The narrow gate “and “the wide gate”, which one will I choose?
2>當防備假先知 Watch out for false prophets
主耶穌接著告訴門徒，先知有真假之別。因此，應當以智慧來作分辨。首先，提到假先知的特質，就是：裏外不一。也就是：外表看來像綿 羊，裏面卻是凶狠的豺狼。
主耶穌接著談到生命本質的問題，祂以「荊棘、葡萄、蒺藜、無花果」為例，說：荊棘不能結葡萄，蒺藜也不能結無花果。好樹結好果子；壞 樹結壞果子。好樹不結壞果子；壞樹也不結好果子。意思就是：能從果子認出樹來。同樣的道理：也可以藉著「行為」認出先知的真假來。
最後，主耶穌談到假先知將面對審判。即：不結好果子的樹都得砍下，扔在火裏。

Jesus told the disciples the differences between the true and false prophets. Therefore, we should discern one with wisdom. A characteristic of false prophets is the inconsistency from the inside out, a ferocious wolf in sheep’s clothing.

He followed with the issue of the essence of life. He used “thorn bushes, grapevines, thistles and fig trees” as examples. He said that thorn bushes bear no grapes; thistles bear no figs. Good tree bears good fruit; bad trees bear bad fruit. Good trees bear no bad fruit; bad trees bear no good fruits. Trees are recognized by their fruits. It applies in recognizing a prophet.

He concluded that false prophets would one day face judgment. All trees that bear no good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
反省：真假先知，我是否能夠分辨？又：怎麼分辨呢？我是否具備分辨的智慧？
Reflection: Can I recognize the true and false of prophets? How? Do I have the wisdom to do so?
3>應遵行父旨意 Do God’s will
主耶穌接著談到：進入天國（上帝國）的條件，不在擁有多少恩賜，也不在為主做多少工作（甚至：醫病、趕鬼、傳福音），乃在：是否確實 遵行天父的旨意。
所以，對門徒說：在末日來臨的時候，許多人要對我說：『主啊，主啊，我們曾奉你的名傳上帝的信息，也曾奉你的名趕許多鬼，行許多奇 蹟。』那時候，我要公然地告訴他們：『我從不認識你們；你們這些作惡的，走開吧！』」
因此，主耶穌作了一個總結，就是說：不是每一個稱呼主耶穌說：『主啊，主啊』的人都能進天國；只有實行天父旨意的才能進去。

Jesus mentioned the qualification for entering the kingdom of heaven is not that of one’s many gifts nor of one’s works done for the Lord (such as heal the sick, chase out demons and spread the Gospel). Rather, it is to do God’s will.

Therefore, He said to them, “²²Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' ²³Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

He concluded, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
反省：在一般人的印象中，我是否給人感覺很熱心，而且有很多的事 奉？除了事奉之外呢？我是否遵行上帝的旨意？有關上帝國，我會是在門內？還是在門外？
Reflection: Do I give people the impression that I am enthusiastic and active in serving? Other than serving, do I do God’s will? Which side of the heaven’s gate am I on?
4>立基於磐石上 Build on the foundation of rock
主耶穌接著談到兩種人，以及兩種不同的結局。
第一種人：聽到主的話而去遵行的人。
就像一個聰明人，把房子蓋在磐石上；縱使風吹，雨打，水沖，房子也不倒塌，因為它的基礎立在磐石上。
第二種人：聽到主的話而不遵行的人。
就像一個愚蠢的人，把房子蓋在沙土上，一遭受風吹，雨打，水沖，房子就倒塌了，而且倒塌得多麼慘重！
有沒有遵行主耶穌的話語，或根基立何處，平時或許顯露不出來。但是當風雨來臨時，也就是當考驗臨到時，就再也無法隱藏，一切將攤在陽 光下。

Jesus talked about two kinds of persons and two different results.

The first kind of person hears the Lord’s word and does it. He is like a wise man who builds his house on the rock. When the rain comes and the wind blows, his house falls not. The house is built on the foundation of rock.

The other kind of person hears the Lord’s word and does nothing. He is like a foolish person who builds his house on the sand. When the rain comes and the wind blows, his house falls. How serious is its fall!

Whether or not a person follows Jesus’ word and what his foundation is, will not be exposed in regular days. Yet, when the stormy days come, it is a time for testing. There is no place to hide. Everything will be exposed under the bright day sun.
反省：根據主耶穌的教導，就我個人來說，我的信仰根基立在何處？立在磐石上？或是立在沙土上？
Reflection: According to Jesus’ teaching, where do I build my foundation? Is it on the rock or on the sand?
5>講道大有權柄 Teaching with the power of authority
當主耶穌講完這些話之後，群眾對祂的教導都感到十分驚奇；因為主耶穌跟他們的經學教師不同，祂的教導帶有權威（權柄）。
上帝的話語，本來就帶有權柄。因此，上帝話語的僕人，如果能夠先謙卑在上帝面前，謙卑、渴慕、努力的追求，以期明白上帝話語的真義， 同時讓聖靈來掌權與感動，則所宣講上帝的話語，必然帶著權柄與能力。

Everyone who listened to Jesus was appalled at His teaching. Jesus was different from their scribes, because He taught as one who had the power of authority.

There is power in God’s word. God’s servants will teach like one has the power of authority, if they would humble themselves, humbly, eagerly, diligently seeking the understanding of the true meaning of His word and let the Holy Spirit to dominate and touch them.

反省：我是上帝話語的僕人，當我從事「傳講上帝話語」的事奉時，比較像充 滿權柄的主耶穌？還是像專門講解聖經，事奉卻懦弱無能的文士？
Reflection: I am a servant of God’s word. Do I teach like Jesus who taught as one had the power of authority or like the scribes who focused only on God’s word and were weak in their services before God?
四、我的禱告 / 實際應用