Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 7:14

"For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it." — Matthew 7:14 (ASV)

The general picture here is clear enough: there are two gates, two roads, two crowds, two destinations. The “narrow” gate is clearly restrictive and does not permit entrance to what Jesus prohibits. The “wide” gate seems far more inviting. The “broad” road is spacious and accommodates the crowd and their baggage; the other road is “narrow” and restricting, because it is the way of persecution and opposition—a major theme in Matthew (see comment on 5:10– 12; cf. Acts 14:22).

But the two roads are not ends in themselves. The narrow road leads to life, i.e., to the consummated kingdom (cf. vv.21–23); but the broad road leads to eternal death (cf. 25:34, 46; Romans 9:22; et al.). Democratic decisions do not determine truth and righteousness in the kingdom; the way that leads to life is exclusively by revelation.

It seems best to regard the gate as something entered in this life as one begins the path of discipleship. Entrance through the gate into the narrow way of persecution begins now but issues in the consummated kingdom at the other end of that way. In other words, even the beginning of this path to life is restrictive.