THE WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE
Key verse: 14
NIV
The Narrow and Wide Gates
13 “Enter through the narrow gate.(A) For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
True and False Prophets
15 “Watch out for false prophets.(B) They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.(C) 16 By their fruit you will recognize them.(D) Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?(E) 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.(F) 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.(G) 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
True and False Disciples
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’(H) will enter the kingdom of heaven,(I) but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.(J) 22 Many will say to me on that day,(K) ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’(L) 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’(M)
Cross references
- Matthew 7:13 : Lk 13:24; Jn 10:7, 9
- Matthew 7:15 : Jer 23:16; Mt 24:24; Lk 6:26; 2Pe 2:1; 1Jn 4:1; Rev 16:13
- Matthew 7:15 : Eze 22:27; Ac 20:29
- Matthew 7:16 : Mt 12:33; Lk 6:44
- Matthew 7:16 : Jas 3:12
- Matthew 7:18 : Lk 6:43
- Matthew 7:19 : S Mt 3:10
- Matthew 7:21 : Hos 8:2; Mt 25:11; S Jn 13:13; 1Co 12:3
- Matthew 7:21 : S Mt 3:2
- Matthew 7:21 : Mt 12:50; Ro 2:13; Jas 1:22; 1Jn 3:18
- Matthew 7:22 : S Mt 10:15
- Matthew 7:22 : Lk 10:20; Ac 19:13; 1Co 13:1-3
- Matthew 7:23 : Ps 6:8; Mt 25:12, 41; Lk 13:25-27
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
13 (A)“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy[a] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and (B)the way is hard that leads to life, and (C)those who find it are few.
A Tree and Its Fruit
15 (D)“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are (E)ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them (F)by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, (G)every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. 18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 (H)Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them (I)by their fruits.
I Never Knew You
21 (J)“Not everyone who (K)says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will (L)enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who (M)does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 (N)On that day (O)many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not (P)prophesy in your name, and cast out demons (Q)in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 (R)And then will I declare to them, ‘I (S)never knew you; (T)depart from me, (U)you workers of lawlessness.’
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Matthew 7:13 Some manuscripts For the way is wide and easy
Cross references
- Matthew 7:13 : Luke 13:24
- Matthew 7:14 : Ps. 16:11; [ch. 18:8; John 14:6]
- Matthew 7:14 : [Luke 13:23]
- Matthew 7:15 : ch. 24:11, 24; Deut. 13:1-3; Jer. 14:14; 23:16; Mark 13:22; Luke 6:26; Acts 13:6; 2 Pet. 2:1; 1 John 4:1
- Matthew 7:15 : Ezek. 22:27; Acts 20:29; [Mic. 3:5; John 10:12]
- Matthew 7:16 : Luke 6:43, 44; James 2:18
- Matthew 7:17 : ch. 12:33-35
- Matthew 7:19 : See ch. 3:10
- Matthew 7:20 : [See ver. 16 above]; Luke 6:43, 44; James 2:18
- Matthew 7:21 : Luke 6:46; Rom. 2:13; James 1:22
- Matthew 7:21 : [Hos. 8:2]
- Matthew 7:21 : [John 3:3, 5]
- Matthew 7:21 : ch. 12:50
- Matthew 7:22 : ch. 25:11, 12; Luke 13:25-27
- Matthew 7:22 : Mal. 3:17, 18
- Matthew 7:22 : [Num. 24:4; John 11:51; 1 Cor. 13:2]
- Matthew 7:22 : See Mark 9:38
- Matthew 7:23 : [See ver. 22 above]; Mal. 3:17, 18
- Matthew 7:23 : ch. 10:33; [Ps. 101:4]
- Matthew 7:23 : ch. 25:41; Ps. 6:8
- Matthew 7:23 : ch. 13:41; Ps. 5:5
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. The narrow way (13-14)
There are only two directions our lives may take: The wide gate, through which the majority of people pass, opens to the broad way that leads to destruction. The small gate opens onto the narrow way. People must go through this gate and travel this path single-file. It is not a popular way, but it leads to life.
2. A tree and its fruit (15-23)
There seems to be a whole forest of good and bad trees, but actually, there is only one good tree--Jesus. When we are attached to him, we bear good fruit. When we are attached to any other tree, we produce bad fruit. False prophets seem to be good. They look gentle and kind and seem to be understanding. Some call themselves humanists or altruists. But they are ferocious wolves because they lead people to destruction. The fruit they produce is no good in the long-run. These trees will all be cut down and burned on the day of judgment.
Prayer: Lord, help me to walk the narrow way with joy and confidence, and bear good fruit.
One Word: Walk the way that leads to life