My Favorite Verses - Vol III (Aug 16 to Nov 16)
A collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
A collection of brief commentaries on some of the Bible’s most beloved (and least understood) passages, parables, verses & sayings
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Matthew 7:8-14 … The Narrow Gate<br />
(10/25/20<strong>16</strong>)<br />
“For the Gate is narrow and the Road is hard that leads <strong>to</strong> Life, and there are<br />
few who find It … [though] everyone who Searches, [does indeed] find It.”<br />
~ Jesus (Matthew 7:14+8)<br />
It is easy <strong>to</strong> see why so many Christians read these and similar verses as<br />
saying that Jesus was only open <strong>to</strong> saving a few “good souls” – that Jesus was<br />
somehow only open <strong>to</strong> redeeming those few who happened <strong>to</strong> subscribe <strong>to</strong> the<br />
teachings of Paul by worshiping Jesus as the only Son of God ... Indeed it is these<br />
same dogmatic “Paulinists” (ironically known <strong>to</strong>day as “Christians”) who would have<br />
us believe that worshiping Jesus himself is the very “narrow way” Jesus himself<br />
mentions in such passages – essentially, having us believe that Jesus was a<br />
hypocrite; that he openly abandoned the very same humility that he demanded of<br />
others (see Matthew 18:3-4), and that he openly exuded the same pride that he so<br />
soundly & repeatedly denounced (see Matthew 23:12).<br />
And yet this is not how we must read this passage, my Friends. It is indeed<br />
possible <strong>to</strong> read it differently; <strong>to</strong> read it without selling Jesus so short – just as it is<br />
indeed possible <strong>to</strong> read it without making God out <strong>to</strong> be such a capricious<br />
masochist. For if we read Jesus‟ teachings in their entirety, it is quite clear that the<br />
Narrow Way of which he speaks has nothing at all <strong>to</strong> do with worshiping him (see<br />
Mark 10:18, John 7:<strong>16</strong>, John 12:44 et al) and everything <strong>to</strong> do with enlivening a Way<br />
of Being – a Way of Caring – a Way of Loving – a Way of Living with others that<br />
puts their own needs above our own – a Way of selfless Kindness that is indeed<br />
“the road that leads <strong>to</strong> [a Meaning-full] life.” And yes, it is indeed a road that<br />
requires immense courage, and thus it is indeed a road few choose <strong>to</strong> find. And<br />
yet it is also just as true that every single person who exhibits the requisite<br />
humility <strong>to</strong> seek it – and then the requisite courage <strong>to</strong> walk upon it – is indeed<br />
guaranteed <strong>to</strong> both find it and revel thereupon.<br />
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