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Narrow Gate & False Prophets (Mt. 7:13-20)

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few. False Prophets. “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them (Mt. 7:13-20).”

The Christian has two path he can follow – one which is difficult and demanding that leads to eternal life with God, and one that is easy with many pitfalls that leads to eternal damnation.  Jesus is not making a prediction about the number of people that will be saved.  Correct moral decisions are important for our salvation.

There were many in the early Christian communities who possessed various charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit that enabled them to prophesy, perform exorcisms and work miracles.  Such gifts are beneficial to the community, but they could be open to abuse (1 Cor. 12-14) and that is what Matthew is warning about.  The wolves in sheep’s clothing (v. 15) are those hungry for power.  The community is cautioned to look at the ‘fruit’ (v. 16) they produce.  It is by their works in accordance with the will of God that they will be judged (Jer. 23:9-40).  

Almighty God, the way of Christ leads to sacrifice of self for others and to everlasting life, but the way of the wicked is distasteful to the Lord and leads to everlasting ruin.  Grant us the grace to make correct moral decisions and lead a life filled with love for others that leads to eternal life.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References

Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.

Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Expanded Edition, Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.

Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.


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