1, 2. (a) What command did three apostles receive from Jesus, and how did they react?
The three apostles received a mandate through a vision, On a high mountain, Jesus was transfigured before them. "His face shone like the sun and his clothes became bright like light." The three apostles showed that they really listened to Jesus.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Towards the end of the vision, the apostles heard God say: “This is my beloved Son; he has my approval. Listen to him” (Matt. 17:5). By their way of living, the three showed that they really listened to Jesus, and we want to follow his example.
It is a vision of the transfiguration they heard: «This is my beloved son; he has my approval. Listen to him." By their way of living they obeyed this request.
These three apostles were Peter, James and John. Jesus was transfigured before them and God gave them the mandate to listen to his son, as it says in Matthew 17: 5 «this is my beloved son, he has my approval, listen to him».
And we know that their reaction to the mandate was good, because by their way of living these three apostles showed that they really listened to Jesus. And we can copy the good examples from him.
b) What will we see in this article?
In this article we will see how to do things according to Jesus and to be able to leave some things, which does not make us stand firm before him.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
In the previous article, we learned that listening to Jesus means stopping doing certain things. In this article, we will look at two things that Jesus said we should do.
We will look at two things that Jesus said we should do.
“ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW GATE”
3. According to Matthew 7:13, 14, what should we do?
In this verse it speaks of two doors, one of the doors leads us to a spacious path and the other door will lead us to a narrow path. We will have to make a decision, and choose one of the two doors, which will lead us to eternal life.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Notice that Jesus said that there are two gates and that each one leads to a different path, one “broad” and one “narrow”.
Each of us must decide which one to go for. It is the most important decision we will make because our eternal life depends on it.
We must make the decision about which path to choose between the space or the narrow. It is the most important decision we must make because our eternal life depends on it.
As we have read, it says that we must enter through the narrow gate. Our eternal life will depend on it.
4. How would you describe the “spacious” path?
This path could be said to be easy and not at all complex. But, it is Satan who directs it, because this path will lead us to death. He is the one who makes this path so easy, so that they stay there and never achieve eternal life.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
The "broad" path is the one chosen by many because it is easy to go. Unfortunately, many decide to stay in it following the crowd. They do not realize that it is Satan, the Devil, who wants them to go down this road that leads to death.
It is the easiest by which you can go and many decide to go that way because they see that the majority go that way. But that path leads to death.
It is the way most people go, because it is easy to go. But we know that path leads to death.
5. What efforts have some made to find the narrow way and to begin to go there?
Finding the narrow path is not easy, because thanks to false religions many people feel discouraged and confused. But to find the narrow path, we must remain in the teachings of Jesus and not follow others. We have to reject the bad customs of this pagan world. Sometimes it may be difficult, but this can lead us to find the narrow path.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
It is good that you did not follow the crowd, but sought the truth. He began a deep study of the Word of God to learn what its standards are and listened to the teachings of Jesus. For example, he learned that Jehovah expects us to reject what false religions teach and to stop participating in celebrations and customs that have pagan origins. He also discovered that sometimes it is not easy to do what Jehovah asks of us and leave behind practices that he disapproves of.
They have abandoned so many religions that claimed to teach the truth. That had made them discouraged and confused and some have given up searching for the path that leads to life. But others have had a deep study of the word of God to know about its rules and teachings of Jesus. They have abandoned celebrations and customs that have a pagan origin.
They have made the effort to seek the truth. Sure, it's easy to be confused by the number of religions out there, but as John 8:31,32 says, they have come to "know the truth, and the truth has made them free."
And many of them who are now brothers have had to give up bad practices or vices and have stopped participating in pagan celebrations. They have also learned Jehovah's standards and Jesus' teachings through their study of the Bible.
HOW TO STAY ON THE NARROW PATH
6. According to Psalm 119:9, 10, 45, 133, what can help us stay on the narrow path?
His word will help us, thanks to it we can stand firm on the narrow path. We have to be constant and follow the rules that are in it, because this will make us feel that we are increasingly safer.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Let's make a comparison. In some countries, narrow mountain roads have a safety barrier on the edges that serves to protect the driver and his vehicle. This barrier prevents them from getting too close to the edge or even falling off a cliff.
Obey Jehovah's rules that are like barriers on a highway that help us not fall off a cliff. These serve to protect our lives just like Jehovah's standards.
All these texts that we have just read convey to us the idea of staying close to Jehovah and not abandoning his way. So if we want to stay on the narrow path, we must follow Jehovah's rules, because they act as a barrier that prevents us from going astray.
7. How should young people view the narrow way?
Young people must see the narrow path as a door that will lead us to eternal life. And so we will not take the wrong path.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Jehovah's standards seem to some to be too restrictive.
The devil wants young people to believe that they are not enjoying themselves as much as unbelieving young people and people they see on the internet, and that Jehovah's standards are robbing them of the good things in life.
The devil is not interested in those who go his way seeing what awaits them at the end of the journey.
Jehovah has given you a clear picture of what those who stay on the path that leads to life will receive
It is a path that avoids death. It prevents us from disappointment since many who walk on the spacious path believe that they are enjoying the good things in life without seeing the end that awaits them. All this Jehovah wants to save us from suffering by giving a clear picture of the life they will receive if they continue on the narrow path.
Satan wants young people to see the narrow path as a path full of restrictions in which they do not enjoy life. But young people know very well that Jehovah wants the best for them and they know that this path leads to life, a life full of blessings.
8. What can young people learn from Olaf's example?
They can learn that the pressure of a group should not always be taken into account, each of us is free to choose the decision we want, being constant in the word and knowing how to choose our friendships is one of the points that we must know how to choose well.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
His classmates pressured him to engage in immoral behavior. When he explained to them that Jehovah's Witnesses abide by the high moral standards of the Bible, several girls in his class took this as a challenge and tried to convince him to have sex with them. But he didn't give in to the pressure, and that wasn't the only one he had. He says: “My teachers insisted that I go to university, because that is something that gives you prestige. They told me that if I didn't do it, I wouldn't be someone in life." How did he manage to withstand so much pressure? He explains: “I looked for good friends in the congregation. They became like my family. I also began to take my Bible study more seriously. The deeper I delved, the more convinced I became that this is the truth, and the more determined I became to serve Jehovah.”
When he identified himself as a Jehovah's Witness, several girls in his class took it as a dare to have sex with them. But he did not give in to the pressure. Also, his teachers insisted that he go to college so that he would become someone in life. To resist this pressure, he sought out good friends in the congregation, deepened his study of the Bible, and became increasingly convinced that this is the truth.
A young man recounts that his classmates pressured him to have sex with him and also his teachers pressured him to go to university. He did not give in to pressure thanks to his friendships within the congregation and his study of the Bible. And young people can learn that if they do what this young man did, they will be able to convince themselves that it is the truth and beat the pressure.
And we know that young people do not have it easy at all because the pressures come from many sides. Therefore, it is important that from a young age they have a personal study program and cultivate good friendships in the congregation that help them stay on the path that leads to life.
ILLUSTRATION:
A security barrier protects a vehicle traveling on a narrow mountain road. Series of images: 1. A young man reads the Bible. 2. A brother looks away from his smartphone screen. 3. A sister rejects friendship with a young man from her school. 4. A sister is presented with some brochures with information to study at the university.
God's advice and standards help us stay on the "narrow" path. (See paragraphs 6 to 8). *
9. What must we do if we want to stay on the narrow path?
To stay on the narrow path we must continue listening to Jesus and thus we will not get off the path that will lead us to eternal life.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
If we continue to listen to Jesus and see the narrow path as a protection, we will not get out of it.
We must continue listening to Jesus and see the narrow path as a protection so as not to get out of it.
We have to keep listening to God and see the narrow path as a protection for us.
“MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR BROTHER”
10. According to Matthew 5:23, 24, what did Jesus say we should do?
Jesus said, "First make peace with your brother." This means that before anything you do, you first have to make peace with your brother who felt hurt or offended by something that happened.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Jesus was talking about a very important moment for the Jews who were listening to him. Let us imagine that someone was in the temple about to hand an animal to a priest for sacrifice. If at that moment he remembered that his brother had something against him, he should leave the animal and get out of there.
That we should make peace with our brothers. By the time these words were spoken, Jesus emphasized that getting right with each other was of primary importance before making a sacrifice.
Jesus was very clear. He said that if when you are going to give an offering you remember that your brother has something against you, make peace with him and then return to present your offering. So Jesus gave more importance to making peace than to offering a sacrifice to Jehovah.
11. What steps did Jacob take to make peace with Esau?
First Jehovah prayed from his heart, then he sent gifts to Esau, finally he bowed before him 7 times with respect and humility, that way Jacob came to make peace with his brother Esau.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
First, Jehovah prayed from the heart. Second he sent Esau a generous gift. And third, when they finally saw each other face to face, Jacob took the initiative and honored Esau by bowing down 7 times. He showed humility and respect for his brother.
In Genesis 32:9-15, it says that the first thing Jacob did was pray to Jehovah, since he was afraid that Esau would kill him. And then he sent Esau a generous gift. So, when they met in person, Jacob took the initiative to make amends and bowed to his brother up to 7 times.
In addition, Jacob demonstrated humility and respect. He did not wait for his brother to ask for forgiveness, but as it says in Genesis 33: 3,4, Jacob "went ahead of everyone, bowed down to Esau, embraced him and kissed him." So Jacob sided with him and showed humility and respect for his brother.
First, he prayed from his heart to Jehovah. Second, he sent Esau a generous gift. And third, when they finally saw each other face to face, Jacob took the initiative and honored Esau.
12. What do we learn from Jacob's example?
We learn from Jacob that we have to be humble and ask Jehovah to help us. It also worked for Jacob to pray that everything would go well in the meeting he had with Esau.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We can learn a lesson from how Jacob prepared to meet his brother and how he approached him.
First, he humbly asked Jehovah to help him. Afterward, he acted on his prayer by doing everything in his power to make meeting Esau as pleasant as possible.
We must humbly ask Jehovah to help us, then preparing for the encounter and finally not arguing about who is right, our goal is to make peace with our brother.
We learn that the first thing Jacob did is seek Jehovah's guidance in prayer. And then he acted on that sentence. So when he met his brother he was humble and made peace with him. We must do the same, and if we are going to make peace with a brother the objective is not to argue but to fix things.
ILLUSTRATION:
Will we follow the example of Jacob, who was humble and made peace with his brother? (See paragraphs 11 and 12). *
HOW TO MAKE PEACE WITH OTHERS
13, 14. What should we do if we have offended another Christian?
First, what we have to do is ask Jehovah with all our strength to help us make peace with our brother. And thus be able to approach us with humility and respect to the brother we have offended.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
In addition, we must dedicate time to self-examination. For example, we can ask ourselves, “Am I willing to swallow my pride, humbly apologize, and make amends? How will Jehovah and Jesus feel if I take the initiative and make peace with my brother or sister?” The answers can prompt us to listen to Jesus and approach our brother in humility to make amends. Jacob's example can help us do this.
We should pray to Jehovah and ask him to bless our efforts to make peace with our efforts to make peace with our brother. We must do a self-examination to see if we are willing to swallow our pride and humbly apologize and make amends.
As Romans 12:18 says, our intention is to live in peace with all our brothers. Therefore, if we have offended someone, the first step is to pray from the heart to Jehovah so that he will help us to make amends.
15. How does the principle found at Ephesians 4:2, 3 help us to make peace with our brother?
It helps us, to be able to behave in a humble and respectful way when we go to make peace with our brother.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
If we are going to talk to a brother to solve a problem, we should do it with a humble attitude. Proverbs 18:19 states: “An offended brother is more inaccessible than a fortified city, and there are lawsuits that are like the bars of a fortress.” A humble apology can be the key that allows us to enter that "fortress".
We want to approach our brothers with a humble, gentle attitude. That way we can make peace.
It will help us to be humble, gentle and patient. If we are going to make peace with our brother with these qualities, we will most likely succeed and solve the problem. As the paragraph at the end says “a humble apology can be the key that allows us to enter that “fortress”.
16. What should we think, and why?
We must think carefully about what we are going to say and how we are going to say it, because in this way we can prevent this brother from being offended and thus things can be more pleasant.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We must also think carefully beforehand about what we are going to say to the offended brother and how we are going to say it. When we are ready, we must approach him with the aim of healing any wound in his heart.
We must think carefully in advance what we are going to say to our offended brother and how we are going to say it. He may say something to us that is not very nice, but we want to remember that our goal is to make amends.
We must think in advance what words we will choose to make peace and how we will do it. This way we will be prepared to heal the wound and solve the problem.
And something interesting that the paragraph mentions is that perhaps, when we go to speak to the brother, he will answer something that we do not like. But if we are patient and manage to overcome the temptation to answer bad for bad, the brother will probably calm down and we will achieve the goal of making peace.
17. What do you learn from Gilbert's example?
We can learn that in the face of any problem, it is first to put it before Jehovah and to give us the necessary guidance to be able to face the problems that we are going through, we must learn to forgive from the heart, even if what they tell us is hurtful.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
He spent more than 2 years making efforts to make peace with a close relative. He prayed Jehovah and prepared himself not to be offended by anything hurtful that was said to him. His main goal was to promote peace.
This brother tells that he had a problem with a close relative. What he did was pray to Jehovah to remain calm and ready to forgive. And to this day he gets along with his whole family. We learn that, in order to make peace, we have to give in, put peace above our rights and act in accordance with what we ask Jehovah in prayer.
We learn that each case is different, and that it is better to be at peace than to be right. It could take us years to be at peace. Peace is the responsibility of both parties, not just one.
18, 19. If we have offended someone, what should we do, and why?
We have to obey Jesus' command to make peace. Let us discuss it with Jehovah and seek his holy spirit to help us solve the problem.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
We have seen that one way to do this is to make peace with any brother we have offended. If we also stay on the narrow path that leads to life, we will receive many blessings now and be happy throughout eternity.
We must make peace. Ask Jehovah for his Holy Spirit to help us solve this problem. We want to thank Jehovah for using Jesus as the head of the congregation who tells us to make peace.
We must make peace because that is what Jesus commanded us to do. Let us pray to Jehovah and seek his holy spirit to help us solve the problem. And then, as Matthew 5:9 says. "we will be happy".
Furthermore, we realize how much Jehovah and Jesus love us. All the advice they don't give, they give us because they love us and want to see us happy. So, let's value this advice and follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Obey Jesus' command to make peace. Let us discuss it with Jehovah and seek his holy spirit to help us solve the problem.
WHAT DID YOU LEARN IN THIS ARTICLE?
Why should we listen to Jesus and stay on the "narrow" path?
Satan wants us to get off the path that leads to life and to go along with the majority of humanity on the spacious path that leads to destruction. If we continue to listen to Jesus and see the narrow path as a protection, we will not get out of it.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Because it is our obligation to listen to him and follow his example. And if we want to live forever we need to stay on the narrow path following Jehovah's rules that are like protective barriers.
Because our eternal life will depend on it. In addition, Jehovah commanded that we listen to his son, and if we do so we will stay within the path that leads to life and nothing and no one can make us get out of it.
It is the best decision we can make, Jesus and the Father love us very much, they want to see us well, not just for a moment, but for all eternity, in which all paths would be better, this is where we should and have to be.
If we offend someone, why is it important that we make it up to them?
When we are ready, we must approach him with the aim of healing any wounds in his heart. At first he may tell us things that are not very pleasant. But let us resist the temptation to get angry or justify ourselves, because that would not help us achieve peace.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
More important than offering a sacrifice to Jehovah is to make peace with our brothers, that was said by the Lord Jesus Christ himself.
It is important because we want to foster peace with our brothers. Also, it is important because we will obey the command of Jesus and we will be happier.
Jesus wants, he commands us to first make peace with our brother, that is more important than being religious and fulfilling a weekly commitment such as offering a gift or offering, as we read in Matthew 5:23,24.
How does listening to Jesus benefit us?
Listening to Jesus benefits us in many ways, because thanks to him we can make amends with our brothers who we have offended and be able to be at peace. He also helps us stay on the narrow path so that we can attain eternal life.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
If we listen to the voice of Jesus we will be happy, we will receive many blessings now and the narrow path will lead us to life forever.
It benefits us because if we follow his advice we will be happier, we will be closer to the brothers and we will be able to stay within the narrow path that leads to life.
The sheep that listen to him benefit from his guidance and direction, he leads us to paths of rest and refreshing water, we love Jesus and we want to follow his guide always, by obeying him we live in peace and with the blessing of Jehovah. Without a doubt, there is no better life than that.
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