What Road Are You On?
September 21, 2025
Matthew 7:13, 14
Our lives are filled with decisions! We decide what to eat, what to wear, where to go, what to do, what to say, what to buy, who to date, who to marry, and on and on. From the time we are old enough to make a decision, life becomes a matter of constant decision-making. Many decisions are insignificant, but some are essential and life changing.
Over the past months, since the beginning of the year, we have been looking at Jesus’ sermon on the mount. Jesus has told us about the qualities of those who are blessed, who are happy, who enter the kingdom of God. For instance, in Matthew 5, Jesus said, Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven...Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled (Matthew 5:3,6).
Jesus noted that we are to be salt and light; to be characterized by righteousness, a right relationship with the LORD! Jesus goes on to note that having a right relationship with the Lord is not just having an external conformity to the rules, but a heartfelt inner righteousness of pure thoughts, motives, and attitudes. He teaches how to pray. He stresses the importance of forgiving others. He also notes that we need to invest in the kingdom, storing eternal treasures in heaven instead of temporary treasures on earth. He tells us to seek first His kingdom! We are not to be critical. We are to ask, seek and knock especially for God’s Holy Spirit. And in our relationships with each other, we are to love, even if they are our enemies.
In Matthew 5:1, 2, it is noted that there were two groups of people. One group was the crowd, and the other was his disciples. When Jesus reached the end of the Sermon on the Mount, we are told this about their response as Matthew 7:28, 29 states, When Jesus finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as their teachers of the law.
So, Jesus, in our text today begins to bring this sermon to a close, to a climax. He challenges the crowd and each one of us to make a decision to be an admirer/user, a self-righteous person or faithfully, wholeheartedly love, serve the LORD!
Jesus follows the example of several others Old Testament leaders/prophets. For example, in Joshua 24, Joshua challenges the Israelites as he states in verses 14, 15, Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped…and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord. The people also responded that they would serve the Lord. Then Joshua warned them as he said, Throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel (Joshua 24:23). And again, the people responded, “We will serve the Lord (Note Joshua 24:21, 24). If you are going to faithfully serve the Lord, then you need to have your heart committed to the LORD.
Another example is Elijah on Mount Carmel as he called for a decision. I Kings 18:21 states, Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” He tells them to make a decision who they were going to follow. Their own worldly desires or the LORD God Almighty.
Listen, an admirer, a user, a self-righteous person applauds Jesus, but they don’t want to fully surrender their lives. They still want to do it their way instead of God’s way. They want to satisfy their self-will, not God’s will. So many people may have responded to an invitation to receive Jesus, but like the parable of the Sower indicates some never really take to heart and wholeheartedly follow Him.
A follower surrenders his/her life. They pick up their cross daily. They crucify their sinful nature and follow Jesus. They love the Lord with all their being and love others. They don’t just hear His words; they are doers of His word (Note James 1:22). They let the word of Christ dwell in them richly (Colossians 3:16), so that they can apply it into their lives!
Now, everyone makes a choice: either one chooses the broad road or the narrow path. Please realize a person can consciously or unconsciously decide not to follow Jesus. With this in mind, let’s look at our text.
In verse 13a, Jesus instructs/commands the crowd as he says, Enter through the narrow gate.
Even before Jesus mentions the two gates/two paths, he instructs which one to take. He wants us to have the inside scoop. He is saying in a way, “I’m about to give you a choice between two doors. And by the way, pick the narrow door. I don’t want you to get ZONKED!”
Then in the rest of verse 13 and 14, Jesus gives us the reasons why one should choose to enter the narrow gate. Jesus said at the end of verse 13, For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
Jesus seems to picture a person at a crossroads in making a decision between two options. Yet, no decision needs to be made to enter through the wide gate and the broad road. One is naturally on this road. The entire world is on. The rest of Scripture supports this. For instance, Ephesians 2:1-3 notes this as the Apostle Paul states, As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts.
The broad road is our natural tendency as each of us is born with a sinful nature. This sinful nature might come out as being unthoughtful, undisciplined, lazy, worldly, materialistic, or carnal. It might be because of various philosophies or religions that discard God or have a self-righteous, self-achievement, works concept of salvation. All the of the fallen heart desires are fed on that road. No rules, no standards, no morality except those made by man to fit into their comfortable little system.
Jesus noted that being on the wide road leads to destruction. Destruction refers to eternal ruin, hell (Note Matthew 8:12; Revelation 14:11; 20:10). It also refers to the destruction of one’s life in this world. The world’s views on marriage, parenting, education, success, etc., all lead to stress, despair, discouragement, anger, unfulfillment and ruin. Over the years, I have seen too many people do their own thing, instead of applying the principles of God’s word and as a result, ruin their life. Please take to heart the wide pathway leads to earthly and eternal ruin!!!
Psalm 1:4-6 reflects this principle as it states, Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
Jesus also notes, and many enter through it. There is a natural tendency to follow the wide road. Our sinful nature, the ways of the world, along with Satan and his demons (Ephesians 2:1,2) are working to keep us captive to the broad road. The broad way is popular and tempting. Since there are crowds on it and encouraging you to join them, it is very alluring. Plus, many often avoid facing persecution be it verbal or physical. So many stay on the broad road as Proverbs 14:12 states, There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death. The interstate of this world appears to be the best way, but it is not!
In Luke 13:22-30, we have a parallel passage to this last section of Matthew 7. Luke 13:24 states, Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
We are to make every effort to enter through the narrow gate! Here I think of Jeremiah 29:13, You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Listen, many have admired Christ’s words throughout history. Because of his words, Christ has been called a great teacher or prophet. However, few who have heard these words have truly felt pressed to wholeheartedly seek him or follow Him. One must wholeheartedly choose to get off the broad road and choose the narrow road.
Jesus says, verse 14, But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Jesus notes that the gate is small and the way is narrow. In other words, it is restrictive. There is only one way to approach and know the LORD God Almighty. It is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
I Timothy 2:5, 6a states, For there is one God and one mediator between God and humankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people.
The gate is the Lord Jesus! Jesus even said this in John 10, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out and find pasture (John 10:7-9).
Jesus said in John 14:6, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The wide road is to trust in one’s own religion, achievement, or good work. The narrow road is to trust in God’s divine accomplishment through Jesus!
Jesus notes that the narrow road leads to life. This is emphasized repeatedly in the New Testament. John 3:16, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Entering the small gate and walking the narrow road leads to eternal life beyond this world.
John 17:3, And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
I John 5:11, 12 states, And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
Walking on the narrow road also leads to an abundant life. John 10:10 states, The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
As one comes to receive Jesus as his/her Lord, one is given the Holy Spirit. Then as one walks with Jesus, the Holy Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22, 23). As one puts their trust in Jesus, one is given the strength/power to deal with the garbage of this world and experiences a peace and joy (Romans 15:13). You can have peace in the midst of a storm and joy in the midst of hardship. The key is to continue to faithfully walk on the narrow road.
This past week in preparation for the Women’s Bible Study, there were a sizable number of verses how we are to walk. For instance, Deuteronomy 8:6 notes that we are to walk in His ways and to fear Him.
Micah 6:8 says to walk humbly with your God.
Romans 6:4 says to walk in the newness of life.
II Corinthians 5:7, walk by faith, not by sight.
Ephesians 5:8, walk as children of light.
Colossians 4:5, walk in wisdom.
II John 1:6, walk according to His commandments.
III John 1:4, walk in truth.
As one walks, abides in the Lord, the Lord blesses!
Jesus says at the end of Matthew 7:14, only a few find it.
Unlike the broad way, the narrow way must be found (v. 14). As already noted, people are naturally inclined to follow the broad path of the world. To find and follow the narrow path, one must turn away from the crowds, sometimes even leaving friends and family to do it (Luke 14:26). So many are influenced by bad company which corrupts a good character (I Corinthians 15:33) One needs to come to their senses (I Corinthians 15:34) and make a deliberate choice. One must shed their pride, selfish desires, humble oneself and cry out for God’s mercy found in Jesus. Also, few find it because many have a tough time accepting Jesus as the only way to salvation. For others living for Jesus means always battling sin. So many simply don’t want to declare war or have given up trying to overcome.
In John 6, we have an illustration of so few find the narrow way. In the first part of John 6, Jesus miraculously feeds some five thousand people! John 6:14, 15 states, After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world. Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. Jesus withdrew because he knew this was not God’s will. He knew that he was the Lamb of God. He was God’s servant to be pierced for our transgressions, to be crushed for our iniquities, to die for our sins. Note Isaiah 52:13-53:12!!!
John 6 then notes that Jesus disciples got in their boats and left for Capernaum. Jesus came to them in a storm by walking on the water. The next day, the crowd got in their boats to search for Jesus (v. 24).
After the crowd finds Jesus, John 6:26-36 states, Jesus then says, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” 28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” 30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
Then John 6:41, 42 notes that the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”
Then John 6:66 sums up what happened. From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. They were admirers, users, but they were not true followers of Jesus.
Then Jesus asked His twelve disciples in verse 67, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Then, Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:68, 69).
Peter articulated his choice. Many walked away, but some stayed. So many are just admirers, users of Jesus and not devoted followers. Jesus said in John 8:31, If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples.
Let me close with this. How many of you have a GPS in your car?…. I might have been one of the last to get one. For years, I depended on maps, an atlas, or my own instinctive ability to navigate to a location. For years, I didn’t want to spend the money on it. I could find where I am going without it. It was not until after numerous advertisements, my barber highly recommended one, and my wife told me to get one that I finally broke down and bought a GPS for the car. I am thinking that it wasn’t until the late 2000s that I got one as I didn’t want to spend more than $200. Since I got one, I have been amazed. You plug it in and punch in the address for your destination. Then the directions will appear on this little screen, and a voice will tell you how to get to wherever you are going. However, after I got the GPS, there were times when I had a hard time trusting the directions. There have been times, maybe not as much recently, when the GPS said turn left, but instinctively I knew it had to be to the right. So, guess what I would do? I would turn right and get lost. I must admit I would get lost, until I got honest with myself that I made a mistake and once again trusted the directions from the GPS. So today, if I don’t really know where I am going, I will follow the directions of the GPS.
The same applies in walking the narrow road. We each must get honest with ourselves and take to heart the words of Jesus to follow Him, to listen to Him and do what He says. You must come to the point, “All right, God, I will listen and do what you say. I give you my life, my time, my heart, my all to you!”
One other thing that I like about the GPS is when I make a wrong turn or don’t properly listen, it does not say, “You messed up! It simply says, Recalculating route and then helps me to safely go in the right direction. The same way with the Lord. As soon as you're ready to listen, as soon as you're ready to surrender, God will say, "Here is the way home. Execute a U-turn." That's repentance. "I'll bring you home." That is grace. That's Jesus. He is the only one to give any kind of realistic hope of conquering sin and death, of life beyond the grave. He is the only one to give words to live a life of abundance, a life of love, joy, peace, hope!
Which path will you choose? Will you be wholly devoted to Jesus?
