The man
The Narrow Gate
There are two roads.
Enter in by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it.
Matthew 7:13-27 · Luke 13:22-30
The scene
Near the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus puts two roads in front of the people listening to him.
One is broad. Many take it, and it leads to destruction.
The other is narrow, and it leads to life.
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."Matthew 7:21
These aren't simply people who rejected Jesus.
They call him Lord.
They tell him they prophesied in his name, cast out demons in his name and did many mighty works in his name.
Jesus says:
"I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity."Matthew 7:23
Then he finishes the sermon with two men who both hear his words.
One hears them and does them. Jesus says he is like a wise man who built his house on rock. Rain falls, floods come and winds beat against the house, but it doesn't fall.
The other hears the same words and doesn't do them. His house is built on sand.
The rain falls, the floods come and the winds beat against it. And it falls.
Elsewhere, someone asks Jesus, "Lord, are they few who are saved?"Luke 13:23
He doesn't give him a number.
"Strive to enter in by the narrow door."Luke 13:24
The point
Not everyone who says to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.Matthew 7:21
Sit with this
Are you hearing his words and doing them?