About This Video
Jesus teaches that the path to eternal life resembles entering through a narrow, difficult gate, which requires effort, thought, and a committed search, contrasting it with the broad and easily accessed path to destruction. This teaching underscores the necessity of diligence and conscious decision-making in one's spiritual journey, aligning with concepts in eschatology and ecclesiology.
Jesus is portrayed as an integral part of Creation, embodying the full nature of God and reflecting His character and identity in the world. This teaching emphasizes understanding Jesus through the lens of Creation and God's nature, fostering a deeper connection with His essence and presence.
Understanding the Narrow Path
Last week in our short show we talked about seeking. Tonight I want to talk about Jesus' words where he said, “Strait is the gate and narrow is the way and few be there that find it.”
Christ here compares the way to life to an entrance through a gate. The words straight, and strait, have very different meanings. The former means not crooked; the latter pent up, narrow, difficult to be entered. This is the word used here, and it means that the way to heaven is pent up, narrow, close, and not obviously entered. The way to deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God. is open, broad, and thronged.
Gateways in Ancient Cities
The Savior here referred probably to ancient cities. They were surrounded with walls, and entered through gates. Some of those, connected with the great avenues to the city, were broad, and admitted a throng. Others, for more private purposes, were narrow, and few would be seen entering them. So says Christ, is the path to heaven. It is narrow. It is not the great highway that men tread. Few go there. Here and there one may be seen—travelling in solitude and singularity.
The Great Highway
The way to death, on the other hand, is broad. Multitudes are in it. It is the great highway in which men go. They fall into it easily, and without effort, and go without thought. If they wish to leave that, and go by a narrow gate to the city, it would require effort and thought. So, says Christ, diligence is needed to enter into life.
Since the way is pent up, narrow, and close, then seeking becomes something different than a wide open straight highway.
(go to example) The Walk Afterlife
Mercy sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace.
Ecclesiology
The Gospel
EschatologyStudy of “last things”—TGNN teaches all biblical eschatology was fulfilled in 70 A.D. More
