The Chocolate Gate Scandal: Part III

September 11th, 2006

THE CHOCOLATE GATE SCANDAL: PART III

Now, I have had a few people ask why the chocolate in the title and why the scandal, so here’s the explanation. I like chocolate. I’m making fun of the Watergate Scandal… so there you go. The Chocolate Gate Scandal. This study is of course about gates in the Bible… so there you go. Nothing more than that, so sorry to disappoint anyone.

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.

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.

Something shared from my wife, Jenny:
That is enlightening about the “strait and narrow”. How about the scripture that was shared at the teacher's communion?
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

definition of bolded part:
yâshar
yaw-shar'
A primitive root; to be straight or even; figuratively to be (causatively to make) right, pleasant, prosperous: - direct, fit, seem good (meet), + please (well), be (esteem, go) right (on), bring (look, make, take the) straight (way), be upright (-ly).

God’s way may not be “pleasant” or “prosperous” from a worldly definition, but his way is certainly more pleasant and prosperous for us than the world’s way!

Those are some good thoughts from her. And you what, today, actually five years ago today, the World Trade Center Towers came down. I don’t even remember it. I remember seeing video days later and weeks later of the tragedy. I think the bigger tragedy is how people turned to God when it happened and then a few months later things seem to go back to normal. I mean, does that not show the real heart of the person?

Matthew 26:69-75
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

But he denied it before them all. “I don't know what you're talking about,” he said.

Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.”

Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don't know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Matthew 26:71 gateway:
pulōn (noun)

• a large gate: of a palace


• the front part of a house, into which one enters through the gate, porch


• a gateway, door way or a building or city; by implication a portal or vestibule: - gate, porch.

I found it interesting that Peter denied that he knew Christ at a Gateway. And I also took note that the first two denials where back to back, but the third was “after a little while”, so he even had time to think about it… This is a big puzzle, but I am seeing it come together beautifully. Anyway, I have a few more scriptures, a few more days, I guess… Johnny Out.