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. 14 How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few. 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. 16 By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So by their fruits you will know them.”
The Christian way of life is difficult and there are two paths from which one can choose. The path which few follow is difficult and demanding, leading to eternal life with God. The path which many follow is easy with many pitfalls that lead to eternal damnation. Jesus is not making a prediction about the number of people that will be saved but an observation from human experience. God wishes all men to be saved (1 Tim. 2:4) and His mercy is boundless. Jesus does not answer the question as to the number of the elect that will be saved (Lk. 13:23-24). Correct moral decisions are important for salvation.
Many in the early Christian communities possessed various charismatic gifts of the Holy Spirit that enabled them to prophesy, perform exorcisms, and work miracles. Such gifts were beneficial to the community but were open to abuse (1 Cor. 12-14), which Matthew was warning against. Those who falsely claim to have received a message from God can do great harm to the community with their false teaching. They will appear to belong to the Christian flock but are wolves in sheep’s clothing (v. 15) who are hungry for power. The community was cautioned to patiently look at the ‘fruit’ (v. 16) they produce which will bring forth evil and expose them (Mt. 12:35)). It is by their works in accordance with the will of God that false teachers will be judged (Mt. 3:10; Jer. 23:9-40).
Almighty God, the way of Christ leads to self-sacrifice 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!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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