Narrow and Wide Gates
Readers Theater, Matthew 7:13-29

by Dr. Ralph F. Wilson

Part of a study on the Sermon on the Mount

Free E-mail Bible Study Bible study Humility: Disciple's Guide to a Humble Life

READER 1 Enter through the narrow gate.
READER 2 The narrow gate.
READER 3 Where you may have to suck in and squeeze through.
READER 1 Enter through the narrow gate.
READER 2 For wide is the gate
READER 3 Plenty of room for you and all your baggage
READER 1 And broad is the road
READER 2 Spacious
READER 3 Plenty of room for the crowds and masses
READER 1 Wide is the gate and broad is the road
READER 2 That leads to destruction,
READER 3 And many enter through it.
READER 1 But small is the gate
READER 2 And narrow the road that leads to life,
READER 3 And only a few find it.
READER 1 Only a few
READER 2 Only a few
READER 3 Find it
READER 1 Search for it
READER 2 And so find it
READER 3 And pass through on their way to eternal life.
READER 1 Watch out for false prophets.
READER 2 False teachers.
READER 3 False leaders.
READER 2 Who have their own agendas.
READER 3 And want to build their own followings.
READER 1 They come to you in sheep's clothing,
READER 2 They look like sheep.
READER 3 But inwardly they are ferocious wolves.
READER 1 Outside they look like others in the congregation,
READER 2 But inside brews trouble
READER 1 Greed
READER 2 Pride
READER 3 Rebelliousness
READER 2 Selfishness
READER 3 Unteachableness
READER 1 Trouble for them
READER 2 And trouble for the congregation.
READER 1 By their fruit you will recognize them.
READER 2 Do people pick grapes from thornbushes,
READER 3 Or figs from thistles?
READER 1 Likewise every good tree bears good fruit,
READER 2 But a bad tree bears bad fruit.
READER 1 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit,
READER 2 And a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
READER 1 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
READER 3 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
READER 1 By their words.
READER 2 By their actions.
READER 3 By their statements and slips.
READER 1 For our words betray what's in our heart.
READER 2 And what is in our heart will come out in our actions.
READER 3 By their fruits you will know them.
READER 1 Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven,
READER 2 But only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
READER 1 Lord, Lord.
READER 2 I am a Christian
READER 3 I am a believer
READER 2 I believe in Jesus.
READER 1 Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name,
READER 2 And in your name drive out demons
READER 3 And perform many miracles?'
READER 1 Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.
READER 2 Away from me, you evildoers!'
READER 3 You evildoers.
READER 1 You doers of evil.
READER 2 You doers of your own plans
READER 3 Rather than the plans of Jesus.
READER 1 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine
READER 2 And puts them into practice
READER 3 Is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.
READER 1 The rain came down,
READER 2 The streams rose,
READER 3 And the winds blew and beat against that house;
READER 1 Yet it did not fall,
READER 2 Because it had its foundation on the rock.
READER 3 On the rock.
READER 1 But everyone who hears these words of mine
READER 2 And does not put them into practice
READER 3 Is like a foolish man who built his house on sand.
READER 1 The rain came down,
READER 2 The streams rose,
READER 3 And the winds blew and beat against that house,
ALL And it fell with a great crash.
READER 1 Hearers and doers.
READER 2 Doers and hearers.
READER 1 Which am I?
READER 3 Which are you?
READER 1 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

All lessons now compiled as a 220-page book available as an e-book or printed book.

Part of a study on the Sermon on the Mount found at https://www.jesuswalk.com/manifesto/

Copyright © 2024, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor@joyfulheart.com> All rights reserved. A single copy of this article is free. Do not put this on a website. See legal, copyright, and reprint information.

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