Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Jesus concluded the Sermon on the Mount with three warnings by three illustrations of two (7:13-18):
1. Two gates, 7:13,14
2. Two trees, 7:15-23
3. Two foundations, 7:24-28
Jesus galvanized true and false belief in the remainder of the chapter. He drew a clear line in the sand by using a number of pairs in this passage:
· Two gates, 7:13,14
· Two ways, 7:13,14
· Two destinations, 7:13,14
· Two groups, 7:13-14
· Two trees, 7:15-23
· Two fruits, 7:17-20
· Two groups at judgment, 7:21-23
· Two builders, 7:24-28
· Two foundations, 7:24-28
7:13
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it.
Walls with gates surrounded most cities of Palestine. Jesus pictured a city with a narrow gate difficult to find and a broad gate with wide space so that many could enter. People can find the wide gate easily—it requires no limits so that anyone can enter this city—illustrating the idea that it makes no difference what you believe. The broad way is relativism and has no absolutes. Yet, there is an absolute in relativism if one holds it absolutely! In other words, all beliefs hold to an absolute. The issue in our culture is whether we accept the mutually exclusive way of Christ or the mutually exclusive broad way of relativism and pluralism.
Both the narrow gate and the wide gate are ways of access. The narrow gate is entrance into Jesus’ kingdom. We enter the narrow gate through Christ by faith in His finished work on the cross. He is “the way” (Jn 14:6). The wide gate is any way people choose other than through Christ.
Those who follow the broad way end in destruction (ruin). They prefer a relative approach to salvation, which is the popular view. They resist narrow doctrine that excludes others.
7:14
Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Jesus pictured the narrow gate and a narrow road, which is more difficult to find. This gate and road puts limits on what we believe. Jesus does not allow truth to be defined by popularism, consensus, or the democratic approach. If truth is truth, it cannot yield to prevailing opinion. The Pharisees followed the broad way. They were religious but without Christ. The only way people can connect with the absolute, unchanging God is to accept His exclusive way. The narrow way is difficult in this sense.
PRINCIPLE: There is no bland neutrality in truth; we must make the choice between God’s way and man’s way.
APPLICATION: Christianity requires decisive decisions. Since the narrow gate is mutually exclusive and the only way, few enter that gate. The wide gate is human systems of salvation, not the single way of the Word of God. Everyone is on the move. This is not a question of movement but the choice of where we move. We must make the choice between Jesus’ way or the way of prevailing opinion. Every person in the human race must make this decision.
Jesus’ way is narrow and difficult, running against the broad and easy way most people prefer. There are not three ways, only two. The choice is Jesus’ way versus all other ways. The narrow gate is Jesus Himself.
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Mt 22:14
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Jn 14:6
Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Ac 4:12
Matthew 7:13-14, some one found to Jesus will going to NARROW but if he or she should keep a holy every day then on way to NARROW because they know who Jesus is ….
They hear His voice and follow Him (John 10:28-29)
what about you, did you accept personal as His Savior ?
Jesus did die on the tree to paid for all your SINS then you have to with Jesus when you believe in Him. I also, suggest you read in 1 John 5:13 “you may know you have eternal life”.
prayer for you to be a born again as His children of God with you for ever! In name Jesus, Amen
I don’t seem to be able to find a resource that tells me what “few” means in Matthew 7:14. What percentage of the human race do you think will enter the Kingdom of Heaven? Does a person make it to heaven if they say they have accepted the gospel but they don’t have a personal relationship and love for Jesus? Do carnal Christians make it to heaven?
Kari, there is no way to determine how many the “few” are; we would have to be God to come to that conclusion.
No doubt that there are many who profess to be Christians but are not truly Christians.
On the question of carnality, go to my study at this location: http://versebyversecommentary.com/1997/02/04/1-peter-15f/