Matthew 7:13-14: The Strait Gate and the Narrow Way I apologize for reviewing these verses again understanding the three applications of scripture:
The Simple Treasure Historic Application – Jesus was sitting with his disciples and teaching them the principles of the coming literal, physical messianic kingdom. He addresses who will be the subjects of the kingdom, the enhanced laws of the kingdom, and how difficult it is to enter the kingdom. The Personal Treasure Devotional / Inspirational Application – helps us to navigate through scriptures that are not directly to us, but giving spiritual truths that can be applied into our current journey into Christlikeness. The Deep Treasure Doctrinal Application – gives the proper understanding of the Who, What, When, Where, and Why a particular scripture was written.
I mentioned the video, The Only Way To Heaven, that I watched this morning. Although I watch many videos from this particular speaker, I had to take issue with his interpretation of Matthew 7:13-27. His explanation of salvation was one of struggle and personal sacrifice of the former life in order to fit through the narrow turnstyle of salvation. You can bring no baggage with you into salvation. None of this is true. We all come to Christ “Just As I Am”. As we grow in Christ, we learn to put off the old man / our old Adamic nature, and put on the new man who we are in Christ. There will never be a time in eternity future where everyone will be present their case before the judge, the Lord Jesus Christ, seeking to curry his favor to let them into heaven based on their merit.
Ephesians 4:22-24: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
The judgment seat of Christ is for the body of Christ, the saved of the dispensation of grace, where we receive the reward of our service based upon the motive of our obedience.
The Great White Throne Judgment is for the dead. Revelation 20:11-15 describes that all who stand before this judgment will be judged and cast into the lake of fire. There will be no time where they can defend themselves. This is a sentencing hearing.
What happens in Matthew 7:21-23 is all about the judgment of the survivors of the tribulation. These living, breathing persons will be given an opportunity to present their case, but the result will be, I never knew you. Depart from me ye workers of iniquity! They will be cast alive into the open, burning pit of tar that will burn for the duration of the millennial kingdom.
We began to compare Matthew 8:11-12 with Luke 13:22-30, and how Jesus used the literal, physical kingdom of heaven in the Jewish gospel of Matthew, but Luke used the term kingdom of God, the spiritual kingdom when speaking of sitting down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This teaches us that in the millennial kingdom the physical kingdom of heaven for the Jews, and the spiritual kingdom of God for the Gentiles, will be working in concert with one another. The 12 apostles will be sitting on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel, and we of the kingdom that is not physical (meat and drink), but internal – righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, will be ruling and reigning with Christ spiritually, based upon the rewards we receive at the judgment seat of Christ. The sheep nations will be under the spiritual authority of the resurrected Church Age saints who will rul and reign in their incorruptible, immortal bodies, having received the promised adoption, the redemption of our mortal bodies – Romans 8:23.
I mentioned that King David would be raised to rule Israel in the messianic kingdom. The scripture below reveals that David will be raised as a result of the time of Jacob's trouble, the tribulation. Israel will once again serve the Lord their God, and King David to rule in kingdom.
Jeremiah 30:7-9: Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it. For it shall come to pass in that day, saith the LORD of hosts, that I will break his yoke from off thy neck, and will burst thy bonds, and strangers shall no more serve themselves of him: But they shall serve the LORD their God, and David their king, whom I will raise up unto them.
We will continue our study dealing with the marriage feast and the three different illustrations of salvation in the tribulation as revealed in the book of Revelation, finishing the Sermon on the Mount – Matthew 5 – 7.
