The Broad Way and the Narrow Way

by Jeff Curtis

The “broad” way is equated with tolerance. Many people believe that being intolerant for any reason is wicked. Certainly, at times intolerance is bad; but when God is being blasphemed, when truth is being attacked, or when opinion is being substituted for God’s Word, it is right to be intolerant. We are not to mean-spirited or hateful, but we must firmly stand for what the Bible teaches and refuse to accept wrong beliefs and practices. Jesus was intolerant of other gods (Matthew 4:10), of divided loyalties (Matthew 12:30), and of those teaching other ways to God (John 10:1-10; 14:6).

God’s way is narrow because it is the way of truth and holiness. Christians are often called “narrow-minded,” as if to say be being “broad minded” is a desirable trait. In this text Jesus advocated the exact opposite. He said that being “broad -minded” is not good and being “narrow-minded” is necessary. Being “broad-minded” is not the same thing as being “open-minded.” Being “open-minded” is good because it aids us in seeking and understanding the truth. In contrast, broad-mindedness means accepting any opposing view, or variant lifestyle. This is why Jesus warned us to avoid walking in this broad way.

Jesus said, “Therefore I said to you that you will die in sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins”; “And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (John 8:24, 32). He also said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted” (John 15:13). Paul urged Timothy to “instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines” (1Timothy 1:3), and to “pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1Timothy 4:16). The way that leads to eternal life is extremely narrow, and few find it.

Who is Jesus?

by Jeff Curtis

After Jesus calmed the storm in Matthew 8, the stunned disciples asked each other, “What kind of man is this, that even the winds and sea obey Him” (8:27). In Mark’s account, they asked, “Who is this man…?” (Mark 4:41 NLT). In the Gospels, the question of Jesus’ identity is of great importance. God the Father identified Jesus as His Son at both His baptism and transfiguration (3:17; 17:5). Satan recognized Jesus as the Son of God, and he us this fact as a basis for tempting Him (Matthew 4:3,6). The demons also recognized the divinity of Jesus (Matthew 8:29). However, the matter of Jesus’ identity was often debated among the Jewish people (Matthew 16:13,14; Mark 6:14-16; John 7:404-44). Jesus’ own disciples were often uncertain about exactly who He really was. When Jesus quizzed them on this matter, Peter made the good confession: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). But, even after the resurrection, some disciples still doubted (Matthew 28:17).

“Who is Jesus?” is the most important question someone can answer today. Jesus, the Son of God, identified Himself as the only way to eternal life (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). He also stated, “If you do not believe that I am the One I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins” (John 8:24; NIV). Making the confession is part of man’s faith response to the grace of God, leading to salvation (Matthew 10:32,33; Acts 8:37; Romans 10:9,10; 1Timothy 6:12). How we answer the question about Jesus’ identity determines our eternal destiny.

Making Choices

by Jeff Curtis

We are confronted with choices daily. Sometimes we choose between good and better. Other times we may choose between the lesser of two evils. In the text of Matthew 7:13-27, the choices are clearly between good and evil. We must choose between the following: (1) Walking on the narrow way or the broad way (vv.13,14); (2) Producing good or bad fruit (vv.15-20); (3) Being obedient or disobedient (vv.21-23); or (4) Building on rock or sand (vv.24-27).

In these verses, Jesus used the figure of a path to describe the choice between two ways of life leading to two very different destinies. Which of the two paths we choose is completely up to us. From the beginning of creation – starting with Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden – God has allowed people to make their own choices.

The Christian life is often described as a “way.” In fact, that is one of the names by which the early church was known (Acts 9:2; 24:14). The psalmist described the choice between “the way of the righteous” and “the way of the wicked” (Psalm 1:1-6). In a prophecy that point to the coming of the Christian era, Isaiah wrote; “A highway will be there, a roadway, and it will be called the Highway of Holiness. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for him who walks that way, and fools will not wander on it (Isaiah 35:8).

In writing to encourage his readers to overcome spiritual exhaustion, the author of Hebrews said to “strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees of the feeble, and make straight paths for your feet” (Hebrews 12:12-13).

As the Israelites were preparing to enter Canaan, Moses assembled the people together to give them a parting message and to inform them that he would not be going with them into the promised land (Deut. 31:12). In his last address, he made an impassioned plea for them to be faithful to God (Deut. 30:19).

Just before his death, Joshua also challenged Israel, saying; “Now fear the Lord and serve Him with faithfulness. Throw away the gods of your forefathers worshiped beyond the river and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods of your forefathers beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord (Josh. 24:14, 15).

When the northern kingdom was almost completely carried away into the worship of Baal, Elijah met the prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel. He refuted the combining of religious beliefs among the Israelites and asked, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him” (1Kings 18:21).

Jeremiah reminded the people of Judah of the choice before them: either to remain in Jerusalem and be destroyed along with it or be destroyed along with it or flee from it as the judgment of God was approaching. He wrote, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death” (Jer. 31:8).

From the beginning, God has made it plain that people really have two options. We can choose to obey God or to disobey Him. There are not many ways to God; there is only one (John 14:6). There are not many roads leading to heaven; there is only one (Matt. 7:14). We must choose between true religion and false religion (Matt. 15:9). The Sermon on the Mount is a contrast between the righteousness of God that will lead to eternal life and the hypocrisy of scribes and Pharisees that will lead to eternal death (Matt. 5:20).