October 28, 2011
This week we have been learning about this verse:
Matthew 7:14
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
On Wednesday we discussed the word narrow – to press or afflict. Narrow defines the path or road to life, but as I began to study even more I found something else very revealing.
In the verse we have the word ‘small’ which describes the gate. Here is the definition of this word according to Strong’s:
Probably from the base of histemi; narrow (from obstacles standing close about) — strait.
From the Helps Word-Studies we get this definition:
4728 stenós – properly, narrow; (figuratively) the closely-defined path God ordains to travel on to gain His approval (used three times in the NT).
Another very interesting word in this verse is ‘find’.
When looking at it closer I noticed that the word ‘find’ (heuriskó) means to learn or find especially after searching.
This is yet another key to the ‘few’ who find life (zoe). The ones who do find it are ones who are searching for true life and learning about true life. I felt it could be said, ‘seeking to learn about life (zoe)’. Hungry for life and seeking after it.
So let’s use these definitions to reword this verse just a bit to see if we can gain a clearer view of its meaning.
But the God ordained path for you to travel on has obstacles standing close about it, the journey is contracted by pressure, and only a few will find it by learning about and searching for it.
Could it be that there are so few who find the path to life because so few seek it out by learning how to find it? Could it be that the key to finding the path is by following the one who knows the way, the Holy Spirit? Could it be that everyone’s individual God ordained path is different and that the only way to find the exact route for you is by the leading of the Holy Spirit?
I am learning more everyday how the Lord loves secrets and mysteries. Just as He disguised the meaning of the parables and even told the disciples that the meanings were mysteries. That they should understand them because they know Him and that if they can’t understand them they can know nothing about the kingdom of God.
The word path in this verse is ‘journey’. Our own individual God ordained journey will not look like any other. To follow in someone else’s path is not your path. We must all find our own individual God ordained path or journey and to do this is to develop an intimate relationship with the Father and “learn” and “seek” the Holy Spirit’s leading in all that we do.
Our paths will all be different and that is the beauty of God. That He does know us intimately and has designed a wonderful God ordained life – a zoe life for us all – unique to us as individuals.
Become intimate with the Holy Spirit today and begin to follow Him on the journey to life.
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This is so good, when you gave the definition for “narrow”, and more when you used the word “pressure” it reminded me of what a baby must feel as it is being born…now there is a parable/mystery to run with…:)
The older I become, the more pressure I am aware of, i.e., how hard it sometimes seems to stop what I’m doing to pray or to choose reading his Word over watching a movie… But, then, I think of how much I want to know Him and to hear Him and it is SO worth that pressure (which dissipates) as I’m praying or reading!
Diligently seeking Him: Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
I thank God for you and your uncompromising stand on the Word!!
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Thanks Linda! I have felt for many months the urgency to call people to draw close to the Holy Spirit. In these last days when there is so much turmoil and deception about the only thing that will save us is His continual leading. We must seek Him moment by moment and learn to listen to that still small voice leading and guiding and then — to follow it!
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