Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

Robert Frost 1915

This famous poem presents an interesting view of how choices that one must make in life. At times we are presented with two options and we must decide which path we will journey down, the choice of which may have lifelong impact. In Matthew 7:13-14 Jesus presents to his audience a choice of eternal significance – one that each of us will be faced with at some point in our lifetime. The decision that we make will set our feet upon the path to either life or destruction.

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Jesus sets about to describe the two possible choices that everyone has, and the choice is a universal one. Everyone who has ever lived, is currently alive, or will be born in the future will ultimately be faced by this choice. Which path are we going to take?

The statement at the beginning of verse 13 clearly shows what Jesus wants us to do and he states it in the form of a command. Enter. This term has been used previously in the Sermon on the Mount back in 5:20 where he says, “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” And he will use the same term again later in 7:21, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” Both of those references have a negative impact in mind and inform the hearer that they will be barred from the kingdom of heaven unless certain conditions are met. In this passage though Jesus commands that we enter specifically by the narrow gate, in contrast with the wide gate.

The description of the wide gate is such that at first it seems rather appealing – the entrance is broad and allows for the most people to travel upon it. The way is easy upon our feet as we walk along the path, and there are many other travelers upon this road. From our earthly, created, understanding this would seem to be the right direction to travel. There is the advantage of safety in numbers, there is plenty of room for everyone, and very little is required of those that walk upon this path. This appeals to us for we are, after-all, human and we are constantly seeking ways for our lives to filled with comfort and ease. The problem though is not in the path, but rather in the destination. This easy road, this wide gate, leads ultimately to destruction.

This of course should shock us into action! The attentive hearer should reflect upon these words and tremble in fear at the direction that their life is headed. Though this life may be full of ease and comfort in the here and now in the end awaits an eternal consequence. If though this path is not the one upon which we should tread, then which gate should we be looking for? How can I enter through the gate that leads to life?

Thankfully Jesus does not leave us to wonder but in verse 14 explains the road we should be looking toward. In contrast with the previous descriptions the road that leads to life is one that is narrow. This is a difficult thing for us to imagine as we are so oft to avoid a road that we can scarcely travel upon. Furthermore he describes that this path will be filled with hardship and difficult steps. Imagine if we could a narrow mountain trail – to either side is brush and thick trees such that there is barely room for us to move. As if such a path would not be difficult enough to navigate it is further filled with potholes, rocks, snags, snares, and all manner of devices that complicate taking another step. This is not the path that we would naturally travel upon, though some are want to do so for recreation (the metaphor can only be stretched so far). Thus it is that Jesus commands that we choose such a path because in doing so it leads to life! How then do we enter into such a path?

It is here that we must expand our context in order to more fully understand what Jesus is teaching and thankfully he has done so in the other Gospel accounts. In John 10 we have recorded Jesus’ teaching concerning being the good shepherd; sadly though the crowd did not understand the meaning of the text and so he sought to explain it for them. In verse 9 he says: “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.” Jesus says that it is himself that is the door into the secure pasture, and it is through him that one must enter in order to reach that safe place. Yet there is another passage in John that further expounds upon this concept and also reinforces the uniqueness of the narrow path.

In John 14 we find Jesus comforting his disciples as he prepares for his eminent death. This of course is a very traumatic time for the disciples who are asking for reassure that all will be well. Thomas asks Jesus where he is going and how they can know the way to follow him. Jesus responds in verse 6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” This verse proves to be a stumbling to many upon the wide path because of the exclusive nature of Jesus’ claim, and he is not subtle in his proclamation. No one comes to the Father but through Jesus. Buddha will not bring one to God the Father; Mohammad is not the way; Gandhi, for all the amazing peaceful work he did, does not provide life to those who follow him. It is only, 100% through Jesus Christ that one can have truth, and life. Surely there is no more narrow a path than that of Jesus! Placing our faith, our hope, our trust, in Jesus, and him alone, gives us life.

So the choice before each and every person is the choice of which path are we going to set our feet upon? We can choose the path of least resistance and take the wide and easy path, but the end is only eternal death. Or we can choose to follow after Jesus, and while life now will be filled with pain and suffering, in the end is life eternal? Which path will you take?

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:7-11)

We’ve all seen little kids on long car trips – after a little while they begin to ask that most profound question, “Are we there yet?” Naturally the parental response is to inform the child that they have not yet arrived at their destination. Invariably a few minutes, or seconds, later the child again ponders aloud the question, “Are we there yet?” While it may be irritating for parents to constantly be barraged by the same question, there is something to be said for a child’s persistence in continuing to ask. It is this persistence that Jesus wants his followers to develop in terms of our prayer life because in doing so we will enjoy the wonderful gifts that the Father has for us.

Yet why at this point in the Sermon does Jesus bring up such a discussion? Consider what Jesus just preached in verses 1-6 where he directed his disciples not to judge hypocritically and to be careful with the “pearls” that we have been given. In light of such a lofty command, and the commands of the rest of the Sermon as well, it is understandable that his disciples will need help in meeting such standards. Thus it is that Jesus informs us of the surety of our prayers.

While Jesus does inform us that our prayers will be answered he begins his discussion with three commands – ask, seek, and knock. Each of these commands is given in the present tense in the original language and carries the understanding that they are to be constantly done. One should constantly be asking, constantly seeking, and constantly pounding upon the door of heaven. But the natural question that comes to mind is: what should we be asking, seeking, and knocking for?

The main theme o f the Sermon is life in the Kingdom of God – throughout Jesus has taught the disciples about the character of those that inhabit the kingdom. The beatitudes set out the principles by which one should seek to live and emulate, His instructions on prayer, divorce, loving our enemies, forgiveness, etcetera, all point to how His disciples should look and the standard by which they will be different from the world. And yet these are lofty goals! Which man honestly can say that he does not commit adultery in his heart? Or what woman can look at life and not worry about her security and future? What child does not from time to time become angry with another and thus murder them in their heart? The demands of kingdom living are indeed a high goal which we are to strive towards yet while we may be closer today than we were yesterday, we are still many difficult miles from the goal. Thus Jesus tells us to ask; ask for God to develop a clean heart within us; seek after the gift of a clean conscience; knock fervently at the door of the throne room to arouse the King into action. We are to ask, and seek, and knock so that we can receive the good gifts that our Heavenly Father has for us His children, and we are assured that our requests will be answered (v8).

In order to illustrate His point Jesus provides a simple example which most everyone should be able to relate. When a child asks a parent for bread, a staple of everyday life in the first century, what parent in their rational mind would give the child a stone? If we saw this we would call that person either insane (at best) or a horrible parent (at worst). In the same fashion if a child were to ask for a fish what parent would give them a snake? The answer again should be “no one”. Thus Jesus compares the good gift giving of an earthly parent to that of the Heavenly Father.

The Father is a perfect father, the ultimate father! If earthly fathers give good gifts to their children then how much more will our Heavenly father give us what we ask! An earthly parent may not be able to give a child what they have requested due to poverty or some other natural reason. But God is under no such duress, all the bounty of the natural world is at His disposal, and beyond that He is an omnipotent God able to do anything! Thus if we ask we can be assured that He has the power and authority to grant our requests and as a Father he desires to do so. This does not mean however that all our requests will be granted.

First, one should remember that prayer is not a magic spell – one does not simply say the correct words, or tack “In Jesus name”, to the end of a prayer and thus expect it to be answered. Our Father is not only able to grant our requests but he is also wise to know what it is that will be best for us. A common example is if one should ask for a million dollars, after all there are many troubles within our lives that could be solved with such funds in our accounts. Yet not many of us have received such a boon, does this mean that God has failed to answer our request? Not at all! While in our human understanding we believe that such a request would be for our good, God is wise in knowing the effects that it will have upon our lives. James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.” Maybe should such a request be answered it would not have the effect of developing our relationship with our Father, but instead drive us away from Him. There are many rich people in the world who have trusted in their wealth instead of God. God alone understands what is in our best interest and it is for such things that we should attempt to petition. Asking for victory over a particular sin, for example, would help to build our relationship with the Father and so He may grant such a request. Yet should he choose not to do so that should not malign His goodness! There are many godly men and women who continue to struggle with particular sins and have done so for many years, but the mature Christian understands our failures do not constitute one on God’s part. We are still human, with our human sinful nature, and we will only fully be free from the curse of sin when we stand before our Father. Then why continue to ask/seek/knock?

In Luke 11:5-13 Jesus tells a parable about this principle and further expands on the nature of what is said the Sermon on the Mount. While we are not to be repetitive in our prayers (6:7-8) it does not mean that we should not be persistent in our prayer. God wants us to seek Him and He has promised in Jeremiah 29:13 that we will find Him. Perhaps we have become complacent with our asking – when was the last time we earnestly requested something of God? How often do we seek Him with our whole hearts until we have found Him? When was the last time we made a request daily and for weeks on end as we sought His answer? God wants us to ask and in many cases is waiting for us to make the first move so that he can richly bless us with His wonderful gifts.

Every church we’ve been in has loved potlucks. There is something about getting together and sharing a meal as a church family that brings a church family together and helps to build relationships. Of course potlucks are only one means of fellowship, and in some cases may not even be fellowship. So what do we mean we talk about having fellowship with one another?

Fellowship literally means to have in common, and that is what we do in the church. In our house we have some stuff that belongs to each individual – clothing, beds, and things like that. Have you ever seen a little kid wear their fathers clothes? I would gladly give my children the clothes off my back if they wanted/needed them. After all we’re all part of the same family and helping them is good for all of us. There is some of this idea in fellowship.

Later in the book of Acts we are given an interesting description of the church at that time: “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.” Acts 4:32 The early church had everything in common – food, clothing, property, everything. This is what a church should have when it comes to fellowship, so what does it look like in our modern churches?

When I look at our church I try to look and see if we truly have all things in common – are people involved in each others lives. It’s one thing to go to church and be around other believers, but it’s another thing entirely to be involved with the other members of the church body. How after do we spend time in prayer together? Or worship? Or encouraging each other in our faith? If you run into a church where people are off doing their own thing it’s a quality you want to be wary of. Of course churches are not perfect and we may be in a time of learning fellowship and working on building that in our community.

This is just the second aspect of a growing church and we’ll look at the next two in the days ahead.

You might be expecting me to say doctrine is the most important thing to consider, but doctrine is only one part of the puzzle. First thing, if you are looking for a church that 100% agrees with everything you believe, you may be looking for a very long time. When considering doctrine consider what is foundational (Jesus is God, Jesus is the only way of salvation), and what is secondary (type of music, dress code, etc). You will probably find more churches that you agree on the essentials and can live with the other issues.

While doctrine is important it is only one part of what should make up a good church. In Acts 2:42 we find a perfect description of what church should be like: “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.”

Four items are given that made up the very first church: doctrine (disciples teaching), fellowship, communion (breaking break), and prayer. It is these four attributes that should help us determine if a church is a good fit – a church needs to have each of these if they are going to be a good church, but there is also a catch: these need to be kept in balance.

Many churches that I have encountered over the years have done each of the four items listed in Acts, but often times what happens is that they focus on one attribute to the exclusion of the others. Most often this is the case with doctrine – churches love to focus on doctrine more than anything else because after all, what a person believes determines their eternal condition. The problem however is that we tend to major on the minors and minor on the majors. Too much time is spend on issues that don’t really matter, issues that are more preference than matters of Biblical truth. I’m not talking about doctrines like the deity of Jesus, or the ministry of the Holy Spirit, but rather issues like good parenting, worship style, and the like.

The next several posts we’ll talk about each of these attributes in more detail and then wrap it all up nice and neat in the end.

1 ”Judge not, that you be not judged.2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?4 Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye?5 You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

6 ”Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

In Matthew 7:1-6 we as believers are being instructed in the proper conduct of the kingdom of God and here Jesus commands that we are not to judge. Now if we take this command at face value then we have a problem, for if no one is allowed to judge then how do we respond to our legal system? What would we do in light of those that commit crimes and skirt our laws? After all, if Jesus is saying that we are not to judges then such judgments are sinful in the eyes of God. Thankfully, that is not what Jesus has in mind.

The term here used for judge actually has in mind the idea of being judgmental. The command is not to judge, but rather to not be judgmental – to not be censorious. Within the kingdom of God, we are to be men and women we are not severely critical of others, and Jesus provides us with the reason we should seek to purge this attitude from our hearts “that you be not judged.” Who though is this other judge?

Some have thought that Jesus has in mind other people – we develop a non-judgmental attitude so that others will not be judgmental towards us. This is a very real possibility given that the example to follow regards brother/sister relations (as Christians are brothers and sisters in Christ), and after all the kingdom of God is composed of other people. Yet there is a very real possibility that Jesus has the Lord God in mind. God himself is the judge of all humanity and if we take up a judgmental spirit then we are putting ourselves in the place of God. Verse 2 would lend credence to this idea, after all it seems odd that we would be measured by grace and mercy from other people if we judge them with such an attitude. We cannot control what other people do or how they will respond, but Jesus can well speak to how God will respond because as a member of the Godhead he has intimate knowledge of how God will respond.

In order to illustrate the principle Jesus is trying to express he gives an example in verses 3 to 5. He begins by asking the question: how can we see the speck in another’s eye and yet miss the beam that is in our own. The speck in question here is literally a tiny sawdust particle. If you have ever been around woodcuttings are perhaps used sawdust in your garden you can see that an individual particle is very, very small. Yet we as humans are so deft at noticing the faults of others that we can see even the tiniest particle within their eye. Of course, we are naturally blind to our own conditions even though they may be vastly more significant than that of our brother. Yet notice in verse 5 that Jesus does not forbid us from pointing out a fault in our brother.

The principle that Jesus is instilling in his disciples is one that rightly perceives the faults of another with an attitude of seeking to help that person mature in their spiritual relationship. However in order to do so we must first look to our own self’s to see if we are being judgmental in an area that we are not willing to deal with in our own lives. Consider this example; let us say that we struggle with telling the truth. Many of our friends and co-workers know us to be horrible liars and while people are loathe to say anything, everyone knows it for a truth. One day we encounter another brother or sister in the faith and discover that this person has indeed lied to us in some fashion. Seeking to be the dutiful Christian that we are we meet with this person and point out the error of their ways. “Hypocrite!” We would cry out because the very fault we are seeking to rectify in the others life is something we have been unwilling to confront in our own. Another excellent biblical example of would be when Nathan came to David and confronted him over his sins with Bathsheba. We are not forbidden to judge, just from being judgmental.

How then do we understand verse 6 and what relationship does it have the previous context? First, let us remember that dogs and pigs in those days were not the same animals that we know in our own society. A dog was not man’s best friend – they roamed in packs like wolves seeking for a meal wherever it could be found. They were scavengers and as such considered an unclean animal within Jewish society. The pig we well know is also an unclean animal, but like the dogs, a wild pig was not an animal to be trifled with. The picture in mind then in verse 6 is of a person carrying precious pearls and happening upon a pack of wild dogs or a boar and attempted to save themselves, they cast the pearls before the creatures. While the animal may be distracted for a moment of course, they cannot consume the pearls and so will move to attack the person who sought to poison them with stones.

For us as believers the lesson to be learned here is that we are to be discerning. Just as in the previous section, Jesus commands us not to be judgmental, which can have the negative effect of not judging at all, this verse seeks to enlighten us with the need to be discerning in our dealings with others. Yet what practical implication does this have for us the modern disciples and readers? We have been given a great treasure in the gift of eternal life, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, yet we must be discerning in whom we share this gift with. “Foul play!” We might hear, “The Gospel is for all mankind and should be shared freely with all!” There is a measure of truth in such words, we are indeed to share the Gospel with all men, but we need also be aware of when sharing the Gospel will be a fruitless endeavor. Perhaps we have never had the chance of knowing such a person, but there are those out there who have no care for the message of the Gospel. Instead, they seek to engage believers in a battle of wits and intellect, seeking to demolish and harm ones faith, not be converted to the Gospel. It is these types of people that we need to be cautious about. It is this message that Paul would have appealed to when he forsook going to the Jewish people any longer and instead choice to focus on the Gentiles who were open to the Gospel.

These verses teach us that we need to maintain balance in judgment. We need not go too far to one side and become judgmental of our fellow believers, but we also need to be careful and guarded, discerning in our dealings with others. The principle is not that we are not to judge, but rather that we judge correctly having examined our own lives, and knowing with whom it is that we are sharing our treasures.