In Jesus’ famous “Sermon on the Mount” (Matthew 5:1—7:27) …
He gives a variety of teachings and warnings in the first 94 verses (5:1—7:12), which all lead up to His bombshell finish in the last section (7:13-27), especially in Matthew 7:13-14.
Matthew 7 (NKJV):
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.
14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
The Living Bible
“Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”
The Jewish New Testament
“Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words on “difficult” above, which is “thlibo” (Strong’s #2346):
“to press” is translated “narrow” in Matt. 7:14, JKV (RV, “straightened”), i.e. hemmed in, like a mountain gorge; the way is rendered “narrow” by the divine conditions, which make it impossible for any to enter who think the entrance depends upon self-merit, or who still incline toward sin, or desire to continue in evil.”
John MacArthur in “The Gospel According to Jesus” (Revised and Expanded Edition, 1994) …
“No passage in all of Scripture attacks modern-day easy-believism with more force than Matthew 7:13-14. It is the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, and it amounts to the Savior’s own presentation of the way of salvation. How different it is from the trend of modern evangelism! … This passage crushes the claim of those who say the Sermon on the Mount is not gospel but law. In fact, these closing verses are pure gospel, with as pointed an invitation as has ever been issued. This closing lesson also debunks the opinion that the Sermon on the Mount is merely a discourse on ethics for us to stand back and admire. … Here, in the culmination of all he has said in the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord requires that each person choose between following the world on the easy, well-travelled road or following Him on the difficult road. You will not find a plainer statement of the gospel according to Jesus anywhere in Scripture. Here are two gates … two roads … two destinations … two crowds … two kinds of trees and fruit … two kinds of builders … two kinds of foundations … The choices are clear cut. He demands a decision.”
The Applied New Testament Commentary (Dr. Thomas Hale, 1996, ChariotVictor Publishing) …
“The narrow road is difficult. On the way we meet all kinds of trouble and persecution (2 Tim 3:12). Satan will put many obstacles and temptations in our way. There will be few conveniences (Matt 8:19-20). And the road will not get easier. Satan has new temptations to give us. Therefore, why walk on such a road? Because that narrow road leads to life, eternal life (verse 14). The broad road leads to destruction (Jer 21:8). Friends, there are only two roads. If you are not walking on the narrow road, then you must be walking on the broad one … Only the narrow road leads to life eternal. Yes, in this life, the road is difficult, but remember the destination! (Rom 18:18, 2 Cor 4:17).
Dake’s Anotated Reference Bible (Finis Jennings Dake, 1961) …
“Up to physical death, destruction can be cancelled by repentance, and life can be cancelled by sin. Strait (narrow) is an allusion to strict observance of the golden rule of v.12, and to repentance and walking the Christian way of life to the end of the narrow way. Wide is an allusion to the careless sinful way of life of the wicked, intimating that it is easier to be revengeful and covetous; to take advantage of another to enrich self rather than walk according to the golden rule … This way of life leads to destruction, which does not actually come until the end of the road. The reason is that destruction can be cancelled by turning from sin to God … The narrow way is leading to life but it cannot be given as an unforfeitable right until the end of the narrow way.”
What will you do with Jesus’ warning and invitation?
“… choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve ...
But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
(Joshua 24:15)
He gives a variety of teachings and warnings in the first 94 verses (5:1—7:12), which all lead up to His bombshell finish in the last section (7:13-27), especially in Matthew 7:13-14.
Matthew 7 (NKJV):
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.
14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
The Living Bible
“Heaven can be entered only through the narrow gate! The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide enough for all the multitudes who choose its easy way. But the Gateway to Life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.”
The Jewish New Testament
“Go in through the narrow gate; for the gate that leads to destruction is wide and the road broad, and many travel it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Biblical Words on “difficult” above, which is “thlibo” (Strong’s #2346):
“to press” is translated “narrow” in Matt. 7:14, JKV (RV, “straightened”), i.e. hemmed in, like a mountain gorge; the way is rendered “narrow” by the divine conditions, which make it impossible for any to enter who think the entrance depends upon self-merit, or who still incline toward sin, or desire to continue in evil.”
John MacArthur in “The Gospel According to Jesus” (Revised and Expanded Edition, 1994) …
“No passage in all of Scripture attacks modern-day easy-believism with more force than Matthew 7:13-14. It is the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, and it amounts to the Savior’s own presentation of the way of salvation. How different it is from the trend of modern evangelism! … This passage crushes the claim of those who say the Sermon on the Mount is not gospel but law. In fact, these closing verses are pure gospel, with as pointed an invitation as has ever been issued. This closing lesson also debunks the opinion that the Sermon on the Mount is merely a discourse on ethics for us to stand back and admire. … Here, in the culmination of all he has said in the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord requires that each person choose between following the world on the easy, well-travelled road or following Him on the difficult road. You will not find a plainer statement of the gospel according to Jesus anywhere in Scripture. Here are two gates … two roads … two destinations … two crowds … two kinds of trees and fruit … two kinds of builders … two kinds of foundations … The choices are clear cut. He demands a decision.”
The Applied New Testament Commentary (Dr. Thomas Hale, 1996, ChariotVictor Publishing) …
“The narrow road is difficult. On the way we meet all kinds of trouble and persecution (2 Tim 3:12). Satan will put many obstacles and temptations in our way. There will be few conveniences (Matt 8:19-20). And the road will not get easier. Satan has new temptations to give us. Therefore, why walk on such a road? Because that narrow road leads to life, eternal life (verse 14). The broad road leads to destruction (Jer 21:8). Friends, there are only two roads. If you are not walking on the narrow road, then you must be walking on the broad one … Only the narrow road leads to life eternal. Yes, in this life, the road is difficult, but remember the destination! (Rom 18:18, 2 Cor 4:17).
Dake’s Anotated Reference Bible (Finis Jennings Dake, 1961) …
“Up to physical death, destruction can be cancelled by repentance, and life can be cancelled by sin. Strait (narrow) is an allusion to strict observance of the golden rule of v.12, and to repentance and walking the Christian way of life to the end of the narrow way. Wide is an allusion to the careless sinful way of life of the wicked, intimating that it is easier to be revengeful and covetous; to take advantage of another to enrich self rather than walk according to the golden rule … This way of life leads to destruction, which does not actually come until the end of the road. The reason is that destruction can be cancelled by turning from sin to God … The narrow way is leading to life but it cannot be given as an unforfeitable right until the end of the narrow way.”
What will you do with Jesus’ warning and invitation?
“… choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve ...
But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
(Joshua 24:15)
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