"Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces…
"Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets. "Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few. (Mt 7:6,12-14)
Jesus gives, in this passage, a golden rule. A rule that sums up all the laws and the prophets. This rule is found both in Jewish and non-Jewish literature and it is found both positively and negatively. But what underlies in Jesus’ teaching is that here we find the love of the Father as the motivating force.
In olden days, many cities had wider gates where people can enter as a crowd or some vehicle, if there were, also could enter. But there were also narrow gates where in man could enter one by one. In the wider gates people can enter with the flow of the crowd. The crowd would push you through, at times, without your wanting also.
In the narrow gates you have to want to get in. You have to choose to get in. You can not be carried away. Wanting to follow Jesus is like that. You have to make a choice and you have to be motivated and you will have to do the action. You will not be acted upon.
