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Narrow and Wide Gates
Readers Theater, Matthew 7:13-29
by Dr. Ralph F. WilsonPart of a study on the Sermon on the Mount
Faith of Abraham (Genesis 11-25)| 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 © 2025, Ralph F. Wilson. <pastor
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