What did Jesus mean when He said...

[MessageOfTheCross]

What did Jesus mean when He said in Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV, "Enter in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be who go in there: Because narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it."

Did He mean only a few will be saved, or only a few find abundant life on earth?

 

[JaumeJ]

How many will have been save come the Kingdom is many.

Jesus is the "Gate of your enemies" promised Abraham when Abraham received the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is but One Man while those who prech a different message (gospel) are countless, ergo the Narrow Gate is our Savior.

 

[NayborBear]

What did Jesus mean when He said in Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV, "Enter in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be who go in there: Because narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it."

Did He mean only a few will be saved, or only a few find abundant life on earth?

As Jesus taught only in parables, save for His Disciples? It means that which ones' eyes can "see", and what ones' ears can "hear."

 

[Deuteronomy]

What did Jesus mean when He said in Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV, "Enter in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be who go in there: Because narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it."

Did He mean only a few will be saved, or only a few find abundant life on earth?

Hi MessageOfTheCross, since the broad way leading to "destruction" is being contrasted with the narrow way that leads to "life", I don't believe there is any other way to understand that passage other than the former, that few, in the end, will be saved.

We also get a little help from similar passages like this one.

.........Luke 13
.........24 ..Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
.........25 ..Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord,
.........open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’
.........26 ..Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’;
.........27 ..and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; DEPART FROM ME, ALL YOU EVILDOERS.’
.........28 ..In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets
.........in the kingdom of God, but yourselves being thrown out.

Here we have the Lord telling those who wish to enter the narrow door that He 1. doesn't know them and 2. that they are to depart from Him, because He doesn't know them and they are evildoers, to a place where there will be "weeping and gnashing of teeth". This is clearly in reference to the age to come (again, the Bible can be helpful confirming this as well in other passages that I am certain you are aware of).

The fact of the matter is also this, there are MANY non-Christians who live what can only be referred to as an abundant life here on earth (but will end up finding only destruction in the eternity to come), and MANY Christians who do not live anything close to either a long or abundant life in the here and now (who will end up in with life eternal in the presence of God in the next age).

~Deut

 

[Noose]

He meant exactly that. Non of these churches ever teaches the truth and non of the popular doctrines is right- you'll be surprised when your eyes are finally opened.

Isa 30: 20 The Lord will give you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, but your Teacher will no longer hide Himself—with your own eyes you will see Him. 21And whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.” 22So you will desecrate your silver-plated idols and your gold-plated images. You will throw them away like menstrual cloths, saying, “Be gone!”

 

[Chuckyz2]

Narrow is the way that never tastes death.
Only a few find it.
If you keep my commands, you will never taste death. <Jesus said that.
Only few have.
Enoch and Elijah
To think only a few actually escape the lake of fire....
that is a horrible ending to a story written by a loving God.
Absolutely horrible. Especially when He has the power to heal.

 

[BaptistBibleBeliever]

It will be clear enough when the crowd is gathered at the Lake of Fire. The vast majority of the world's population will be ushered into that lake - billions of people - but their ultimate eternal destruction will have been their choice - not God's. He did all He could for them at the Cross.

Gosh, their names couldn't be found in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Did they lose their salvation at some point in time? Nope. How could they. Jesus says, "I never knew ye, Depart from me.'

Pretty hard to claim you knew the Saviour when He says He never knew you.

 

[Dino246]

Noose is correct. It means exactly that. NayborBear is also correct.
The strait and narrow Way is beyond conceptual, worldly understanding.
This is why we repent and surrender ourselves to something that is beyond our conceptual ways of thinking. The majority of people strive to hold fast to their attachments to their views and beliefs.
Not only does that limit the person from growing, they have limited God to something grasped. This is idolatry.
The narrow (middle) Way is not taking sides to matters. Everything is all inclusive.

If anyone truly understands this statement. They have found the Way.

This is eastern pagan philosophy, not biblical truth.

 

[Chuckyz2]

It will be clear enough when the crowd is gathered at the Lake of Fire. The vast majority of the world's population will be ushered into that lake - billions of people - but their ultimate eternal destruction will have been their choice - not God's. He did all He could for them at the Cross.

Gosh, their names couldn't be found in the Lamb's Book of Life.

Did they lose their salvation at some point in time? Nope. How could they. Jesus says, "I never knew ye, Depart from me.'

Pretty hard to claim you knew the Saviour when He says He never knew you.

Wow. Im sure they will just be diving in like they are at a local plunge.
If that we the case, and it is not, nobody will choose to go into a lake a fire.
They will be thrown in by their father. Their maker. Who must have made a mistake.
Because everyone is only whatever the maker makes them.
So your theology not only make your god evil, it makes him unjust. Completely unloving.
That is the main lie preached in modern Christianity today. That a loving Father casts His own children into the lake of fire. It is so sad.
When in all actuality, the Bible states simply over 50 times that all peoples are saved.
That satan and his angels and death will be cast into the lake of fire.
Here is just one of those verses that completely 100% percent puts BaptistBelievers' theology to complete shame.

John 12
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

There is no way around the truth.
You can lie all you want.
The words will never change.

 

[Chuckyz2]

It would mean billions and billions of people would go into eternal suffering.
I have done and seen some pretty bad things in my life. But for the Love of God
I can not imagine a soul that can say 90%+ of all men ever born are destined
to eternal suffering and seriously be ok with it. Have you ever imagined if
you will be able to hear their screams. That would kind of kill the whole
paradise feeling knowing all those souls are horribly suffering. Not
kinda, it would. Thank God it is only blasphemy spewed by the unknowing.

Forgive them Father, they know not what they do.

 

[dcontroversal]

What did Jesus mean when He said in Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV, "Enter in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be who go in there: Because narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it."

Did He mean only a few will be saved, or only a few find abundant life on earth?

It is clear...there is but one way into the Kingdom of God and that is 100% faith/trust into the only cure given under heaven for the lost fallen state of man--->Jesus and his work on the cross....

It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that BELIEVE...

Men CORRUPT the gospel message when we ADD our own embellishments....

All the false religions equate to the broad wide ways....no faith included in that briad way as well...

What blows my mind is the fact that almost every religion on the planet that names JESUS teaches the same false dogma he warned about...

They ALL claim to know Christ and call him LORD

They ALL embellish faith with WORKS in some form or fashion as PROOF of their right to enter

EXACTLY why he states....PLENTEOUS IN NUMBER will be the amount of people that come before him saying....LORD LORD HAVE WE NOT DONE ---------- IN YOUR NAME.

The way is broad because

a. Most reject the truth
b. Most believe a false religion
c. MOST embellish faith with self effort

 

[BaptistBibleBeliever]

Wow. Im sure they will just be diving in like they are at a local plunge.
If that we the case, and it is not, nobody will choose to go into a lake a fire.
They will be thrown in by their father. Their maker. Who must have made a mistake.
Because everyone is only whatever the maker makes them.
So your theology not only make your god evil, it makes him unjust. Completely unloving.
That is the main lie preached in modern Christianity today. That a loving Father casts His own children into the lake of fire. It is so sad.
When in all actuality, the Bible states simply over 50 times that all peoples are saved.
That satan and his angels and death will be cast into the lake of fire.
Here is just one of those verses that completely 100% percent puts BaptistBelievers' theology to complete shame.

John 12
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.

There is no way around the truth.
You can lie all you want.
The words will never change.

You didn't read far enough . . .

"And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:47-48).

and perhaps you never read the earlier chapters of John?

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:16-18).

How does that smoke in your universal salvation pipe?

 

[Zmouth]

If you keep my commands, you will never taste death. <Jesus said that.

Only if you taste with your eyes yet since there are many who believe that they hear with their eyes then it only stands to reason that will be some who should taste with their eyes as well.

Regardless of what method you hear, it isn't written that Jesus ever said that "if you keep his commands you would never taste death", nor is written that Jesus ever said "you will never taste death."

It is written that he said that "there be some" that "which shall not taste of death, till" but that clearly represents that when they see those things he spoke of then they would taste of death.

​

Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. Matt 16:28​

​

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power. Mark 9:1​

​

But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God. Luke 9:27​

​

While one might hear that Jesus said "If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death." yet if one looks in John 8:52 they can see it is written that it wasn't Jesus but those heard him claim that he said that if any man keep his saying he shall never taste of death. Thus they said, "and thou sayest, "If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death."

"Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, "If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death." John 8:52

 

[Zmouth]

Did they lose their salvation at some point in time? Nope. How could they. Jesus says, "I never knew ye, Depart from me.'

Remember, you are not saved by works but by your faith in the God who justifies the ungodly?

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Rom 4:5

So is faith without works dead since it is written:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
Rom 10:13-15

Yet those who call upon the name of the Lord will enter heaven, but only those who do the will of his Father will enter.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
Matt 7:22-23

Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.Ps 6:8
Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Ps 119:115

 

[KJV1611]

What did Jesus mean when He said in Matthew 7:13-14 NKJV, "Enter in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be who go in there: Because narrow is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it."

Did He mean only a few will be saved, or only a few find abundant life on earth?

I look at it from the children of Israel in the wilderness perspective. ALL of them were covered by the blood of the Lamb (saved) but only 2 of the originals made it into the promise land (abundant life).

 

[BaptistBibleBeliever]

Remember, you are not saved by works but by your faith in the God who justifies the ungodly?

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
Rom 4:5

So is faith without works dead since it is written:

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent?
Rom 10:13-15

Yet those who call upon the name of the Lord will enter heaven, but only those who do the will of his Father will enter.

Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
Matt 7:22-23

Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.Ps 6:8
Depart from me, ye evildoers: for I will keep the commandments of my God. Ps 119:115

Based on your reply, you believe God is incapable of cogently expressing His own Word. "I never knew ye, depart from me" becomes a confused, "oh yea, I guess you did call on the name of the Lord . . . wow, you must be saved after all? I must have forget!"

 

[Chuckyz2]

You didn't read far enough . . .

"And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day" (John 12:47-48).

and perhaps you never read the earlier chapters of John?

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:16-18).

How does that smoke in your universal salvation pipe?

Im not a universalist. I don't smoke a pipe. I do however don't ignore the first sentence to make the second confirm to my theology. Jesus said HE does not judge Him. Your theology, or understanding says He doesn't then He does. How do you justify that as anything but a contradiction in the purest form. I will explain this very simple paragraph to you since your brainwashed preconception has blinded you from the actual simply stated meaning of it.
The first sentence says He does not judge man, that he came to save the world. If you take that to heart, nothing can change it. Period.
Here is where you are gravely mistaken. You think the second sentence says the man will be judged when it is actually talking about what is in the man that he has. An evil spirit.
He that believeth hath "one" that judgeth him: that is the evil spirit. It cant be Jesus that He has or he would believe, no? No look at the : at the end of that statement that is talking about the one he has, that means the following statement is in reference to that one that he has. The word He has spoken will judge him, the one he has, on the last day. To try and say Jesus doesn't judge man but His word does. Please. They are one and the same. In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God and the Word was God.
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Take it to an English scholar and he will tell you that what will be judged is what the man has. It is simple English.
You are the one blowing smoke. Twisting simple English to fit a completely evil theology.

And YEs I have read the other verses and all of the Bible over and over understanding it for what it actually says and not what I want it to... or what some brainwashed Christian or preacher tells me it says. I will explain that to you in my next post.

 

[Chuckyz2]

You didn't read far enough . . .

and perhaps you never read the earlier chapters of John?

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:16-18).

How does that smoke in your universal salvation pipe?

I have read the Book of John more than other Book in the Bible. It is my favorite Book.
Yes I have read the verse you reference countless times. Only I understand it for what it says.

Yes you must believe. I never said a non believer isn't saved. Where we differ in interpretations is you ignore the simply stated and twist other simple English to justify your theology. You also put a time limit on when one has to become a believer before they are saved. Before they actually die in the first life. You fail to recognize that it is not over when you die. Why would there be a tribulation? You do know the tribulation is resurrected people, do you not?

Also, to think the word condemned means "will be cast into the lake of fire" is utter nonsence and you have to just be not thinking about what it says. Think about this:

If they are condemned already, that means no one that was ever a non believer can become a believer. They are condemned to the lake of fire already. Condemned means they will suffer the penalty of sin. Death. Condemned to die. Everyone but 2 die in their sin. Enoch and Elijah.
If you keep my commands you will never taste death
The penalty of sin is death.

Also if you continue reading through there is more on the definition of the condemnation spoken about in your referenced verses.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
That is talking about all men. All but two not counting Jesus.
The salvation comes at the last day after the tribulation when that which the man had that caused him not to believe, is cast into the lake of fire. The devil and his angels. The ruler of this world.
The ruler of this world will be judged.

You can believe how like. Im good with it. If you are a human being, you will be saved eventually. You will believe eventually. Every knee shall bow.

 

[Chuckyz2]

I look at it from the children of Israel in the wilderness perspective. ALL of them were covered by the blood of the Lamb (saved) but only 2 of the originals made it into the promise land (abundant life).

Enoch and Elijah did not taste death. Only 2. So it is also symbolic. One worth noting. Good post.

 

[KJV1611]

Enoch and Elijah did not taste death. Only 2. So it is also symbolic. One worth noting. Good post.

Thanks Chuckyz2. Another cool thing about that story is that all of the originals children, the second born generation, made it into the promise land which I think is a type of born again believers entering into the promise land - His rest.