Question about the narrow road and prostitutes

[Theresa1]

Hi,

Lately I’ve been thinking of the verse where Jesus said that prostitutes and tax collectors will get into Heaven before you. Then all of a sudden I remembered He also said few choose the narrow road to Heaven.

I know I’m missing context and things like that but my simple mind wondered, did prostitutes and tax collector choose the narrow road? Or the wide road of destruction?

Is there a way I can connect what Jesus meant about the narrow road and the prostitutes. I know He’s merciful and He allows in to Heaven whom He pleases but just wondered about what is meant by the narrow road in relation to that other passage that’s all. Thank you.

 

[Stephen_says]

Well, I would think yes, they did choose the narrow road.

You see, that saying comes after he told the parable of the two sons, where a father asked two sons to go work in the vineyard. The first son told the father “No”, but then changed his mind and did anyway, and the second son told the father “Yes”, but did not.

See, the tax collectors and the prostitutes were on the wide road, but then changed their minds to follow the narrow road.

 

[MikeInVA]

He meant that those who recognized their sins could turn away from them and be saved, but the pharisees who did not recognize their sins would not repent. It had nothing to with what the person did before. I read somewhere that every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.

 

[aroosi]

Also, I think certain people end up in troubling situations due to poverty, family challenges, mental health etc. I met some people in bad situations that were very loving and ready to help, other people very church going but really mean.

 

[Hodos]

Christ is the narrow road. Those who repent of their sin and place their faith in Christ as their Savior have taken the narrow road. As @MikeInVA stated, the issue that Christ was pointing out here is that the Pharisees whom Jesus was addressing did not recognize their own sin and hence saw no need for a savior.

 

[JerryZ]

Jesus was speaking to the “teachers” of Israel who were judging HIM.
And HE was referring that the prostitutes and tax collectors had listened to the Prophet John the Baptist and had repented of their sins and were following the narrow road. They instead figuring that they knew the “Law” were instead following the wide road that leads to perdition.
Ahh as for HIM allowing in Heave whom HE pleases, You are right that GOD is GOD and judgement is HIS, but make no mistake no one can make a fool of GOD and HE is just. Justice will not be mocked.

Peace!

 

[commenter]

I think he chose those two professions not because they were the worst sinners but they were the most despised. I don’t think many of them were much tempted to the sin of pride, the worst of the worst.

In fact there are recorded instances of powerful humility for both. They will get in before the Pharisees…and maybe us.

 

[Vico]

… He allows in to Heaven whom He pleases …

Those that repent.

Luke 5

30 But the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying to his disciples: Why do you eat and drink with publicans and sinners? 31 And Jesus answering, said to them: They that are whole, need not the physician: but they that are sick. 32 I came not to call the just, but sinners to penance.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

Sometimes it’s easier for people on the “wide road to hell” to see the error of their ways and make the necessary change in life. Those who think they’re already holy but actually aren’t doing as Jesus wants are going to have a much harder time, like (for example) the person sitting in church every Sunday morning going through the motions who is absolutely mean and cruel to everyone the rest of the week.

This is how I’m interpreting what Jesus is saying here.