The Narrow and Wide Gates | Sermon on the Mount Week 10

Jesus had firm words for His Jewish listeners as he closed the Sermon on the Mount. And those words are as tough for us today. He challenges us to ensure that we are not only expressing our faith in Christ, but exhibiting it on a daily basis. Bill Clark concludes our 10-week summer study on the Sermon on the Mount.

The Narrow and Wide Gates

Sermon on the Mount | Week 10

July 29, 2018 | Bill Clark

Matthew 7:13-23 (NIV)

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

Matthew 7:14 (NIV)

But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Matthew 7:21 (NIV)

Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my father who is in heaven.

What kind of fruit are we growing?