Matthew 7:13 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "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.

NIV: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

NASB: Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

CSB: "Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it.

NLT: You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

KJV: Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

NKJV: “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.

As Jesus nears the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1–2), He describes a series of choices His listeners must make. The first is between the narrow gate which opens to a more difficult path and the wide gate which opens to the easy path. While this analogy is purposefully simple, it carries several layers of meaning.

Within the context of Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5—7, it's clear He is pointing to Himself and His teaching on inner righteousness as the "narrow gate." He also indicates that this opens onto a hard path. In other words, those who follow Him should understand they are choosing a difficult road, from a worldly perspective (Matthew 5:10–12). It will, however, lead to life.

The choice most people will make is the wide gate leading to an easy path. The imagery of a "wide" gate implies something easy to see, and easy to get through. It also suggests something that accommodates our preferences: wide gates give us more choice over how to pass through than do narrow ones. Since what lies on the other side of that gate appears to be easy, it's the choice most people will make. This has sad, heart-rending implications for the eternal fate of most people.

In part, Jesus is referring to those who will continue to follow the teaching of Israel's religious leaders, the scribes and Pharisees. Their legalistic teaching about the Law required from Israelites no heart change, only outward, self-promoting obedience to the rules. This is "easier," in a sense, because it only requires a person to pretend to be righteous. Jesus warned His followers that this was a too-easy road that lead to eternal destruction.

The alternative, given in the next verse, is a path that requires more submission and leads to a seemingly tougher experience. But the end destination of that gate is eternal life (Matthew 7:14).

Matthew 7:7–14 describes God as a generous Father eager to give good gifts to His praying children. Jesus commands His followers to continually ask and seek, with confidence that they will receive and find. Christ summarizes the intent of God's commands in the Old Testament: doing for others what we want done for us. This is commonly referred to as "the Golden Rule." The way of Jesus begins by entering a narrow gate and continues down a hard path that leads to life. He commands His followers to take that path instead of the easy road that leads to destruction.

Matthew 7 is the last of three chapters that record what is now known as the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus commands His hearers not to pronounce shallow or hypocritical judgment. He describes God as a generous Father eager to give good things to His children when they ask. He commands His followers to enter the narrow gate and walk the hard road to life. False prophets can be recognized by their fruit, meaning their actions and choices. At the same time, good deeds are not absolute proof that someone has true faith. To live by Jesus' teaching is like building the house of your life on a solid foundation instead of shifting sand.

Jesus began the Sermon on the Mount in chapter 5, discussing the Beatitudes and the idea that inner thoughts are very much part of sin and righteousness. Chapter 6 denounced hypocrisy, modeled prayer, and opposed anxiety. Chapter 7 discusses the proper manner of judgment, including how to gauge the teachings of others. Jesus also warns against spiritual self-deception. He concludes with an analogy about foundations and storms. The crowd's amazement at Christ's teachings leads into the miracles and encounters of chapters 8 and 9.

The Gospel of Matthew clearly shows the influence of its writer's background, and his effort to reach a specific audience. Matthew was one of Jesus' twelve disciples, a Jewish man, and a former tax collector. This profession would have required literacy, and Matthew may have transcribed some of Jesus' words as they were spoken. This book is filled with references to the Old Testament, demonstrating to Israel that Jesus is the Promised One. Matthew also includes many references to coins, likely due to his former profession. Matthew records extensive accounts of Jesus' teaching, more than the other three Gospels.