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El Edén 12 de agosto de 2007
DOS MANERAS DE VIVIR
Mat.
7:13, 14
This parable similitude emphasizes the truth that there “are but two ways, right and wrong, good and evil; the way to heaven, and the way to hell . . .
saints and sinners, godly and ungodly” (Henry).
The world wants many ways in the matter of character.
But there are only two ways or two categories for the souls of men.
In the closing verses of the Sermon on the Mount, four different contrasts represent four warnings that focus on future final judgment.
There are two ways (7:13-14), two types of trees (7:15-20), two kinds of followers (7:21-23), and two ways to build (7:24-27).
And the truths emphasized in this parable similitude about the two ways “are fearful truths!
they ought to raise great searchings of heart in the minds of all who hear them—‘Which way am I going?
By what road am I traveling?’—In
one or other of the two ways here described, everyone of us may be found” (Ryle).
Rooted in traditions at least as old as the time of the prophets, the concept of /two ways/ is reflected in a wide spectrum of Jewish texts.
(Cf.
Deut.
11:26; 30:15–20; Ps. 1:6; Jer.
21:8; and the entire book of Proverbs.)
For Matthew, there are two different roads to travel, two different ways to build, here and now.
And they will lead in the end to contrasting outcomes (cf. the parables of the end in chap.
25).
Choosing the /right/ way is thus a matter of greatest importance.[1]
To study this instructive parable of Christ about the two ways and man’s well-being, we will consider the command in the parable, the contrasts in the parable, and the conclusions in the parable.
*1.
The Command in the Parable*
“Entrad por la puerta estrecha”(Matthew 7:13); “Esforzaos a entrar por la puerta angosta”(Luke 13:24).
In the parable about the two ways and man’s well-being, Christ gave a command to walk on the right way.
And it was not a difficult command to understand.
Furthermore, it applies to all of us.
“The command of God is clear and universal”.
To examine this command, we especially note the directive in the command, and the difficulty of doing the command.
/The directive in the command./
In the command in our texts regarding the way we should go, Christ commanded us to walk on the right way, for the “strait gate” is the gate that opens to the right way.
This directive to go the right way says some important truths about God’s commands.
First, it /declares the character of God’s commands./
They never counsel us to sin.
They never lead us astray.
Second, it /discloses the concern in God’s commands./
God’s commands always have our best interest at heart.
They are always profitable for us to follow.
You may not see the profit at the outset, but you will be clipping dividends all eternity.
Third, it /denounces the criticism of God’s commands./
It says that to despise Divine commands, as many do, is to despise what is good for you.
How very foolish of mankind to kick at God’s commands when they tell the right way to go and have one’s best interests at heart.
All the complaining and scorning about Divine commands is foolish speaking.
/The difficulty of doing the command./
Not surprisingly, this command of God about going the right way is a difficult command to do.
This is seen in two words: “strive” and “strait.”
First, /strive./
Christ commanded us to “Esforzaos a entrar por la puerta angosta” (Luke 13:24).
The word translated “strive” in this text comes from the word which we via transliteration get our English word “agonize.”
Thus entering the right way and doing right is obviously not easy to do.
It requires considerable effort.
This does not teach works for the gaining of salvation but rather earnestness in the quest for salvation.
You have to earnestly want to be saved in order to come to Christ.
If the desire to be saved is small and weak, you will go to hell.
Much of the world evidences little concern about their soul’s eternal needs.
Hence, much of the world will go to hell as we will see later in this parable similitude.
Second, /strait./
Christ commanded us to “enter ye in at the strait gate” (Matthew 7:13).
The word “strait” (which is sometimes confused with the word “straight”) is translated from the Greek word meaning “pent up, narrow, difficult to be entered” (Barnes).
The message of the word “strait” in this parable similitude is that the right way is a difficult way to get onto because the gate to the right way is narrow and restrictive.
In the Luke text of this parable similitude, Christ gives emphasis to this truth when He said, “Many… will seek to enter in, and shall not be able” (Luke 13:24).
The narrowness of the gate speaks of the narrowness of the way of salvation.
Salvation is restricted to coming through Jesus Christ.
There is only one way of salvation, not many ways.
Christ is the way.
“Y en ningún otro hay salvación; porque no hay otro nombre bajo el cielo, dado a los hombres, en que podamos ser salvos.
” (Acts 4:12).
It is very difficult for many folk to accept this fact that Christ is the only way of salvation.
They want works or other means to be saved.
But Christ is the only way.
*2.
The Contrasts in the Parable*
In this parable similitude about the two ways of life, Christ described the character of each way.
The character of the two ways is a study in contrasts, for the two ways are opposites in character.
The wrong way and the right way are as different as day and night in character.
Good and evil always are.
Some try to make them similar, but they are a great contrast instead.
/The wrong way./
“Entrad por la puerta estrecha; porque ancha es la puerta, y espacioso el camino que lleva a la perdición, y muchos son los que entran por ella (Matthew 7:13).
The character of the wrong way can be described by three words: easy, deceitful, and popular.
First, /easy./
The wrong way is easy to get on because the gate is “wide.”
There are no restrictions.
Anyone can enter the wrong way.
It is also easy to travel on because the way is “broad.”
You can be a staggering drunk and still stay on this way because it is so broad.
There is not a single hindrance to entering the wide gate.
Nothing keeps a person from entering it.
It is as if a person naturally stands before its wide open doors.
You will have abundance of liberty in that way; /the gate is wide,/ and stands wide open to tempt those that go right on their way.
You may go in at this gate with all your lusts about you; it gives no check to your appetites, to your passions: you may /walk in the way of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes./
Second, /deceitful./
The word translated “broad” means spacious, suggesting magnificence in appearance as well as in size and width.
Sin is splashy, impressive, and attractive.
This helps to make sin very deceptive as to its tragic consequences.
The wide gate is wide enough to include all: all philosophies and beliefs no matter how extreme, all appetites and passions, all liberties and licenses, all sin and selfishness.
The gate is swung wide open so that any and all can enter.
Third, /popular./
“Many there be which go in thereat.”
This is the way where you will find a crowd.
This will be the way that will be most recommended to you.
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