24 (A)“Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for (B)many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

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24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door,(A) because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

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The Narrow Way(A)

13 (B)“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 [a]Because narrow is the gate and [b]difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 7:14 NU, M How narrow . . . !
  2. Matthew 7:14 confined

The Narrow and Wide Gates

13 “Enter through the narrow gate.(A) For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

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10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent (A)to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

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10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters,[a] make every effort to confirm your calling(A) and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 2 Peter 1:10 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family.

The Word Discovers Our Condition

11 (A)Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

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11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.(A)

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Striving for a Crown

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? (A)Run in such a way that you may [a]obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize [b]is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for (B)an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: (C)not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 (D)But I discipline my body and (E)bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become (F)disqualified.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 9:24 win
  2. 1 Corinthians 9:25 exercises self-control

The Need for Self-Discipline

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?(A) Run(B) in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown(C) that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.(D) 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly;(E) I do not fight like a boxer beating the air.(F) 27 No, I strike a blow to my body(G) and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.(H)

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31 So (A)they come to you as people do, they (B)sit before you as My people, and they (C)hear your words, but they do not do them; (D)for with their mouth they show much love, but (E)their hearts pursue their own gain.

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31 My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before(A) you to hear your words, but they do not put them into practice. Their mouths speak of love, but their hearts are greedy(B) for unjust gain.(C)

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For they being ignorant of (A)God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own (B)righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

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Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.(A)

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34 You (A)will seek Me and not find Me, and where I am you (B)cannot come.”

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34 You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”(A)

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36 (A)Watch therefore, and (B)pray always that you may [a]be counted (C)worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and (D)to stand before the Son of Man.”

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Footnotes

  1. Luke 21:36 NU have strength to

36 Be always on the watch, and pray(A) that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”

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25 The (A)desire of the lazy man kills him,
For his hands refuse to labor.

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25 The craving of a sluggard will be the death of him,(A)
    because his hands refuse to work.

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Light Bearers

12 Therefore, my beloved, (A)as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, (B)work out your own salvation with (C)fear and trembling; 13 for (D)it is God who works in you both to will and to do (E)for His good pleasure.

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Do Everything Without Grumbling

12 Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,(A) 13 for it is God who works in you(B) to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.(C)

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27 (A)Do not labor for the food which perishes, but (B)for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, (C)because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

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27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures(A) to eternal life,(B) which the Son of Man(C) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal(D) of approval.”

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Yet they seek Me daily,
And delight to know My ways,
As a nation that did righteousness,
And did not forsake the ordinance of their God.
They ask of Me the ordinances of justice;
They take delight in approaching God.
‘Why(A) have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen?
Why have we (B)afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’

“In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure,
And [a]exploit all your laborers.
(C)Indeed you fast for strife and debate,
And to strike with the fist of wickedness.
You will not fast as you do this day,
To make your voice heard on high.

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Footnotes

  1. Isaiah 58:3 Lit. drive hard

For day after day they seek(A) me out;
    they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
    and has not forsaken(B) the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
    and seem eager for God to come near(C) them.
‘Why have we fasted,’(D) they say,
    ‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled(E) ourselves,
    and you have not noticed?’(F)

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please(G)
    and exploit all your workers.
Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,(H)
    and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
    and expect your voice to be heard(I) on high.

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