The Narrow Way
A Sermon on Matthew 7:13-14
Scripture
13¶ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be …
Sermon Description
“Why are Christians so narrowminded?” This is a frequent charge against Christians, but according to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, the great danger is actually when Christians in the church become broadminded. In order to curry favor with “the man of learning,” the church is cutting and trimming the gospel message. Instead Christians must embrace the narrow way, and preach the whole truth of the gospel with holy boldness. In this sermon on Matthew 7:13–14 titled “The Narrow Way,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones examines the words of Jesus Christ who taught much on the soul during His years of ministry on the earth. Dr. Lloyd-Jones gives several examples of Jesus’s life and teaching where He focused on the human response to His message. The message of Jesus Christ is intimately narrow, and intensely personal so that every individual must face it alone. The narrowness of the gospel is seen most clearly in the saving work of Jesus Christ, because there is no other way of salvation. Jesus lived His whole life on earth by the narrow way, eventually leading to His death on the cross. But the narrow way ultimately leads to eternal life as seen in the risen Lord, Jesus Christ. The wide way, however, leads to destruction.
Sermon Breakdown
- The charge of narrowness is frequently brought against Christians and Christianity. Many Christians are afraid of this charge and try to avoid it.
- However, Jesus himself chose the term "the narrow way" to describe the Christian life. We should not be ashamed of it.
- The narrow way refers to confining our considerations to one subject: man's relationship to God. The Bible focuses on this one theme.
- Jesus himself focused on this one theme in his preaching and ministry. He used illustrations from nature and life to teach about man's relationship to God.
- The narrow way also refers to the intensely personal nature of faith. It is about individual souls and their standing before God.
- The narrow way demands a particular way of living, both in what we avoid and what we do. It dictates how we live ethically.
- The narrow way is also seen in the fact that salvation is only through one person: Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.
- Jesus' own life illustrates the narrow way. From his birth to his death and resurrection, he endured increasing "narrowing" and confinement. But it led to life.
- The broad way, in contrast, leads to destruction. Though it seems easy and popular, it destroys the best qualities in human nature.
- The narrow way, though hard at first, leads to abundant life in Christ. It restores the image of God in us and brings eternal blessings.
- We must choose which way we are on. We are invited to enter the narrow way through faith in Christ.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Sermon Questions and Answers: The Narrow Way
What is the main charge brought against Christians that Dr. Lloyd-Jones addresses in this sermon?
The main charge brought against Christians that Dr. Lloyd-Jones addresses is the charge of narrowness. As he states, "There is no charge, perhaps, which is brought quite so frequently against the Christian teaching, the Christian gospel, the Christian way of life, and the individual Christian believer as the charge of narrowness." He notes that this is particularly a favorite charge in the 20th century, often made by those who describe themselves as "men of the world" who pride themselves on having a broad outlook.
Why did Jesus deliberately call His way of life "the narrow way"?
Jesus deliberately called His way of life "the narrow way" because He wanted to emphasize several important aspects of the Christian faith: 1) It deliberately confines its considerations to one subject—God and man's relationship to Him; 2) It is intensely personal, requiring individual commitment through the "straight gate" that admits only one person at a time; 3) It dictates a specific way of living with high moral standards; and 4) It offers salvation through only one person—Jesus Christ and His crucifixion. Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out that Jesus "glories in the thing that so alarms and terrifies us."
According to the sermon, how does the narrow way differ from the broad way?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the narrow way differs from the broad way in both its characteristics and destination. The narrow way appears restrictive initially, requiring personal commitment and adherence to God's standards. It involves self-denial and following Christ's example. However, it "leadeth unto life"—abundant, eternal life with God. In contrast, the broad way is popular, filled with thousands "drinking, dancing, singing, indulging sex, taking their drugs, spitting on the sanctities." While appearing attractive and full of freedom, it ultimately "leadeth to destruction" and represents "the destruction of everything that is best in human nature."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones view the modern church's attempts to please "men of knowledge"?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones severely criticizes the modern church's attempts to please "men of knowledge, men of culture, and particularly men of scientific knowledge." He says the church "has been at great pains to do everything she can to please this new authority" by removing elements from the Bible that might offend modern sensibilities—including Genesis's first chapters, miracles, the virgin birth, the atonement, and the physical resurrection. He contrasts this with Jesus's approach: "I never find the Lord Jesus Christ trimming and clipping and changing his gospel in order to make it suit the people. I find him trimming and clipping and changing the people in order to make them fit into his gospel."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones illustrate Christ's life as a commentary on the sermon text?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones beautifully illustrates Christ's life as the perfect commentary on "Straight is the gate and narrow is the way." He traces Jesus's journey from heaven to earth as a progressive narrowing: from His confinement in human form at Bethlehem, to the Garden of Gethsemane where soldiers restricted His movement, to the trial where He was further confined, to the cross where He was completely immobilized, and finally to the grave—the ultimate narrowing. But the story doesn't end there: "Straight is the gate, narrow is the way... it leadeth unto life." Christ burst from the grave, "bringing life and immortality to light through his gospel," showing that the narrow way ultimately leads to resurrection life.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about the personal nature of Christianity?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Christianity is intensely personal. Unlike Greek philosophers who were interested in the soul as a concept, Jesus was interested in "the personal soul, the individual soul, your soul, my soul." He uses the example of Jesus's conversation with the Samaritan woman, where Jesus moved from abstract religious discussion to addressing her personal moral situation. Lloyd-Jones describes the straight gate as a turnstile that "only admits one person at a time," meaning each person must individually face God: "We can't ride into heaven on the back of saintly forebears. We can't be saved in nations or churches or towns or districts or communities. Every one of us has to come alone, face to face with God."
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones respond to those who criticize the "narrowness" of the Christian faith?
Rather than apologizing for Christianity's narrowness, Dr. Lloyd-Jones argues Christians should embrace it. He suggests telling critics: "Of course I'm narrow. And it would be a very much better thing for you, and especially for your wife and children, if you also became narrow and ceased to burst of a breadth and a largeness and a width which are nothing but an excuse for laxity and looseness and sin." He points out that if everyone lived according to the "narrow" Ten Commandments, there would be "no war, no iron curtains, no drunkenness, no infidelity and separations and divorces, no heartbreak amongst little children." He characterizes the apparent narrowness as the invitation to "scale the heights" and live according to God's perfect standard.
Itinerant Preaching
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.