In the closing sections of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives us our choices. Will we follow the narrow way that leads to life, or the broad way that leads to destruction? Will we be good trees that bring forth good fruit, or corrupt trees that bring forth evil fruit? Will we be wise men who build our houses on rock, or foolish men who build our houses on sand? The metaphorical choices are clear. We must chose one way or the other; there are no other alternatives. And appropriate consequences will result from our choice.
But what do the metaphors represent? What does Jesus mean by the “narrow” and the “broad” ways? What does he mean by “good” and “evil” trees? And what do houses built on sand and rock represent? In short, what choices is Jesus really presenting us?
We find a common theme running through Jesus’ metaphors. Each figure has to do with our attitude toward Christ. He is the door. He is the way, the truth, and the life. He is the true vine. He is the chief cornerstone of the house of God.
Two Ways
Jesus commands us, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Mt. 7:13-14).
The entrance point
In Luke’s account, Jesus adds that the door (gate, entrance way) will not always be open. If we do not enter in now, we may be shut out altogether. “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us” (Lk. 13:24-25; cp. Mt. 25:10-12).
Furthermore, Jesus explains that he is the door. “Then said Jesus unto them again. Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep…by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (Jn. 10:7,9). If we enter in, we will be saved.
The option is clear: either we act now or we’ll be shut out later. Because Christ is the door, we cannot get to the Father except through him. We must call “Lord, Lord” now. If we wait until he has returned, it will be too late.
The way
“Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (in. 14:5-6; cp. Exo. 33:13).
Christ’s sacrifice provides the new and living way, through which we have access to the Father. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say his flesh” (Heb. 10:19-20).
In fact, because of their association with Christ, the first century ecclesia referred to themselves as “the way” (much like we refer to ourselves as having “the truth”). “But Saul…went unto the high priest, and asked of him letters to Damascus unto the synagogues, that if he found any that were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2 RV; see also Acts 18:24-26, 19:8-9 RV, 19:23 RV, 22:4 RV).
The way of life and the way of death
This idea that there are two ways, one leading to life, the other to death, has its origins in the Old Testament. “And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death” (Jer. 21:8; cp. Dt. 30:15-20). “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners…For the Lord knoweth the way of the righteous: But the way of the ungodly shall perish” (Psa. 1:1,6). “I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths…Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men…But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble” (Prov. 4:11,14,18-19).
Jesus has put before us the way of life and the way of death. We must chose. Let us choose life.
The narrow way
Taking the way of life will not be easy. Jesus calls it a “narrow” way. The Greek verb for “narrow” (thlibo) means “pressed” and is translated “to trouble” four times, “to afflict” three times and “to suffer tribulation” once, out of 10 occurrences. It is related to the noun thlipsis translated “tribulation” 21 times and “affliction” 18 times, for 39 out of 45 occurrences. These two words are usually associated with tribulation and affliction suffered for Christ’s sake. Paul captured the essence of the trade offs involved when he wrote, “For our light affliction (thlipsis), which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory” (2 Cor. 4:17).
Two Trees
Jesus continues, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Mt. 7:15-20).
False prophets
The New Testament has many warnings against false prophets. In the Olivet Prophecy, Jesus warns, “If any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders (i.e. they will be false apostles also)” (Mt. 24:23-24).
Peter warns, “There were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction” (2 Pet. 2:1-2).
And John warns, “Beloved, believe not every spirit (i.e. teacher), but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world…Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God…” (1 Jn. 4:1-3).
Each of these passages tells us that the litmus test for a teacher is his teaching about Christ. False prophets say that Christ has already come, they deny Christ who bought them, and they say that Christ did not come in the flesh.
Like wolves
Jesus’ phrase, “they come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” comes from Ezekiel’s scathing attacks on the leaders of Israel. “There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey…Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things…Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain” (Ezek. 22:25-27).
Paul used the same words in his discussion with the elders of Ephesus, “I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them” (Acts 20:29-30).
One point that we easily overlook is that these false prophets are in the meeting, deceiving, if possible, the very elect. We must “try the spirits whether they are of God.”
Fruit
We must check the fruit, that is, the teaching and the followers, of the teacher. The real test is whether they have the new mind of Christ or the old mind of the flesh. You cannot gather grapes and figs, which am symbols of the new spiritual mind, from thorns and thistles, which are symbols of the old natural mind.
In order to bring forth good fruit, we must be intimately associated with Christ. “lam the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit…I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing” (Jn. 15:1-5).
If we share the mind of Christ it will show in our character. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Gal. 5:22-24; cp. Phil. 2:1-11).
Jesus told the evil-speaking Pharisees, “Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit (i.e. make your decision as to whether I am good or evil, I cannot be both). 0 generation of vipers (i.e. unregenerate seed of the serpent), how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart (i.e. mind, thoughts) the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things” (Mt. 12:33-36).
In other words, your talk comes from your thoughts. If your mind is filled with the good things of the new man, then so will be your conversation. If it is filled only with the evil things of the old man, then so will be your conversation.
Two Houses
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it” (Mt. 7:21-27).
Parable based on Proverbs
The parable of the two houses is based on ideas from Proverbs:
“The wicked are overthrown and are not: But the house of the righteous shall stand” (12:7).
“The house of the wicked shall be overthrown: But the tent of the upright shall flourish” (14:11 RV).
Christ is the foundation
Jesus makes plain that he is the Rock. “Jesus…asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am?…And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood (i.e. human nature; cp. Gal. 1:16; Heb. 2:14) hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Mt. 16:13,16-18).
Paul makes the same point. “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles (because they recorded the works of Christ) and prophets (because they foretold those works), Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto a holy temple in the Lord: in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Eph. 2:19-22; cp. I Cor. 3:11; I Pet. 2:4-8; Rev. 21:14).
Brothers and sisters, “choose you this day whom ye will serve.” Jesus has clearly mapped out the two different directions our lives can take and where those directions lead. Let each of us choose the narrow path that leads to life.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One