Narrow - Matthew 7:14

Seek God Together

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Today we will read Matthew 7:14 which says, “How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.”

We recoil at the word “narrow.” We do not respect the narrow minded. You may come from a tradition that applies this verse to getting into heaven, and that may ultimately be true, and in that light the vast majority don’t get in. The revulsion is understandable. But like everything else He taught, Jesus is turning our worldview on its head.

What does it say exactly? It says the gate is narrow and the road is difficult that leads to life. And few find it.

If this verse is solely about getting into heaven, then doesn’t it seem to challenge evangelical Christianity which presents salvation as a relatively easy faith decision? How can Jesus say that the road is difficult especially when saying a prayer is the easiest thing we can do?

And what if you say the prayer and don’t live out your difficult road? What if you take more easy roads than not? Are you doomed for destruction? Wouldn’t that make salvation something to lose and more of a works-based enterprise?

What if this passage isn’t as much about heaven as it is life in general? Hasn’t experience shown you that anything great and worthwhile is costly and narrow? Who gets in great shape by following a wide and broad diet? Who becomes successful without laser focus? What great work of cinema, or musical theatre didn’t employ strict rules even in the midst of blinding creativity? Who has a fulfilling marriage without exclusive commitment? Frankly, how could the universe exist without razor-thin, strict, narrow laws?

The wide pastures of flourishing require narrowness. This is always true. Is there an admirable, great, or laudable individual you know personally who is not in many ways narrow and precise? Perhaps we would honor God by acknowledging His incredible narrowness while also specifying where the narrowness lies.

If by narrow you mean discriminating, capricious, ignorant, or small. Then no God is hardly narrow.

But if by narrow you mean precise, detailed, focused, attentive, genius, emotive, responsive, engaged, and thorough? Then yes. He’s the most narrow being imaginable. Would you want Him to be different?

What’s most clear is that God wants relationship. And the more blissful, life-giving, and enduring the relationship, the more narrow, devoted, and exclusive it must be. Is it any wonder then that Jesus describes it as narrow and difficult?

“God, knowing You isn’t easy, but it is wonderful. And I want more.”