The overcoming of difficulties.III. THE DUTY OF STRIVING TO ATTAIN SALVATION.
1. Strive to trust in God.
2. Strive to watch and work.
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We wish not to discourage, but awaken Christians from their languor.1. The figures Christ has employed set forth the difficulty of salvation. A warfare in which we must engage; a building we must erect.
2. Perhaps the places where Christ speaks without figures will be less severe. "The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence." "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven."
3. The exalted perfection of the law of Jesus Christ joined to the extreme weakness of man in the state of corrupt nature.
4. What shall I say of outward obstacles?
5. Those who have been influenced by sincere desire to work out their salvation have perfectly understood its difficulty.
6. Wily has God made the way to heaven so difficult?(1) It does not belong to us to cult God to account.(2) The difficulty comes from man, to whom God has given all necessary strength to do well.(3) All good men have had other sentiments on this alleged difficulty, wonder that God for so few things should save His people.(4) When a thing is not absolutely necessary difficulty may dishearten; but when of indispensable necessity, there is nothing that we ought not to surmount.(5) Above all, we must have recourse to God with this prayer, "Lord, save us, or we perish."
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d: —1. They all produce destruction of peace.
2. Some of its paths lead to destruction of character.
3. Some of its paths lead to destruction of health.
4. Some of these paths lead to the destruction of life.
5. They all lead to the destruction of the soul.
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I. THE PLACE THEY ENTER — "wide gate."1. Wide enough to admit spiritual ignorance.
2. Wide enough for inconsistency and sloth.
II. THE ROAD THEY TRAVEL.
III. THE NUMBERS WHICH BEAR THE UNGODLY COMPANY.
IV. THE END TO WHICH THEY COME.
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I. A CONTRAST WITH RESPECT TO THE ENTRANCES — "strait," "wide."
II. TWO WAYS CONTRASTED — "broad," "narrow."
III. A CONTRAST AS TO THE NUMBER THAT JOURNEY IN THESE WAYS.
IV. A CONTRAST AS TO THE ENDS TO WHICH THESE WAYS LEAD.
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I. THE IDEA WHICH OUR LORD GIVES OF FUTURE MISERY — "destruction." Although the powers of the soul will be preserved in all their might, yet the sources of sensual gratification will be destroyed. It is a positive penalty inflicted by the justice of God. The ruin is complete, often sudden, certain, eternal.
II. A CONFIRMATION OF THE STATEMENT MADE CONCERNING IT. The gate is "wide," etc. The way of sin is broad, considering the ease with which it is found. Broad by its enticements. So broad as to admit persons of all descriptions, etc. What entering in at the strait gate implies. Inducements to comply with this admonition.
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I. THE SINNER'S IMMINENT DANGER. Great, certain, near, hastening.
II. THE SINNER'S IMMEDIATE DUTY. To search the Scriptures, self-examination, prayer, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. The destruction of sinners will be charged to themselves. If you are in the narrow way be thankful.
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I. An EXHORTATION AND WARNING, how to direct our course for the other world, which this life is but the avenue to.1. The safe course.
2. The unsafe course.
3. Our duty and interest with respect to these gates.
II. A REASON FOR THIS EXHORTATION AND WARNING. That though the other gate is easy and much frequented, yet it is most dangerous. The nature of the gate opposite to that we are called to enter in by, and of the way of joining it.
1. It is wide.
2. It is broad. They are not hampered by conscience, Bible. etc.
3. The use made of it. There are many dispositions of carnal men.
4. The end of it.The safe way: —
1. The gate is strait.
2. The way is narrow. It is like a strait shoe that presses the foot. It is not easy walking in it. Afflictions and temptations beset it.
3. The ungrequentedness of it.
4. The happy tendency and end of it.
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1. The mighty contrariety of our nature to it.2. The various lusts hanging about the soul.
3. The keen opposition made by Satan to the soul's entry.
4. The enmity of the world against religion.
5. The nature of the thing makes it a strait gate.
What they enter into by it:1. A new road (2 Corinthians 5:17).
2. A safe road (Proverbs 1:33).
3. Into a house all ease and comfort (Revelation 21:7).
1. Coming out of themselves.2. Coming to Christ in the free promise of the gospel faith.
3. Coming unto God by Christ.
1. A discerning of the gate.2. A finding of an absolute necessity of entering by it.
3. Resoluteness for a happy arrival.
4. A contentment to forego our present ease.
5. Nobody walking carelessly will get a safe arrival.
6. They must begin well who would end well.
1. It is a deceitful way.2. It is an unprofitable way.
3. It is a trifling way.
4. It is a restless way.
5. It is a disappointing way.
6. It is easy to fall on it.
7. It is easy walking in it.
8. It is not easy to get off it.
1. This is the constant voice of the word. of God.2. The rectorial justice of God demands it.
3. The nature of things manifests it.
4. The voice of the natural conscience confirms it.
1. Seen in the universal corruption of human nature.2. The constant call to the multitude to repent.
3. The judgments God has sent on the world.
4. From our own observation.
5. It is the most agreeable way to the corrupt nature.
6. The blindness of the human mind.
7. Prejudices against the way.
8. The broad way is easiest.
9. Satan influences thereto it.
10. Example contributes to it.
11. Also want of consideration.
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This will appear —I. From the fact that it is agreeable to the nature of man to pursue a sinful course.
II. From the spiritual sloth of the transgressor.
III. The blindness of the carnal mind.
IV. The strength of unbelief, the allurements of the world, and the devices of Satan.
V. The effect of things present, compared with the influence of things distant.
VI. The imperfections and sins of professing Christians. VII. The example of the multitude. These obstacles must be overcome, or we inevitably perish.
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I. THE WAY OF DESTRUCTION.1. The gate into it is wide.
2. The way itself is broad.
3. It is the way along which the great bulk of mankind are travelling.
II. THE WAY OF LIFE.
1. The gate into it is strait.
2. The way itself is narrow.
3. It is a way little travelled.
III. LET US JUDGE AS TO WHICH WAY WE ARE WALKING IN.
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I. THE WAY OF SIN WHICH WE ARE DIRECTED TO AVOID.1. The gate is wide. It requires no difficulty.
2. It is broad. It is lawless.
3. It is crowded.
4. Its termination.
II. THE PATH OF CHRISTIAN HOLINESS WHICH WE ARE TO PURSUE.
1. Its entrance.
2. Its dimensions.
3. Its paucity of passengers.
4. Its blissful end.
III. RELECTIONS.
1. There is an inseparable connection between the present and the future.
2. There is no middle path in religion.
3. Never suffer the world to be your authority in matters of religion.
4. Strive to enter in at the strait gate.
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I know nothing broader than Christianity; not one of the ideas of which it has taken hold that it has not enlarged in infinite proportions. Take the ideas of God, humanity, and destiny of man. Yet it is accused of narrowness. The cause not in any weakness, but in the gospel itself. It is narrow —I. Because it is the way of TRUTH. It can tolerate no other way. Truth alone is good. In science men prefer it: why not in religion? Because morally inconvenient.
II. Because it is the way of HOLINESS. Each would like to retain his favourite inclination. It will not let our vices pass.
III. Because it is the way of HUMILITY. It is closed even to virtuous pride, to fancied merits.
IV. Because it is the way of LOVE. The Divine love is narrow in that it rejects all that is contrary to it. Your love is narrow, and seeks the welfare of its object. But none can reject the privations of this narrow way.
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See in the middle of the night a house on which fire has caught. Everywhere the flame breaks out with the rapidity of lightning. Cries of alarm are raised, for there is an unfortunate sleeper above this furnace which is going to consume him. He awakes, he turns his scared looks everywhere. Before him a single passage remains open, narrow, but sufficient to save his life. What does he do? With a grasping and feverish hand he gathers all that he can save of his goods, and laden with his treasures, bending under his burden, he arrives at this door which refuses to give him passage. "For me," he cries then, "for me! the door is too narrow." Ah! poor idiot! leave there thy treasures which will cost thee thy life, strip thyself of that which prevents thy progress, consent to sacrifice all; thy salvation is only at that price. You have understood me, brethren. This house which is falling in is our life; this devouring flame is the judgment of the holy God; this open door is pardon; and these treasures which will ruin you, are those qualities, those virtues, those merits, which you wish to preserve at all cost. Yes, the door of heaven is too narrow for the selfrighteous, and because of this the Gospel raises so much repugnance and irritation amongst them.()
The difficulty of obtaining shows the excellency; and, surely, if you consider but what it cost Christ to purchase it; what it costs God's Spirit to bring men's hearts to it; what it costs ministers to persuade to it; what it costs Christians, after all this, to obtain it; and what it costs many a half-Christian that, after all, goes without it; you will say that here is difficulty, and therefore excellency. Trifles may be had at a trivial rate, and men may have damnation- far more easily. Conclude, then, it is surely somewhat worth that must cost all this.()
Into what kingdom is it that you are anxious now to enter? Above all things you wish to enter into the kingdom of music. Very well. This is the New Testament doctrine concerning the kingdom of music. "Strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto excellence in music, and few there be that find it." You have to study night and day, you have no time for yourself, you are at it, always at it, or getting ready for it, criticizing or being criticized, repeating, rehearsing, going over it again and again, still higher and higher. If that is the law of your little kingdom of music, why should it not be the law of the larger kingdom of life. which includes all beauty and learning. and music, and power?()
All the world is a way. It is so broad that the whole generation for the time travel abreast upon it.()
You have nothing more to do than lie like a Withered leaf upon the stream, and without a thought or an effort you are carried quickly down. Sinners do not find it difficult to sin.()
People
JesusPlaces
GalileeTopics
Compressed, Contracted, Discovery, Door, Finding, Gate, Leadeth, Leading, Leads, Narrow, Restricted, Road, Strait, StraitenedOutline
1. Do Not Judge
7. Ask, Seek, Knock
13. Enter through the Narrow Gate
15. A Tree and Its Fruit
24. The Wise and the Foolish Builders
28. Jesus ends his sermon, and the people are astonished.
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Matthew 7:14 4847 smallness
6646 eternal life, gift
8168 way, the
Matthew 7:12-20
3254 Holy Spirit, fruit of
Matthew 7:13-14
2377 kingdom of God, entry into
5323 gate
9513 hell, as incentive to action
Library
November 22. "Cast the Beam Out of Thine Own Eye" (Matt. vii. 5).
"Cast the beam out of thine own eye" (Matt. vii. 5). Greater than the fault you condemn and criticise is the sin of criticism and condemnation. There is no place we need such grace as in dealing with an erring one. A lady once called on us on her way to give an erring sister a piece of her mind. We advised her to wait until she could love her a little more. Only He who loved sinners well enough to die for them can deal with the erring. We never see all the heart. He does, and He can convict without …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth January 12. "Ask and it Shall be Given You" (Matt. vii. 7).
"Ask and it shall be given you" (Matt. vii. 7). We must receive, as well as ask. We must take the place of believing, and recognize ourselves as in it. A friend was saying, "I want to get into the will of God," and this was the answer: "Will you step into the will of God? And now, are you in the will of God?" The question aroused a thought that had not come before. The gentleman saw that he had been straining after, but not receiving the blessing he sought. Jesus has said, "Ask and ye shall receive." …
Rev. A. B. Simpson—Days of Heaven Upon Earth
Judging, Asking, and Giving
'Judge not, that ye be not judged. 2. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again. 3. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4. Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye! 5. Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture
The Two Paths
'Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.'--MATT. vii. 13-14. A frank statement of the hardships and difficulties involved in a course of conduct does not seem a very likely way to induce men to adopt it, but it often proves so. There is something in human nature which responds to the bracing …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture
The Two Houses
'Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.... 25. And every one that heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand.'--Matt. vii. 24, 25. Our Lord closes the so-called Sermon on the Mount, which is really the King's proclamation of the law of His Kingdom, with three pairs of contrasts, all meant to sway us to obedience. The first …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture
The Christ of the Sermon on the Mount
'And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine: 29. For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.'--MATT. vii. 28-29. It appears, then, from these words, that the first impression made on the masses by the Sermon on the Mount was not so much an appreciation of its high morality, as a feeling of the personal authority with which Christ spoke. Had the scribes, then, no authority? They ruled the whole life of the nation with …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture
On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. vii. 7, "Ask, and it Shall be Given You;" Etc. An Exhortation to Alms-Deeds.
1. In the lesson of the Holy Gospel the Lord hath exhorted us to prayer. "Ask," saith He, "and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? [2135] Or if he ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? [2136] If ye then," …
Saint Augustine—sermons on selected lessons of the new testament
Known by their Fruits.
(Eighth Sunday after Trinity.) S. MATT. vii. 16. "Ye shall know them by their fruits." The religion of Jesus Christ is one of deeds, not words; a life of action, not of dreaming. Our Lord warns us to beware of any form of religion, in ourselves or others, which does not bring forth good fruit. God does not look for the leaves of profession, or the blossoms of promise, He looks for fruit unto holiness. We may profess to believe in Jesus Christ, we may say the Creed without a mistake, we may read …
H. J. Wilmot-Buxton—The Life of Duty, a Year's Plain Sermons, v. 2
Casting Blame.
8th Sunday after Trinity. S. Matt. vii. 15. "Inwardly they are ravening wolves." INTRODUCTION.--A Schoolmaster finds one day that several of his scholars are playing truant. The morning passes and they do not arrive. At last, in the afternoon, the truants turn up. The master has a strong suspicion where they have been: however, he asks, "Why were you not at school this morning?" "Please, sir, mother kept me at home to mind the baby." "Indeed--let me look at your mouth." He opens the mouth, …
S. Baring-Gould—The Village Pulpit, Volume II. Trinity to Advent
False Prophets
(Eighth Sunday after Trinity.) Matthew vii. 16. Ye shall know them by their fruits. People are apt to overlook, I think, the real meaning of these words. They do so, because they part them from the words which go just before them, about false prophets. They consider that 'fruit' means only a man's conduct,--that a man is known by his conduct. That professions are worth nothing, and practice worth everything. That the good man, after all, is the man who does right; and the bad man, the man who …
Charles Kingsley—Town and Country Sermons
A Man Expects to Reap the Same Kind as He Sows.
"Herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit . . . after his kind."--Gen. i: 12. "Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"--Matt. vii: 16. "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." --Romans viii: 13. A Man Expects to Reap the Same Kind as He Sows. If I should tell you that I sowed ten acres of wheat last year and that watermelons came up, or that I sowed cucumbers and gathered …
Dwight L. Moody—Sowing and Reaping
The Mote and the Beam
That friend of ours has got something in his eye! Though it is only something tiny--what Jesus called a mote--how painful it is and how helpless he is until it is removed! It is surely our part as a friend to do all we can to remove it, and how grateful he is to us when we have succeeded in doing so. We should be equally grateful to him, if he did the same service for us. In the light of that, it seems clear that the real point of the well-known passage in Matthew 7:3-5 about the beam and the mote …
Roy Hession and Revel Hession—The Calvary Road
Doctrine of Non-Resistance to Evil by Force must Inevitably be Accepted by Men of the Present Day.
Christianity is Not a System of Rules, but a New Conception of Life, and therefore it was Not Obligatory and was Not Accepted in its True Significance by All, but only by a Few--Christianity is, Moreover, Prophetic of the Destruction of the Pagan Life, and therefore of Necessity of the Acceptance of the Christian Doctrines--Non-resistance of Evil by Force is One Aspect of the Christian Doctrine, which must Inevitably in Our Times be Accepted by Men--Two Methods of Deciding Every Quarrel--First Method …
Leo Tolstoy—The Kingdom of God is within you
Fifth Lesson. Ask, and it Shall be Given You;
Ask, and it shall be given you; Or, The Certainty of the Answer to Prayer. Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: for every one that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened,'--Matt. vii. 7, 8. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss.'--Jas. iv. 3. OUR Lord returns here in the Sermon on the Mount a second time to speak of prayer. The first time He had spoken of the Father who is …
Andrew Murray—With Christ in the School of Prayer
Sixth Lesson. How Much More?'
How much more?' Or, The Infinite Fatherliness of God. Or what man is there of you, who, if his son ask him for a loaf, will give him a stone; or if he shall ask for a fish, will give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?'--Matt. vii. 9-11 IN these words our Lord proceeds further to confirm what He had said of the certainty of an answer to prayer. To remove …
Andrew Murray—With Christ in the School of Prayer
The Beggar. Mt 7:7-8
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John Newton—Olney Hymns
Here Again Arises a Very Difficult Question. For in what Way Shall we Fools...
28. Here again arises a very difficult question. For in what way shall we fools be able to find a wise man, whereas this name, although hardly any one dare openly, yet most men lay claim to indirectly: so disagreeing one with another in the very matters, in the knowledge of which wisdom consists, as that it must needs be that either none of them, or but some certain one be wise? But when the fool enquires, who is that wise man? I do not at all see, in what way he can be distinguished and perceived. …
St. Augustine—On the Profit of Believing.
Asking, Seeking, Finding. --Matt. vii. 7, 8
Asking, Seeking, Finding.--Matt. vii. 7, 8. Ask, and ye shall receive; On this my hope I build: I ask forgiveness, and believe My prayer shall be fulfill'd. Seek, and expect to find: Wounded to death in soul, I seek the Saviour of mankind; His touch can make me whole. Knock, and with patience wait, Faith shall free entrance win: I stand and knock at mercy's gate; Lord Jesus! let me in. How should I ask in vain? Seek, and not find Thee, Lord? Knock, and yet no admittance gain? Is it not in Thy …
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns
Assurance and Encouragement. --Matt. vii. 7, 8
Assurance and Encouragement.--Matt. vii. 7, 8. While these commands endure, These promises are sure; And 'tis an easy task To knock, to seek, to ask: Sinner hast thou the willing mind? Saint, art thou thus inclined? Dost thou expect, desire, believe? Then knock and enter, seek and find, Ask and receive. …
James Montgomery—Sacred Poems and Hymns
The Strait Gate;
OR, GREAT DIFFICULTY OF GOING TO HEAVEN: PLAINLY PROVING, BY THE SCRIPTURES, THAT NOT ONLY THE RUDE AND PROFANE, BUT MANY GREAT PROFESSORS, WILL COME SHORT OF THAT KINGDOM. "Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."--Matthew 7:13, 14 ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR. If any uninspired writer has been …
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3
Parting Counsels
'And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23. Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25. And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture: The Acts
Author's Preface.
I did not write this little work with the thought of its being given to the public. It was prepared for the help of a few Christians who were desirous of loving God with the whole heart. But so many have requested copies of it, because of the benefit they have derived from its perusal, that I have been asked to publish it. I have left it in its natural simplicity. I do not condemn the opinions of any: on the contrary, I esteem those which are held by others, and submit all that I have written to …
Jeanne Marie Bouvières—A Short Method Of Prayer And Spiritual Torrents
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