Narrow is the Gate

“Enter you in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many are they that enter in through it. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leads to life, and few are they that find it. “ (Matt 7:13-14)

Those two verses are very clear. So clear in fact, that anyone reading them should quite readily understand their meaning. But, understanding the meaning and finding one’s way through the narrow gate are two entirely different things.

First off, let’s understand what the “narrow gate” is, and what “broad is the way” means.

The narrow gate is the gate by which you enter into the kingdom of heaven and eternal life. The kingdom that Yahushua will establish here on earth at his return. We’ll begin by reviewing Matthew 22, verses 1-14 as an analogy. This has to do with admission to the wedding feast.

Matthew 22:1 And Yahushua answered and spoke again in parables to them (Here Yahushua is responding by way of a parable to questions being asked of him by the chief priests and elders while in the temple), saying, [2] The kingdom of heaven is likened to a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son, [3] and send forth his servants to call them that were bidden, to the marriage feast: and they would not come. [4] Again he sent forth other servants, saying, tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have made ready my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast. [5] But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise; [6] and the rest laid hold on his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them. [7] But the king was angry; and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murders, and burned their city. [8] Then says he to his servants, the wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy. [9] Go you therefore to the partings of the highways, and as many as you shall find, bid to the marriage feast. [10] And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was filled with guests. [11] But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment : [12] and he says to him, Friend, how came you in here not having a wedding-garment? [13] Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; then shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. [14] FOR MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW CHOSEN. (emphasis mine)

Let’s begin the commentary of this parable starting from verse 2:

[2] The kingdom of heaven is likened to a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son, (The king is Yahua the Almighty, the Son is Yahushua) [3] and send forth his servants to call them that were bidden, to the marriage feast: and they would not come. (This would be all of the twelve tribes of Israel) [4] Again he sent forth other servants, saying, tell them that are bidden, Behold, I have made ready my dinner; my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come to the marriage feast. (Yahua is practically begging his chosen people to accept His invitation for eternal life through the marriage of his son to the nation of Israel) [5] But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his merchandise; (Either they do not believe that Yahua is who He says He is or they are just a world deceived by Satan’s false religions.)[6] and the rest laid hold on his servants, and treated them shamefully, and killed them. [7] But the king was angry; and he sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.  [8] Then says he to his servants, the wedding is ready, but they that were bidden were not worthy. Both houses, Judah and Israel, refuse to obey Yahua and live by his Laws, they are not worthy) [9] Go you therefore to the partings of the highways, and as many as you shall find, bid to the marriage feast. (In other words, go gather up any who will come, they do not have to be Israelite’s. Just go out into all the world and invite them to the marriage feast in my name, Gentiles and Israelites alike!) [10] And those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was filled with guests. (Everyone who repents and agrees to live by My Laws are welcome and may enter the Kingdom of heaven no matter who they are or what their past may have been.) [11] But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment: (Symbolic of one who refuses to repent. One who wants to keep one foot in the world yet still receive the gift of eternal life. [12] and he says to him, Friend, how came you in here not having a wedding-garment? [13] Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; then shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. (This is the end, the final judgment. This is after the resurrection, after the Last Great day, after The White Throne and final Judgment. This is when all hope of repentance is lost. This is when a person refuses to accept Yahua’s Laws. For this person, all hope is lost.) [14] FOR MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW CHOSEN. (emphasis mine)

This brings us to the explanation of Matt 7:13-14:“Enter you in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many are they that enter in through it. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leads to life, and few are they that find it. “

"Christians" are honest good hearted God fearing people who sincerely believe they are worshipping the Eternal. They go to church or mass on Sunday, they sit there for the whole hour listening intently to the preacher and participate in reciting the Lord’s Prayer and the Nicene Creed, they sing along with the Hymns. They try to do everything right in their lives. And in their heart of hearts, they are happy with themselves and feel they are right with their God. They believe it when they are told that all they need do to be saved is to accept Jesus Christ and give their hearts to the Lord and when they die, they will go directly to heaven. No one ever tells them just what it is they will be doing in heaven for all eternity but that matters not, because that’s where they believe they will be and it will be glorious. I could very easily continue to ramble on for page after page about all of their pagan teachings that are so readily accepted as truth, but that is not the purpose of this paper. The purpose of this paper is to provide an understanding as to how one enters the kingdom of heaven through the narrow gate in opposition to remaining on the “Broad Way” that leads to destruction.

Like it or not, what I briefly outlined above regarding Christianity is to be on the “Broad Way”.

Please, and I emphasis please, understand, Sunday is not the Sabbath! Sunday is not the appointed time of Yahua. Sunday is the pagan day designated as the day to worship the sun. It is a Babylonian day of worship, it is a Roman day of Worship. It is not the day the Creator appointed as the day to remember the creation and to keep Holy! Nor is the Sabbath the lunar based seventh day or the Jewish Saturday. It is the fourth commandment as ordained by Yahua and NO MAN has now or ever will have the authority to change it from the seventh day of Yahua's appointed time. (see the pages "Which Day is for You" and "Enoch's Calendar"). Therefore the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant. IT IS A SIGN BETWEEN ME (Yahua, our Sovereign Creator) AND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL FOREVER: (Exodus 31:17-18). (Emphasis mine throughout). Ignoring the real Sabbath is to remain on the “Broad Way” that leads to destruction. Why? Because not to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy, is sin!

The fourth commandment is Yahua's test commandment as to whether or not we will obey Him and walk in His ways. It is a major part of the Law. Transgression of the Law is sin. Everyone that commits sin also transgresses the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. Yahushua was born as our Savior and suffered the crucifiction to take away our sins; In Him is no sin. Whoever remains in Him does not sin; whoever sins has not seen Him, neither knows Him. (1John 3:4-6). The wages of sin, for the transgression of the Law, is death. Not the first physical death that we all must face, but the second death, the death that sends you to the Lake of Fire. For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of Yahua (That is for those who repent and with all their heart and will power endeavor to stop sinning) is eternal life in the Messiah Yahushua our Master. (Romans 6:23)

keeping the correct Sabbath is one of the first steps in getting right with Yahua and walking on the narrow path to ultimate salvation. But it is just that, a first step. The Ten Commandments are the basic foundational Laws of Yahua. The weekly Sabbath is but one of those Laws. The annual Sabbaths or Feasts days are also to be kept (see “Yahweh‘s Appointed Holydays“ ). There are many Laws of Yahua, some have counted as many as 613. Some are for the judges, priests and kings. Some are for the nations, and some are sacrificial or do not pertain to this day and age, but many are for the individual and are pertinent. Only some of those pertaining to the individual will be listed here as examples:

Believe in Yahua as the only source of power in the universe (Exodus 20:2)

Submit to Yahua as the Supreme Head, to be in unity with Yahua, (Deut 6:4)

Love Yahua with all our heart, soul, and might, (Deut 6:5)

Reverence Yahua by keeping His Laws, (Deut 6:1-2,13,25)

Serve Yahua (Exodus 23:25)

Hold fast to Yahua (Deut 10:20)

Walk in Yahuah’s ways, (Deut 28:9)

Sanctify (treat as Holy) Yahua’s Name, (Lev 22:32)

Read (study & meditate on) the Book of the Law, Deut 6:7)

Teach the Book of the Law to our children, (Deut 6:7)

Bind the Law upon our minds and hands, (Deut 6:8)

Acquire the Book of the Law, (Deut 31:19)

Be thankful to Yahua in prayer, praise, and deed, (Deut 8:10)

Keep Yahua’s Sabbaths and reverence His Sanctuary (Lev 19:30, Exodus 23:12)

Three times a year keep a Feast to Yahua; at the Feast of Unleavened Bread; at the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and at the Feast of Tabernacles, (Exodus 23:14-17)

Every household must appear before Yahua and rejoice at the Feasts.(Deut 16:16,14)

We must confess our sins to Yahua and repent for them, and be converted to the keeping of Yahua’s Laws, (Num 5:6-7)

Vows and oaths made to Yahua must be kept, (Deut 23:21-23)

Consume only clean foods and eat no unclean foods, (Entire 11^th chapter of Leviticus)

Remove all leaven from all your property before the 15^th day of the first month). (Exodus 12:15)

On the 15^th day of the first month, teach our children the story of the Exodus from Egypt. (Exodus 12:8)

Eat unleavened bread from the 15^th through the 21^st of the first month (Exodus 12:18)

Keep the Sabbath day Holy by making preparations in advance. (Exodus 20:8-11)

The first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is a Sabbath of rest and a Holy Convocation. (Exodus 12:16)

The seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread is a Sabbath day of rest and a Holy Convocation. (Exodus 12:16)

The Feast of Weeks (Pentecost) is a Sabbath day of rest and a Holy Convocation. (Leviticus 23:21)

The Feast of Trumpets is a Sabbath day of rest and a Holy Convocation.(Leviticus 23:24)

The Day of Atonement is a Sabbath day of rest and a Holy Convocation. (Leviticus 23:27-32)

The Day of Atonement is a day of complete fasting (Leviticus 16:29-31)

The first day of the Feast of Tabernacles is a Sabbath day of rest and a Holy Convocation (Leviticus 23:34-35)

The Last Great day is a Sabbath day of rest and a Holy Convocation (Leviticus 23:36)

Dwell in booths (Temporary dwellings) during the Feast of Tabernacles. (Leviticus 23:42)

Speak the truth when testifying in a lawsuit or an investigation. (Exodus 23:2)

Whoever is aware of evidence in a case must speak up and testify. (Leviticus 5:1)

Stolen property must be returned to its owner. (Leviticus 6:2-5)

The poor must be cared for according to Yahua’s Laws. (Deut 15:8-11)

Loans to brothers must be without interest (Exodus 22:25)

Pay the hired worker his wages at the agreed time. (Deut 24:14-15)

Lost property must be restored to its owner. (Deut 22:1)

Love your neighbor, whether a brother or an enemy, as yourself . (Leviticus 19:18)

Use only honest weights and measures. (Leviticus 19:36)

Show honor and respect to parents. ((Exodus 20:12)

Become Holy as Yahua is Holy. (Leviticus 19:2)

Marriage must be according to Yahua’s Laws. (Genesis 2:24)

Do not trust in any power but Yahua, (Exodus 20:3)

Do not seek after or consult mediums (Leviticus 19:31)

Do not teach or prophesy falsely in the name of Yahua (Deut 18:20)

Do not practice astrology (Leviticus 19:26)

Do not practice magic (Deut 18:10-11)

Do not attempt to contact the dead, they know nothing (Deut 18:10-11)

Do not tattoo yourself (Leviticus 19:28)

Do not follow teachings (false doctrines) other than the Laws of Yahua (Numbers 15:39)

Do not blaspheme the Holy Name of Yahua, professing to keep Yahua’s Laws yet practicing sin (Leviticus 24:16)

Do not break an oath or vow made in the name of Yahua (Leviticus 19:12)

Do not take Yahua’s Name and bring it to nothing by hiding Yahua’s Name and causing it to be forgotten (Exodus 20:7)

Do not profane Yahua’s Name (Leviticus 22:32)

Do not test Yahua by doubting or rebelling (Deut 6:16)

Do not worship Asherah (Easter), the queen of Heaven (Deuteronomy 16:21)

Do not eat any unclean animal, fish, or fowl (Deuteronomy 14:7-8, Lev 11:10-13)

Do not steal or defraud anyone (Exodus 20:15, Leviticus 19:13)

Do not take advantage of widows and orphans. ((Exodus 22:22)

Do not deprive a wife, or any family member, of food, clothing and their own shelter. (Exodus 21:10)

Do not covet another person’s possessions (Exodus 20:17)

Do not spread a false report. (Exodus 23:1)

Do not follow the crowd in doing evil. (Exodus 23:2)

Do not bear a grudge or seek revenge against your neighbor (Leviticus 19:18)

The above lists a lot of do’s and don’ts. Those presented were a sampling of Yahua‘s Laws, there are many more throughout the books of Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. Except for those pertaining to clean and unclean foods, and the observance of the Holy days, they all are pretty much contained within the boundaries and the spirit of the Ten Commandments. Faithfully keep the Ten Commandments and you are pretty much keeping all of Yahua's laws.

Those three books, Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy are books of the Law. They should be read by every true believer in order to obtain a thorough understanding of what is meant by “The spirit of the Law”. Bear in mind what Yahushua said in Matthew 5:18. For truly I say to you, Till heaven and earth pass away, one yothe or one tittle shall in no wise pass away from the law, till all things be accomplished. And in Luke 16:17, But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one tittle of the law to fail.

So when Satan’s false teachers tell you, “the Law was nailed to the cross”, and they imply that it was all the Law, don’t believe them. The only Laws nailed to the cross were the Sacrificial Laws for which Yahushua became our sacrifice. Just as Yahushuah explained the Spirit of the law; i.e., the Ten Commandments during his Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5, so too do those laws as previously listed pertain to the spirit of those commandments. So much of what man does and has done is a show of self-righteousness and not from the heart. Yahua does not desire a whole bunch of ritual acts that have nothing to do with worshipping in spirit and truth. He looks on the inside. Man looks to the outside for the sake of appearance and in so doing looses sight of what is right in the sight of Yahua. For instance, some wear certain things such as tassels or grow beards, etc., and all those physical things are absolutely nothing and done for the personal satisfaction of the doer so they can look or be different from others. A true follower of Yahushua is not discerned by how they look, but how they conduct their lives and treat others. The law of Yahua is a spiritual law and the law of Moses is a physical law. If we are required to keep the physical law that Yahushua fulfilled for us then we must deny His sacrifice and keep the whole law perfectly. Some will say, “We do those physical things to set us apart from the world”. My take on doing such things is that it turns people away from Yahua instead of bringing them to Him. To be set apart from the world is to live your life by: Keeping the Ten Commandments in the spirit of the law.

 So then, how does one get on and stay on the narrow path that leads to the kingdom of heaven?

It starts with Acts 2:38. Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Yahua the Father and Yahushua the Messiah for the remission of your sins; and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit”. The gift of the Holy Spirit is the gift of Yahua’s spirit within you. It allows you to become one with Yahua, to understand his ways and to grow in the Spirit. It’s like the proverbial mustard seed. It starts out small but as you grow in Yahushua by prayer, meditation and studying the Word of Yahua, and by obeying the Laws of Yahua, it grows and grows. And the “Broad Way“ becomes narrower and narrower. You now become one of the chosen and depart the company of the many. This also by the way is how you"love Yahua with all your heart"..

May the blessings of Yahua be upon you during your journey to everlasting life.