"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. 13-14.
Here we have a picture of two paths from which we can choose- one broad and followed by the majority, but it ends in eternal death. The other narrow and followed by few, yet it leads to life everlasting.
Until I studied these verses and their context in detail, I had always thought of these as being, one the way of the world - rejection of the Messiah, the other the way of following Yahushua. But having made closer examination of the context I find that this is not accurate. These verses are actually a warning to those who follow Yahushua!
This same warning is repeated in the following verses, right down to verse 27, in greater detail. In verses 15-20 we are warned that there are those who would deceive us and we are told how to distinguish them from those who are on the 'narrow way', "beware of false prophets... in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." Those who are attempting to lead us down the path to destruction make a pretence to be following Yahushua. How do we know them? "Every tree that brings forth not good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you shall know them". Matt. 25:31-46 (not quoted in full) clearly shows on which fruits we can judge, "I was hungry, and you gave me to eat; I was thirsty, nd you gave me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; naked and you clothed me; sick and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came to me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Sovereign, when did we see you hungry, and fed you?... the King shall answer them and say to them, Truly I say to you, Since you did it to one of these my brethren, even these least, you did it to me."
It is verses 21-23 that make it very clear for me, "Not everyone that says to me, Master, Master, shall enter 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, Master, Master, did we not pro esy by your name, and by your name cast out demons, and by your name do many mighty works? And then I will profess to them, I never knew you: depart from me you that work lawlessness." Here we have the two paths portrayed plainly, the narrow way - those who do the will of the Father in heaven, and the broad path to destruction - those that work lawlessness. The people on both paths think they are following Yahushua, but the majority have been deceived by the wolves in sheep's clothing. They believe they have the Spirit and are working great miracles in the Messiah's name, yet he says he does not know them. Their marvellous works are not a gauge of the truth they have, but are rather the means of their seduction. Many a time have heard the argument that the name 'Jesus' must be correct because of the miracles performed through it, but here we see that miracles are not a measure of righteousness. The broad path is very attractive because of the apparent power and easy to follow as YHWH's laws are not respected, this being the case it attracts large numbers of people, but it ends in the lake of fire. Here stands a warning we do well to heed, indeed Yahushua says no less then five times in Matthew that "there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth" when speaking of those who think they are on the path of life but fail to enter the kingdom.
The narrow way however is much less attractive to the majority of people as the main requirement is neither easy nor popular. The parable regarding the wise and foolish men in verses 24-27 brings this primary factor to the fore - that we not only hear Yahushua's words, but do them. Indeed that we do the will of our Father in heaven - keep his laws and seek his will with all our strength, this is the way that leads to eternal life. "For many are called, but few are chosen" Matt. 22:16 "And they also shall overcome that are with him, called and chosen and faithful" Rev. 17:14