Walking the Narrow Way: Discernment, Character, and the Cost of Truth

(Matthew 7:6, 12, 13–14)

Matthew 7 does not merely challenge how we believe — it challenges how we live. In just a few verses, Jesus speaks directly to our discernment, our conduct toward others, and the path we choose to walk. These words are as relevant today as they were when first spoken, perhaps even more so in a world that prizes comfort over conviction and tolerance over truth.

This portion of Scripture invites us to examine not only what we say we believe, but the fruit and direction of our daily walk.

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Discernment Is Not Unloving

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine…”
— Matthew 7:6 (KJV)

This verse often unsettles people because it sounds harsh — until we understand its purpose.

Jesus is not teaching cruelty or superiority. He is teaching discernment and boundaries.

Not every heart is ready to receive truth. Some mock it. Some trample it. Some distort it. And Jesus makes it clear that wisdom knows when to speak and when to step back.

Loving others does not mean:

• Explaining yourself endlessly

• Forcing truth onto hardened hearts

• Ignoring repeated resistance or hostility

Discernment protects what is holy — including the work God is doing in you.

This is especially important for believers who feel guilty for setting boundaries or walking away from conversations that consistently produce mockery, strife, or spiritual harm. Jesus Himself says: not every space deserves access to sacred truth.

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Kingdom Character: How We Treat Others

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them…”
— Matthew 7:12 (KJV)

Often called the “Golden Rule,” this verse is not a moral slogan — it is evidence of a transformed heart.

When our lives are shaped by God’s truth:

• We act with integrity even when unseen

• We treat others with fairness, not manipulation

• We choose kindness without compromising righteousness

This does not mean excusing sin or avoiding hard truths. It means we do not become harsh, proud, or unjust in how we deal with others.

Kingdom character flows from inner alignment, not rule-following. When our hearts are right with God, our actions toward others naturally reflect that change.

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The Narrow Way Will Always Cost You

“Enter ye in at the strait gate… because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life…”
— Matthew 7:13–14 (KJV)

Jesus is unmistakably clear here:
truth is not popular, and righteousness is not convenient.

The wide gate represents:

• Compromise

• Self-rule

• Cultural Christianity

• Doing what feels good instead of what is right

The narrow gate represents:

• Obedience

• Surrender

• Humility

• A willingness to be misunderstood

Many choose the wide path because it offers comfort, approval, and ease. But Jesus warns that it leads to destruction — not always immediately, but inevitably.

The narrow way, though difficult, leads to life.

This passage is not meant to shame — it is meant to wake us up. If our walk looks identical to the world, blends effortlessly with compromise, or avoids conviction altogether, then wisdom calls us to pause and reassess our direction.

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A Call to Reflection, Not Perfection

These verses are not about achieving flawlessness. They are about direction, posture, and fruit.

• Are we walking with discernment, or fear of offending?

• Are we treating others as we would want to be treated, or justifying our behaviour?

• Are we choosing the narrow way, or the comfortable one?

For those who are learning, this passage offers guidance.
For those who are struggling, it offers clarity.
For those knowingly walking outside God’s will, it offers conviction — not to condemn, but to call them back.

Because the narrow way may be costly — but it is the only one that leads to life.

https://www.yeshuachristislife.com/post/walking-the-narrow-way-discernment-character-and-the-cost-of-truth