TWO GROUPS

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

“Many” and “few” describe two groups of people. Thoise who enter through the wide gate and travel the broad way toward the destination of destruction, are many.

They include pagans and nominal Christians, atheists and religionists, theists and humanists, Jews and Gentiles—every person from every age, background, persuasion, and circumstance who has not come to saving obedience in Jesus Christ.

In the day of judgment many will claim to be followers of Christ. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from from Me, you who work lawlessness.'” (Matthew 7:22-23).

Those who are excluded will not just be just atheists or rank pagans, but nominal Christians who professed to know and trust Christ but who refused to come to Him on His terms.

The group that goes through the narrow gate and travels the narrow way and is destined for life are few in number, Jessu said, “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14)

Make sure you are numbered with the few and not with those who ill receive Jesus’ shocking declaration at the day of judgment. ((John MacArthur, Daily Readings From the Life of Christ [Chicago: Moody, 2008], June 30))

John MacArthur

Further reading