Matthew 7:14

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

American Standard Version (1901)

For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.

Bible in Basic English

For narrow is the door and hard the road to life, and only a small number make discovery of it.

Douay-Rheims 1899

How narrow is the gate, and strait is the way that leadeth to life: and few there are that find it!

Free Bible Version

But the entrance is narrow, and the way is difficult that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Geneva Bible 1599

Because the gate is streight, and the way narowe that leadeth vnto life, and fewe there be that finde it.

King James (Authorized) Version

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

One Unity Resource Bible

How narrow is the gate, and restricted is the way that leads to life! Few are those who find it.

Unlocked Literal Bible

But the gate is narrow and the way is difficult that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Noah Webster Bible

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth to life, and few there are that find it.

World English Bible

How narrow is the gate and the way is restricted that leads to life! There are few who find it.

Young's Literal Translation

how strait [is] the gate, and compressed the way that is leading to the life, and few are those finding it!

Context

The Narrow Gate

¹³Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.¹⁴But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.

Sermons

The Street Meetings of God (Compilation)

Compilations

3.1K

(Texas 2009) the Holy Spirit Brings Heaven Into Us

Zac Poonen

1.9K

(Through the Bible) Exodus 11-12

Chuck Smith

1.6K

01 New Wine in New Wineskins the Difference Between the Old and the New

Zac Poonen

1.6K

Christ Is All - in Scripture

Bill McLeod

1.6K

Few Be That Find Life

Zac Poonen

1.3K

New Covenant - Overcoming Temptation - Part 5

Zac Poonen

1.1K

Summary

In this verse, Jesus highlights the challenging nature of the path that leads to eternal life, emphasizing that it is narrow and few will find it. The narrow gate signifies the exclusive nature of salvation through faith in Christ alone, contrasting with the broad path that leads to destruction. This verse serves as a call to discipleship, urging believers to choose the difficult yet rewarding journey of following Jesus wholeheartedly. It underscores the importance of perseverance, dedication, and faithfulness in walking the narrow path that leads to eternal life.

Commentary

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
John Gill
Tyndale

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life--In other words, the whole course is as difficult as the first step; and (so it comes to pass that). few there be that find it--The recommendation of the broad way is the ease with which it is trodden and the abundance of company to be found in it. It is sailing with a fair wind and a favorable tide. The natural inclinations are not crossed, and fears of the issue, if not easily hushed, are in the long run effectually subdued. The one disadvantage of this course is its end--it "leadeth to destruction." The great Teacher says it, and says it as "One having authority." To the supposed injustice or harshness of this He never once adverts. He leaves it to be inferred that such a course righteously, naturally, necessarily so ends. But whether men see this or no, here He lays down the law of the kingdom, and leaves it with us. As to the other way, the disadvantage of it lies in its narrowness and solicitude. Its very first step involves a revolution in all our purposes and plans for life, and a surrender of all that is dear to natural inclination, while all that follows is but a repetition of the first great act of self-sacrifice. No wonder, then, that few find and few are found in it. But it has one advantage--it "leadeth unto life." Some critics take "the gate" here, not for the first, but the last step in religion; since gates seldom open into roads, but roads usually terminate in a gate, leading straight to a mansion. But as this would make our Lord's words to have a very inverted and unnatural form as they stand, it is better, with the majority of critics, to view them as we have done. But since such teaching would be as unpopular as the way itself, our Lord next forewarns His hearers that preachers of smooth things--the true heirs and representatives of the false prophets of old--would be rife enough in the new kingdom.

John Gill Bible Commentary

Beware of false prophets,.... Or false teachers; for not such who pretended to foretell things to come, but such who set up themselves to be teachers of others, are here meant; see Pe2 2:1. It may be queried, whether our Lord has not respect to the Scribes and Pharisees, who sat in Moses's chair, and taught, for doctrines, the commandments of men? and of whose doctrines he elsewhere bids men beware: for whatever plausible pretences for holiness and righteousness might appear in them, they were repugnant to the word of God, and destructive to the souls of men; such as their doctrines of free will, justification by the works of the law, the traditions of the elders, &c. since it follows, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves; for these "loved to go in long clothing", Mar 12:38. in a garment which reached to the feet, and was made of the wool of sheep. The Babylonish garment Achan saw and stole, Rab says (r), was , a garment called "melotes": which is the very Greek word the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews uses for sheep skins, persecuted saints wandered about in, Heb 11:37 and the gloss upon the place, in the Talmud referred to, says, that this was , "a talith", or "garment of pure wool"; and Jarchi (s) says, that "it was the way of deceivers, and profane men, to cover themselves, "with their talith", or long garment, "as if they were righteous men", that persons might receive their lies.'' All which agrees very well with the Pharisees, who would have been thought to have been holy and righteous, humble, modest, and self-denying men; when they were inwardly full of hypocrisy and iniquity, of rapine, oppression, and covetousness; and, under a pretence of religion, "devoured widows' houses". Though, it seems, by what follows, that Christ has respect, at least also, to such, who bore his name, and came in his name, though not sent by him, and called him Lord, and prophesied, and cast out devils, and did many wonderful works in his name; who, that they might get the good will and affections of the people, clothed themselves, not in garments made of sheep's wool, but in the very skins of sheep, with the wool on them, in imitation of the true prophets, and good men of old; pretending great humility, and self-denial, and so "wore a rough garment to deceive", Zac 13:4 when they were inwardly greedy dogs, grievous wolves, of insatiable covetousness; and, when opportunity offered, spared not the flock to satisfy their rapacious and devouring appetites. The Jews speak of a "wolfish humility"; like that of the wolf in the fable, which put on a sheep skin. "There are some men, (says one of their (t) writers,) who appear to be humble, and fear God in a deceitful and hypocritical way, but inwardly lay wait: this humility our wise men call , "wolfish humility".'' Such is this our Lord inveighs against, and bids his followers beware of. (r) T. Bab. Sanhedrim, fol. 41. 1. (s) In Zech. xiii. 4. (t) Abarbinel Nachalath Abot, fol. 192. 1.