The teaching that Jesus gave the people was very different from anything they had heard before. His teaching was very powerful.

Matthew 7:28-29
²⁸ And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, ²⁹ for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

They were shocked, astonished.

The true gospel always causes people to repent. Repentance brings holiness. Holiness causes us to experience God and His kingdom. If we receive the true gospel, we experience the kingdom of God.

Scripture talks about the narrow gate and the wide gate.

Matthew 7:13-14
¹³ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. ¹⁴ Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

In Greek, the word for “wide” means easy and comfortable. The first door that we have available to us is the wide gate, the gate of destruction, the gate that is very easy to find and is very comfortable. There is a lot of fun in the flesh in this gate. This gate doesn’t require self-control or sacrifice. It is very comfortable.

We need to watch out when we get too comfortable with God. Walking on the narrow road is not comfortable. If you are too comfortable in this world, something is not right with your relationship with God. The narrow gate is uncomfortable; that’s why there aren’t very many people there.

The wide gate, the way of destruction, is very comfortable and easy. There are many people passing through this gate. It is very fun.

In Greek, the word for “narrow” means painful, full of trial and difficulty.

If you want to go through the narrow gate, you must make a strong choice. You must have courage.

As Christians, we must be familiar with this door because it leads to Jesus. As soon as you pass through the narrow gate, a narrow road is waiting for you. Once you start on the narrow path, you should not stop.

Luke 13:24
²⁴ “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

You must strive to stay on the narrow road. You must have the desire to stay there, to make it happen. It is by your choice that you stay on the narrow road. Fight to stay on the narrow road, to enter through the narrow gate.

Matthew 7:16-19
¹⁶ You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? ¹⁷ Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. ¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. ¹⁹ Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. ²⁰ Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

One day Jesus passed a tree that wasn’t bearing fruit. He cursed that tree.

Matthew 21:19
¹⁹ And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

As disciples of Jesus, we must bear fruit. Jesus paid a high price for us. We are His trees. If we don’t bear fruit, it will bring a curse. This world and Jesus will know us by our fruit. You know the people around you by their fruit.

When Jesus sees us, He needs to find fruit. We are eating the fruit of God. We live by His Word. He gives us many blessings. But if we don’t bear fruit, sooner or later Jesus will chastise you.

Even a little mustard seed bears fruit. What is our excuse for not bearing fruit? We have the life of God inside of us. We should bear much more fruit. We are supposed to be trees of righteousness.

Isaiah 61:3
³ To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

God put us on this earth to bear fruit. When we do not bear fruit, we grieve God.

What kind of fruit can we give to God? What do people see when they see you? Do they see you as lazy? As hateful? As bitter? As lonely? As giving? As loving? As defensive? As joyful?How do you live your life? Are you easily angered, always tired, defensive? Do you have a hard time giving up your comfort to serve God? What is your fruit? The fruit of righteousness, peace, joy, love, the fruit of the Spirit.

God bless you,
Pastor Sun Hui East