Being narrow-minded is tantamount to being intolerant of another person’s thoughts and opinions on a subject. Such an accusation will surely land you on the social outcast list. You would be publicly ridiculed in stocks of the city center. People would hurl all manner of insults and rotted vegetables at you. While the life of Jesus on earth represented the broadness of the love of God, He was very narrow-minded on the practice and practicality of Christianity.
Jesus has a very narrow view of authority. In the Sermon in the Mount, you hear repeatedly, “You have heard it said…but I say unto you…” (Matt. 5:21). It was clear from the reaction of the audience that Jesus taught them “as one having authority” (Matt. 7:28-29). Jesus said Himself, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt. 28:18).
Jesus is narrow-minded about worship. When Jesus was tempted by Satan, He responded, “You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only” (Luke 4:6-8). At Jacob’s well, when speaking with the Samaritan woman, Jesus had this to say about worship, “True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:21-24). It was clear that Jesus had in mind that one could not simply worship in any way that “feels good” but in a way that responds to His truth. We must have the right object of worship, the right attitude of worship and the right authority of worship.
Jesus is narrow-minded about truth. During His time on earth, He taught against the traditions of man being elevated to authoritative and binding (Matt. 15:6-9). While praying to God, Jesus identified truth as the word of God (John 17:17). He also put a name on truth as He identified Himself as truth (John 14:6).
Jesus is very narrow-minded of those that would follow Him. He said that once you have started there is no looking back (Luke 9:62). He said that if you love family, friends or people more than Him, then you are not “worthy of Me” (Matt. 10:37-38). Also, one must not even love self more that Christ. We are called to deny self and take up the cross (Matt. 16:24).
There are many other things that Jesus is narrow-minded or “one-minded” on, but these were written to cause you to see the exclusive nature of those that would seek to follow Christ. “And someone said to Him, ‘Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?’ And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able’” (Luke 13:23-24).