WALKING ON EASY STREET
WALKING ON EASY STREET
(Matthew 7:13-27)
Matthew 7 is part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. In this chapter, Jesus teaches about true discipleship, the difference between the easy and hard ways of following Him, how to recognize false teachers, and what obedience to God’s will truly looks like. This study focuses on understanding the narrow and broad roads, identifying false teaching, discerning true fruit, and building life on God’s purpose rather than on self.
I. The Narrow and Broad Roads (Matt 7:13-14)
Jesus begins by showing the two paths every believer must choose.
The broad, easy road allows people to live for themselves while appearing religious. Many take it because it does not require real change or surrender.
The narrow, hard road requires effort, sacrifice, and giving up one’s own life ambitions to follow God’s purpose.
A Picture of Two Lives
The broad-road believer attends church, prays, and gives offerings but preserves self-interest and comfort.
The narrow-road believer has surrendered control of their life to God. Their choices may seem extreme or difficult, but their life is aligned with God’s kingdom and produces lasting fruit.
II. Beware of False Teachers (Matt 7:15)
Jesus warns that some teachers appear godly but are inwardly deceptive. False teachers may preach moral principles, encouragement, or religion, but they lead people down the broad, easy road. Their outward appearance looks like safety and holiness, but their intent is self-serving.
A Picture of Two Lives
One believer follows a false teacher and appears spiritually active but remains self-centered.
Another follows a true teacher, is challenged, and grows in obedience, producing lasting fruit aligned with God’s kingdom.
III. You Will Know Them by Their Fruit (Matt 7:16-20)
Jesus explains that fruit is not popularity, wealth, or outward moral behavior. Fruit is the kind of life a teacher produces in their disciples.
False teachers produce disciples who walk the broad road of self-centered living.
True teachers produce disciples on the narrow road of surrender to God’s purpose.
A Picture of Two Lives
Broad-road disciples may behave morally and appear good but remain self-focused.
Narrow-road disciples may seem less impressive outwardly, yet their lives reflect surrendered purpose and obedience to God.
IV. Not Everyone Who Says “Lord, Lord” Will Enter (Matt 7:21-23)
Jesus teaches that professing Him as Lord and performing religious works is not enough. Even believers with better outward behavior on the broad road are headed for destruction. The decisive factor is living for the Father’s will, which means turning from self-centered living and setting one’s purpose on God.
The Greek word for “will” here is thelēma, which means purpose or intention. Doing the Father’s will is not merely following rules, performing religious rituals, or acting morally. It is turning your life from self and setting your purpose on God.
Repentance is a realignment of purpose. Your life is no longer aimed at building your own kingdom or pursuing comfort, recognition, or success. Every choice, ambition, and decision is focused on advancing God’s kingdom.
A Picture of Two Believers
Broad-road believers call Jesus Lord and may perform impressive acts, yet their heart remains self-centered.
Narrow-road believers may not appear remarkable outwardly, but their life flows from surrender to God’s purpose. Even if the former’s outward behavior seems better, their path leads to destruction because obedience to the Father’s will is absent.
V. The Wise and Foolish Builders (Matt 7:24-27)
Jesus illustrates the difference between lives built on God’s purpose versus lives built on self.
Building on self is like constructing a house on sand. Outward behavior may appear moral, religious, and impressive, but when trials come, the life collapses.
Building on God’s purpose is like building on rock. Life may be difficult, but it stands firm because it is rooted in surrender and obedience.
A Picture of Two Believers
One has followed the easy, broad path. Their outward works look good, but the house collapses under trial.
The other has surrendered fully to God’s purpose. Their life may not be flashy, but it stands firm in every storm, producing real and lasting fruit.
Conclusion
Matthew 7 teaches that the road to life is narrow and hard, requiring full surrender to God’s purpose. Outward works, appearances, morality, or impressive ministry cannot replace true obedience. False teachers may produce disciples who appear good, but their lives remain self-centered and headed for destruction. True discipleship is measured not by activity or behavior but by the surrender of heart and purpose to God. The ultimate question is whether a life is built on self or on God’s kingdom because only those living for the Father’s will (their purpose aligned with His) will endure and enter eternal life.