This is the Way
Week one - The Narrow Way
Matthew 7:13-14 and 5:1-12
Bottom line: The narrow way is the life we desperately want yet struggle to attain.
*Tension: Everyone has ideas and things they want to sell you, or convince you of, on “the best way,” but mostly they’re selling the quickest, easiest, and/or cheapest way.
Our desperation to get it right makes us susceptible to these offers.
Life is hard and you want to get it right - it’s a good thing we have a Master Teacher in Jesus.
Context for Sermon on the Mount-
Jesus’ most repeated and well-known teaching, recorded by Matthew and Luke, likely repeated in various forms numerous times throughout Jesus’ ministry as he traveled from place to place
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. 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. —Matthew 7:13-14
With such a clear dichotomy, why would anyone pick the dark side or the evil side, or the destructive side?
Choosing the narrow path requires trusting that Jesus knows what’s best for you, even when it conflicts with your assumptions and expectations. —Rich Villodas, “The Narrow Way”
The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried. —G.K. Chesterton
Jesus invites us on through the small gate and onto the narrow way, but he never hides the fact that this isn’t going to be the easier way.
Jesus introduces this narrow way, this good way, this better way, in the most
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. —Matthew 5:3-12
Hard ———————– Worth It
Being poor ————– Kingdom of heaven
Mourning —————- Comfort
Meekness ————— Inheritance
Hunger and thirst —- Fulfillment
Merciful ——————- Receiving Mercy
Pure in heart ———– Seeing God
Peacemaker ———— Child of God
Persecuted ————– Kingdom of Heaven
The narrow way is the life we desperately want yet struggle to attain.
So, where are you? The broad path or the narrow path? How many mile-markers down?
Here’s the good news -
The narrow way isn’t the way to
Jesus set the bar high, died to cover every time we fall below it, and is with us to sort it all out as we go.
This isn’t moralism or behavior modification…
Jesus is the Master Teacher, which is why He invites us not to just figure it out, but to follow Him.
We need Jesus.
This is the way -
Jesus is the way.