I did a study last year On the Narrow Way. I would like to post an article I wrote pertaining to this.
Is Jesus the Narrow Way?
The following passages are usually taken as Jesus speaking of Himself being the narrow door or narrow gate. But Consider that the narrow gate and door is Judaism.
Matt 7:12 All those things, then, which you would have men do to you, even so do you to them: because this is the law and the prophets.
V. 13 Go in by the narrow door; for wide is the door and open is the way which goes to destruction and great numbers go in by it.
V. 14 for narrow is the door and hard the road to life and only a small number
make discovery of it.
Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the narrow gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Neither Jesus nor the Scripture call Jesus ‘the narrow gate or difficult way.’
1.) Many times in Scripture Jesus describes Himself with the words "I AM…”
John 6:51:"I AM the living bread."
John 8:12: I AM the light of the world."
John 10:9: "I AM the door."
John 10:11: "I AM the good shepherd."
John 15:1: "I AM the true vine."
But Jesus never says "I AM the narrow gate." Or "I AM the difficult way.” He could’ve called himself any of these but He did not. He says He Is The Only Way, but never the Narrow, Difficult, Hidden Way.
2.) Would any doctrine change had He clearly stated He was the door, gate, or way we should work to enter?
If we read these verses as though He spoke of Himself that would mean He taught that salvation is a result of working hard yet still not making it. They could read something like this:
Luke 13:24 "I AM the narrow gate. Strive to enter in by me, the narrow gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in by me and shall not be able.
Matt 7:14 "Narrow is the door and hard the road to life. I AM the narrow door and only a small number find Me."
This is salvation by keeping the Law.
3.) Might something change if one believes Jesus isn't the narrow way, but that Judaism is?
Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi speaking to Jews. In Matt.7:12 He is talking to Jews. He came for the Jews.
Matthew 10:5-6; Matthew 15:24.
So, if Jesus is not the narrow, difficult gate and path and we can put these terms within the religious timeframe in which they were spoken a great shift in our view of His work on the cross will occur. The relentless pursuit of God for us and His constant desire for relationship with us can finally make sense. Luke 14: 16-23 can take on a new light as His servants compel many to come. Not just a few. This change of perspective can help us see that we can easily become His children and run into His wide open arms.
The gate has been made easily accessible by Jesus. He made the gate and the path open to everyone when, at His death the VEIL, which separated everyone from God, WAS TORN DOWN from top to bottom.
2Cor 3:14 but (the Jews) minds were hardened: for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remaineth, it not being revealed to them that It Is Done Away In Christ.!
2Cor 3:15 “but unto this day, whensoever Moses is read, a veil lieth upon their heart.” There is no veil. The barrier between God and man is gone! We can now see God as the Prodigal Son's Father. He watches for all to come to Him. When we do He runs toward us.
The url (below) presents an ancient Jewish view of the gates which I believe pre-dates Jesus use of it.
http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/364-abraham-testament-of
Bob Collins
©2012
Is Jesus The Narrow Way?
Discussion in 'Other Christian Denominations' started by fortytworc, Sep 22, 2013.
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John 10:9 - "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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If Jesus is talking of Himself being the Narrow Way He is teaching 'salvation by works'.
Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the narrow gate -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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2.) Would any doctrine change had He clearly stated He was the door, gate, or way we should work to enter?
If we read these verses as though He spoke of Himself that would mean He taught that salvation is a result of working hard yet still not making it. They could read something like this:
Luke 13:24 "I AM the narrow gate. Strive to enter in by me, the narrow gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in by me and shall not be able.
Matt 7:14 "Narrow is the door and hard the road to life. I AM the narrow door and only a small number find Me."
This is salvation by keeping the Law.
Are we directed to strive to enter anything, person, gate, road that leads to life? -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Jesus: I am the Way...
There is no other way to eternal life but by Jesus Christ Himself.
Since He is the Way, and Matthew records that Narrow is the way, we have no other recourse but to conclude that Jesus is that Narrow Way. -
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So, if the narrow gate and hard road is not Jesus what is it? The only answer that makes sense to me is Judaism. It is trying to obtain salvation through obeying the Law. It doesn't matter whose law or how many laws. Living by the law puts you on the road to destruction. Salvation is found only through Jesus. A salvation by the law is the same as being on the broad road. If the narrow way and gate is not Judaism that doesn't mean it is Jesus. I am convinced it is not Jesus. There are too many ways that this clashes and contradicts what we know about Jesus. and salvation. -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
I cannot understand what you are really trying to say. Your posts are very poor communication. But it appears to be complete heresy.
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First: Jesus is the only way to be saved. He is God the Son. No one comes to the Father but by Him. Concerning my paper: I have been taught that Jesus was the Narrow Way.
Jesus says there is a narrow door and a wide door (Matt 7:13). There is a narrow door and a hard road leading to life (Matt 7:14) There is a narrow gate(Luke13:24).
We have been taught that Jesus is the narrow door and the narrow gate that leads to life. After obtaining this life we then begin to live the Christian life which is a hard road to walk. If we don't enter into salvation by Him we are on the broad road to destruction.
Jesus goes on to say here that very few ever discover the narrow door (Matt.7:14). If we do discover the narrow gate we are told to strive (work very hard) to enter it. But even after this striving we probably won't be able t enter it. That is why I paraphrased the passages.If He had left no room for anything else; if He plainly said, "I am the Narrow Gate that even those who discover it (ME) will strive to enter but will not be able. Those words did not seem to fit what Bible believeing Christianity believes about how one is saved. If we are saved not by works, how could Jesus be the way that we must strive to enter? I'll stop here to see if I have communicated any better. Even if I'm wrong have I maybe been a little plainer? -
Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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Maybe I could ask What does it sound like I am saying"
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Revmitchell Well-Known MemberSite Supporter
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I am at least suggesting that in THESE passages of Scripture: Matt.7:12-14 and Luke13:24 alone Jesus is talking about the Jewish way of salvation at the time and that was following the Law.
I come to that consideration when I see Jesus saying, "Strive to enter in at the narrow gate. For many, I say to you will seek to enter in and shall not be able. My thinking goes like this: We are saved by grace, not by working hard. If Jesus, in these verses alone, is the narrow gate and says "work hard (strive) to enter in at the narrow gate, we have this: Jesus=narrow gate.
Strive=works
Strive to enter by the narrow gate=work to enter Jesus.
But I don't believe Any of us has to work to enter by Jesus ,so what do these verses mean?
It seems likely to me that as a Jewish Rabbi speaking to Jews that He would mean, and they would understand Him to be speaking about the Law. -
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