His Way Is Better: What Jesus Says About Stubbornness, the Golden Rule, and the Only Path That Leads to Life

Meta Description: Are you stubborn? Most of us are. But Jesus has something to say about our ways — and His way is better than anything we could come up with. URL Slug: his-way-is-better-sermon-on-the-mount Featured Image: A narrow mountain path winding upward through fog, with warm light breaking through at the top — evoking the "narrow way" that leads to life.

Let me ask you something honest: Are you stubborn? I asked that question on Sunday, and the room got a little quiet — which is exactly what stubborn people do when they don't want to admit it.

Here's the thing. Most of us don't think of ourselves as stubborn. We think we're principled. Convicted. Loyal to a set of values. But from the outside, stubbornness can be really hard to live with — and, more importantly, it can be a serious obstacle in our walk with Jesus.

We're in week eight of our nine-week journey through the Sermon on the Mount, and this week in Matthew 7, Jesus gets right to the heart of it. His message is simple and disruptive: the way of Jesus is way better than any other way.

The Problem With Doing It "My Way"

I grew up in a house where you didn't ask anybody for anything. You figured it out yourself. You worked hard, you grinded, and you made your own way. There's something admirable about that — until Jesus shows up and says something like this:

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened." — Matthew 7:7-8

That's a direct invitation from the King of the universe. And for stubborn, self-sufficient people like me, it's a disruption. Because Jesus isn't just giving us permission to ask — He's telling us this is how the kingdom works. Ask. Keep asking. Seek. Keep seeking. Knock. Keep knocking.

This isn't a one-time transaction. In the original language, there's a present, repetitive tense here — it's an ongoing posture of pursuit. Jesus is inviting us into a life of constant, humble dependence on the Father.

A Father Who Gives Good Gifts

Jesus follows that invitation with one of the most tender illustrations in all of Scripture. He asks: if your child is hungry and asks you for bread, would you hand them a rock? Of course not. Even imperfect, flawed parents know how to take care of their kids' needs.

"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!" — Matthew 7:11

I want you to sit with that phrase: your Father who is in heaven. God is not a prankster. He's not a punisher. He's not using your seasons of asking and waiting to knock you down or teach you a hard lesson out of spite. He is a good Father — perfectly good, endlessly generous, completely invested in you.

Some of us have real wounds from earthly fathers that make it hard to receive that truth. But I want to speak directly to you: be healed. Be set free. Your heavenly Father is not like the people who have hurt you. He loves you. He wants to provide for you. And He is waiting for you to come to Him.

The Golden Rule Is Still Golden

Then Jesus drops a verse most of us learned in kindergarten — and maybe haven't thought about since:

"So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets." — Matthew 7:12

The golden rule. And I want to tell you: the golden rule is still golden. We just don't live like it.

We live in a culture built on payback. Clap back. Get back. Respond to how you've been treated. Jesus says that's not the kingdom way. He says treat people the way you want to be treated — not the way they're treating you.

Here's the part that really messed with me as I was preparing this message: if I treat you the way you treat me, then you're actually leading me. That means you're my god — not Jesus. We cannot let other people's lack of character determine our lack of character.

This applies at home first. Husbands, love your wives the way you want to be loved. Wives, love your husbands the same way. Kids, treat your parents and siblings the way you want to be treated. Then take it to work, to the road, to the gym, to everywhere.

As Jesus said in Mark 12:30-31, the two greatest commandments are really one: love God with everything you have, and love your neighbor as yourself. The golden rule is just that truth in daily, practical form.

The Narrow Gate Is the Only Gate

Jesus closes this section with words that are both sobering and clarifying:

"Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few." — Matthew 7:13-14

Our world wants to tell you that all paths lead to God. That's simply not true — and I say that not to be harsh, but because I believe Jesus tells the truth. Either He's right, or everyone else is. I'm going with Him.

The narrow way isn't narrow because it's exclusive for the sake of exclusivity. It's narrow because there is one Savior, one sacrifice, one resurrection. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. And walking that path — though it's countercultural, though it's sometimes lonely — leads to life.

This Week, Let's Try Something

As I've continued thinking about this message, here's what I want to leave you with:

Ask, seek, and knock. Get alone with God this week. Don't just check off your Bible reading or drop your prayer list at His feet. Actually seek Him. Wait on Him. He promised that everyone who seeks will find.

Make the golden rule your daily rule. Just try it for one day. Treat the people in your home, your office, your car — treat them the way you want to be treated. You'll get tested almost immediately. Pass the test.

Don't skip Jesus. You can follow the golden rule and still miss eternity. The only path to God is through His Son. If you've never said yes to Jesus, today is a great day to start. If you've drifted, come back. He's waiting.

His way is better. I'm convinced of it more every single week. I hope you are too.

If this message resonated with you, I'd encourage you to watch the full sermon on our website or YouTube channel. And if you're looking for a community to walk this out with, we have small groups forming right now — it's one of the best decisions you can make. We were never meant to do this life alone.

Social Media Excerpt (Facebook/Instagram): Are you stubborn? Most of us are — but we'd never admit it. This week, Pastor Mike dug into Matthew 7 and what Jesus says about our self-sufficient ways, the Golden Rule, and the only path that leads to life. His way really is better. Read the full recap at the link in bio.

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