Prayer (Matt. 7:7-11): Jesus expects us to pray. If Jesus prayed,[1] it stands to reason that His followers will also pray. Prayer is, in fact, the mark of genuine faith (Luke 18:8).[2] Sinners converted to Christ are adopted into God’s family (John 1:12), and the only begotten Son of God shares with them the privilege of communion with God. By this teaching (Matt. 7:7-11), Jesus gives us the right to call upon the holy God as our Father in heaven even as He did. We now depend on God as our heavenly Father who cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7).

The Narrow Gate (Matt. 7:13-14): Across the span of history, countless souls will be saved (Rev. 7:9). However, relative to each generation, the people of God will be only a few in number. Someone once asked the Lord, “are there just a few who are being saved?” Jesus’ answer was striking: “many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (Luke 13:23-24). Not all seek to enter, but even among those who seek it, many will not enter, because entrance into the kingdom of God requires a spiritual birth (John 3:3, 5). Apart from the Spirit’s regeneration, no lover of darkness ever forsakes his infatuation with sin, comes to the Light (John 3:19-20), and practices the truth (John 3:21). Some may even receive the word with joy, but they bear no fruit, because their heart remains unchanged (Ezek. 36:26), and in time they fall away (Luke 8:13). Until he is born again, no man pursues the strait and narrow way of obedience.[3] Jesus gives this command to call His lost sheep home. All that the Father gives Him will come to Him (John 6:37). They enter the narrow gate.

[1] Jesus’ life was marked by prayer. Cf. Luke 3:21; 5:16; 6:12; 9:18, 28; 10:21; 11:1; 22:32, 41; 23:46.

[2] Cf. Rom. 10:11, 13. Consider how the converted Paul is described by his prayer (Acts 9:11).

[3] Jesus’ call to discipleship is hard for this reason (Matt. 7:21-24; 19:24-25; Mark 8:34-35). It is meant to sift.