“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):
Two gates, 7:13,14
Two trees, 7:15-23
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
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/
Your interpretation of these verses is very good. I am using it in our Life Group Bible Study as we "sift" through the book of Matthew. Thank you.
Billie Ann, it is encouraging to hear of your use of the Word of God in your Life Group.
Most of the newer translations of this bible verse support the word "difficult" instead of narrow because of the Greek word "tethlimenne" which comes from the Greek root word "thlibo". If this word is used in the active voice, it would be translated as "press upon", "to crowd", or "to cause trouble". But if it's used in the passive voice, it would be translated as "to be narrow", "to be pressed", "troubled", or "persecuted". A documentary I read once about this scripture said "that these definitions suggest a hard or difficult path," when the definition of the word does not include the word "difficult" in any case. The word "tethlimenne" is a Perfect-Participle-Middle/Passive-Nominative-Feminine-Singular verb. In otherwords, a participle are what you would call a verbal-adjective. In this case, it's describing the noun which is the road. Jesus was specific about using this word because this would literally mean: a compressed way; narrowed, straightened, contracted. So what Jesus was really saying that this narrow way is not difficult to follow or find, it's actually easier than the wide and broad way because this road narrows down to a straight path that leads to life and the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Now concerning those few who find it, the answer is simple: people of this world don't accept God's messages so they do things their own way while there are few who accept it and follow God. (Deuteronomy 30:11-20 NIV)
Dear Dr. Grant,
As you said its the narrow gate which is [Jesus Christ] Himself. And the broad way which is mans way himself.
God Knew all those and every sin His sinless Son would suffer in the Joy of taking them with Him on the narrow way.
Glory be to God the Father and our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
In sincerity,
Ronnie.
Hi Grant could you tell me what Luke 12:34 means?
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Thanks as always for taking the time to reply!!
Scott, note the parallel passage here: https://versebyversecommentary.com/matthew/matthew-619f/
Grant actually its (Luke 13:24)
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
My question is about the word “Strive” in this verse which makes it seem that their is human effort involved in salvation but that can’t be what it means because that would negate salvation by faith alone.
Is “Strive” referring to discipleship and about rewards in Luke 13:24?
The context of (Luke 13:24
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able) seems to be about salvation so I’m just wondering why the word “strive” was used? Thanks
Scott,
The word “strive” denotes whole-hearted action; it is the opposite of half-hearted indifference. The implication is not that man must attain human achievement to enter heaven. There is nothing of merit in the word “strive.” Becoming a believer has many pitfalls, false teachers, influence from other worldviews, etc. It is important that a person becomes very clear about what is true; they are to engage that issue with all their heart. The gravity of the consequences of salvation requires our serious engagement with its truth.
The “few”, in verse 14, points to those believers who faithfully followed Jesus Christ throughout their Christian lives. They will qualify to enter the (millennial) kingdom and rule and reign with Christ because they believed God’s word as regards to experiential truth.
An example of this would be Caleb and Joshua at Kadesh-Barnea. These two were the “few”, out of all those over 20 years of age, who were allowed to enter the Promise Land, Canaan, which in turn serves as a type of the millennial kingdom, (i.e.,1000 year reign of Christ).
The “many”, in verse 13, points to those believers who failed to live for Christ throughout their Christian lives. In other words, they will fail to enter the millennial kingdom (i.e. rule and reign with Christ) because they, like the many thousands of Israelites in the wilderness, did not believe the report of Joshua and Caleb.
Blessings!
Curt, your comments do not appear to have any extant support in the context. In the very next verse, the Lord warns of those who are false prophets. It appears that the broad way is those who teach or believe false doctrine.