“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and narrow is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14.
And Jesus went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”And Jesus said to them,“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’
But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 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, and yourselves thrust out. Read More. “Narrow Gate And Narrow Way.”
“Again, you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Nor shall you swear by your head because you cannot make one hair white or black. But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. Matthew 5: 33-37.
Woe unto you, you blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor! You fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gold, or the temple that sanctifies the gold? And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever swears by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty. You fools and blind: for whether is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift? Whosoever therefore shall swear by the altar, swears by it, and by all things thereon. Read More. “Believers And Oaths.”
Not Everyone Will Enter.
Not everyone that will say unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father Who is in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name? and in Your name, we have cast out devils? and in Your name, we have done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them,” I never knew you: depart from Me, you that work iniquity.” Matthew 7 vs 21-23.
What Is The Will Of The Father?
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. Most assuredly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear will live.
For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself, and has given Him authority to execute judgment also, because He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. Read More. “Can Everyone Enter Heaven?”
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust corrupts, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matthew 6: 19-21.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and in his joy, he went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it. Matthew 13:44-46.
And, behold, one came and said unto Jesus, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why do you call Me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if you would enter into life, keep the commandments. He said unto Jesus, Which? Jesus said, you shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not bear false witness, Honour your father and your mother: and, you shall love your neighbour as yourself. Read More. “The Kingdom Of Heaven And Treasure.”
Jesus Was A Keeper Of The Father’s Word.
And because I tell you the truth, you do not believe Me. Which of you convinces Me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do you not believe Me? He that is of God hears God’s Words: you therefore hear them not, because you are not of God. Then answered the Jews, and said unto Him, Say we not well that You are a Samaritan, and has a devil? Jesus answered I have not a devil, but I honour My Father, and you do dishonour Me. And I seek not Mine own glory: there is one that seeks and judges. Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keeps My saying, he shall never see death.
Then said the Jews unto Jesus, Now we know that You have a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, If a man keeps My saying, he shall never taste of death. Jesus answered, If I honour Myself, My honour is nothing: it is My Father that honours Me; of whom you say, that He is your God: Yet you have not known Him; but I know Him: and if I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know Him, and I keep His saying. Read More. “Are You A Keeper Of The Words Of Jesus?”
The Need Of Diligence.
“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.
Expectation Of The Master’s Return.
Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Who Qualifies As A Faithful Servant?
Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?” And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Read More. “The Faithful Servant And The Evil Servant.”
And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated, His disciples came to Him. Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. Read More. “The Sermon On The Mount.”
Jesus Is The True Vine.
I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. He takes away every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, and He purges every branch that bears fruit, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. John 15: 1-3.
Total Dependence In The Vine.
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abides in the vine; no more can you, except you abide in Me. I am the Vine, you are the branches: He that abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing. John 15: 4-5.
Abide In Jesus’s Word.
If a man does not abide in Me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words shall abide in you, you shall ask what you will, and it shall be done unto you. John 15: 6-7.
Fruit Bearing Glorifies The Father.
Herein is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples. Read More. “Jesus The Vine And Believers As Branches.”
Jesus Was Fruitful.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit. He that loves his life shall lose it, and he that hates his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there shall also My servant be: if any man serves Me, him will My Father honour. John 12:24-26.
Good Trees Bring Forth Good Fruit.
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but are ravening wolves inwardly. You shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles? Every good tree brings forth good fruit, but a corrupt tree produces evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit; neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them. Matthew 7:16-20
Hearing And Understanding The Word Brings Forth Fruit.
Hear you therefore the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the Word of the Kingdom and does not understand it, the wicked one catches away from what was sown in his heart. Read More. “Are You A Fruitful Branch?”
The Futility Of Worry.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn, and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?
The Provision Of The Father.
Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?
The Need To Be Kingdom Minded.
“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. Read More. “Father’s Good Pleasure For His Kingdom People.”
