Bible Questions Answered:
How can Matthew 18:14 be true in light of Matthew 7:13?
Helen/ Westminster, Colorado
Bible Answer:
Texts:
Matthew 7:13 KJV
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Matthew 18:14 KJV
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
Homily:
In a class room, it is the desire of any sincere teacher, that all of his or her students pass their final exams, and go on to their own success.
But alas, in reality, not all shall pass.
How nice it would be, indeed if the teacher received everything that they desired, and that all his or her students would pass but the students have something to say in the matter as well.
And if a student, does not take his studies seriously, failure lieth at the door, and by no other hand than by their own.
In this “fallen,” world, God does not command His will to be done regarding the lives of men, for all of humanity have their own wills, as well.
God's “will,” is that all would be saved!
I Timothy 2:3,4 KJV
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
II Peter 3:8,9 KJV
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Men have choice in their lives, and many may decide, to have nothing to do with God, and so
consequently, they will be lost.
God does not “force,” His will upon men.
There is the Will of God, and then there is His Permissive will.
Permissive: Allowing freedom; esp., tolerant of behavior or practices disapproved of by others; indulgent; lenient.
(New World Dictionary)
Oh the errant thinking of lost men. “If there's a loving God, he won't let me go to hell!”
But the plain fact is, God doesn't send anyone to hell, men send themselves, and they do so by the choices they make!
God gives men, what they ask for, if they ask for separation from Him and His blessings, He gives it to them!
Psalm 106:13-15 NLT
13 Yet how quickly they forgot what He had done! They wouldn’t wait for His counsel!
14 In the wilderness their desires ran wild, testing God’s patience in that dry wasteland.
15 So He gave them what they asked for, but He sent a plague along with it.
God's will is that He is, “ not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
But, the plain fact is, many will “not,” choose to come to repentance.
Matthew 7:13 KJV
“...and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:”
How precious are little children.
Matthew 18:14 KJV
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.
But, again, the fact is that little children, grow up, and make their own choices, one of which may be to reject the word of the Lord, and His warnings.
John 8:20-24 KJV
20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as He taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on Him; for His hour was not yet come.
21 Then said Jesus again unto them, I go My way, and ye shall seek Me, and shall die in your sins: whither I go, ye cannot come.
22 Then said the Jews, Will He kill Himself? because He saith, Whither I go, ye cannot come.
23 And He said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am He, ye shall die in your sins.
How careful we must be in not rejecting the word of the Lord!
Genesis 6:3 KJV
"And the Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man..."
Hebrews 3:15 KJV
"While it is said, To day if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts..."
