DO YOU KNOW WHAT HE MEANT?
20/03/14 00:49
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it”
(Matthew 7:13-14)
Many attribute this story to a comparison between those in the church verse those outside the church. What if I told you that I could prove, within the context of this statement by Christ, that He is comparing two different groups WITHIN the church and not comparing the world at all?
Context is the largest key to rightly understanding Scripture. Failure to observe context leads to grave error in interpretation.
Directly after this statement from Christ, He warns the listeners to watch out for false prophets (vs 15). False prophets would be those among us, among the church (2 Peter 2:1), who will teach false teachings, teachings from their own heart and not from God, heresies; and they will deceive many (Matt 24:24; Luke 6:26; 2 Peter 2; 1 John 4:1). In other words, they will teach a doctrine of man rather than a doctrine of God. If we know Scripture, we can know these false prophets by the fruit they produce (vs 16-20). He then warns that many will cry Lord, Lord but not make it.
Then verse 24 begins with “Therefore” which is a major connector and the exclamation point on the subject of this little study. The word “Therefore” is connecting the statements we’ve already discussed with the one He’s getting ready to say. Then, He starts to compare those who hear (the church) and do verses those who hear (the church) and don’t do.
When looking at this teaching as a whole, we see Christ warning that the road to eternal life is narrow and difficult. He warns that there will be false teachers that will enter the church and teach an easy road, easy Salvation walk; and many will fall for these false teachings and not make it.
THIS IS THE REASON we must LEARN how to STUDY the Bible. This is the reason we can not follow along with men’s doctrines and teachings when studying Scripture; we must know HOW to Study Scripture for ourselves. Those wolves are dressed like sheep. Which is to say, you could be following the doctrine of someone you think is godly, and right on, and never even know your led astray.
(Matthew 7:13-14)
Many attribute this story to a comparison between those in the church verse those outside the church. What if I told you that I could prove, within the context of this statement by Christ, that He is comparing two different groups WITHIN the church and not comparing the world at all?
Context is the largest key to rightly understanding Scripture. Failure to observe context leads to grave error in interpretation.
Directly after this statement from Christ, He warns the listeners to watch out for false prophets (vs 15). False prophets would be those among us, among the church (2 Peter 2:1), who will teach false teachings, teachings from their own heart and not from God, heresies; and they will deceive many (Matt 24:24; Luke 6:26; 2 Peter 2; 1 John 4:1). In other words, they will teach a doctrine of man rather than a doctrine of God. If we know Scripture, we can know these false prophets by the fruit they produce (vs 16-20). He then warns that many will cry Lord, Lord but not make it.
Then verse 24 begins with “Therefore” which is a major connector and the exclamation point on the subject of this little study. The word “Therefore” is connecting the statements we’ve already discussed with the one He’s getting ready to say. Then, He starts to compare those who hear (the church) and do verses those who hear (the church) and don’t do.
When looking at this teaching as a whole, we see Christ warning that the road to eternal life is narrow and difficult. He warns that there will be false teachers that will enter the church and teach an easy road, easy Salvation walk; and many will fall for these false teachings and not make it.
THIS IS THE REASON we must LEARN how to STUDY the Bible. This is the reason we can not follow along with men’s doctrines and teachings when studying Scripture; we must know HOW to Study Scripture for ourselves. Those wolves are dressed like sheep. Which is to say, you could be following the doctrine of someone you think is godly, and right on, and never even know your led astray.
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