The Chocolate Gate Scandal: Part II

September 10th, 2006

THE CHOCOLATE GATE SCANDAL: PART II

Luke 7:11-17
Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out - the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

Then he went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

They were all filled with awe and praised God. “A great prophet has appeared among us," they said. “God has come to help his people.” This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.

There’s a lot to be said about a gate, especially in the Bible, and that is what I am going to be studying on the next few days. I don’t know why, I just want to.

Luke 7:12 gate:
pulē (noun)

• A gate (of the larger sort) in the wall of either a city; a palace; a town; the temple; a prison


• The gates of hell (likened to a vast prison)


• Metaphorically the access or entrance into any state


• A gate, that is, the leaf or wing of a folding entrance (literally or figuratively): - gate.

Gate (noun):

• A movable barrier, usually on hinges, closing an opening in a fence, wall, or other enclosure.


• An opening permitting passage through an enclosure.


• A tower, architectural setting, etc., for defending or adorning such an opening or for providing a monumental entrance to a street, park, etc.


• A mountain pass.


• Any movable barrier, as at a tollbooth or a road or railroad crossing.


• A gateway or passageway in a passenger terminal or pier that leads to a place for boarding a train, plane, or ship.


• A sliding barrier for regulating the passage of water, steam, or the like, as in a dam or pipe; valve.

Now, in the OT and even in the time of Christ, the cities had huge walls built around them. The only way into the cities was through the gates, which generally were long and winding to help prevent armies from entering into the cities, a big defensive mechanism for the city. That may not shed too much light on this scripture… but when you look at other scriptures it does.

Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Matthew 7:13 narrow:
Stenos (adj.)

• narrow, strait


• narrow (from obstacles standing close about): - strait.

Narrow (adj.):

• Of little breadth or width; not broad or wide; not as wide as usual or expected.


• Limited in extent or space; affording little room.


• Limited in range or scope.


• Lacking breadth of view or sympathy, as persons, the mind, or ideas.


• With little margin to spare; barely adequate or successful; close.


• Careful, thorough, or minute, as a scrutiny, search, or inquiry.


• Limited in amount; small; meager.


• Straitened; impoverished.

Strait (adj.):

• Strict and severe.

Strait (noun):

• A narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water.


• A bad or difficult situation or state of affairs.

You know… people often talk about the “straight and narrow”. They don’t understand. They miss it entirely. It’s the STRAIT and narrow. That changes things completely. Straight is a line that doesn’t curve. Strait is being strict and severe. It doesn’t mean that having a “strait” attitude means being harsh, by any means, but it does mean being a little radical. I have to be strait to get to the gate. Johnny Out.