Matthew 7 · Verse 13

Matthew 7:13

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:

Matthew 7:13, King James Version

Matthew 7:13 in other translations

BSB	Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
WEB	“Enter in by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it.
ASV	Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby.
YLT	‘Go ye in through the strait gate, because wide is the gate, and broad the way that is leading to the destruction, and many are those going in through it;
DARBY	Enter in through the narrow gate, for wide the gate and broad the way that leads to destruction, and many are they who enter in through it.
BBE	Go in by the narrow door; for wide is the door and open is the way which goes to destruction, and great numbers go in by it.
Webster	Enter ye in at the strait gate; for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in by it.

What does Matthew 7:13 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown

13. Enter ye in at the strait gate--as if hardly wide enough to admit one at all. This expresses the difficulty of the first right step in religion, involving, as it does, a triumph over all our natural inclinations. Hence the still stronger expression in Luke (Lu 13:24), "Strive to enter in at the strait gate." for wide is the gate--easily entered. and broad is the way--easily trodden. that leadeth to destruction, and--thus lured "many there be which go in thereat."

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes

Verse 13. Enter ye in at the strait gate. Christ here compares the way to life to an entrance through a gate. The words straight, and strait, have very different meanings. The former means not crooked; the latter pent up, narrow, difficult to be entered. This is the word used here, and it means that the way to heaven is pent up, narrow, close, and not obviously entered. The way to death is open, broad, and thronged. The Saviour here referred probably to ancient cities. They were surrounded with walls, and entered through gates. Some of those, connected with the great avenues to the city, were broad, and admitted a throng. Others, for more private purposes, were narrow, and few would be seen entering them. So says Christ, is the path to heaven. It is narrow. It is not the great highway that men tread. Few go there. Here and. there one may be seen--- travelling in solitude and singularity. The way to death, on the other hand, is broad. Multitudes are in it. It is the great highway in which men go. They fall into it easily, and without effort, and go without thought. If they wish to leave that, and go by a narrow gate to the city, it would require effort and thought. So, says Christ, diligence is needed to enter into life. See Lk 13:24. None go of course. All must strive to obtain it; and so narrow, unfrequented, and solitary is it, that few find it. This sentiment has been beautifully versified by Watts :---

"Broad is the road that leads to death,
And thousands walk together there;
But wisdom shows a narrower path,
With here and there a traveller."

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 13 Enter ye in at the strait gate - Our Savior seems to allude here to the distinction between the public and private ways mentioned by the Jewish lawyers. The public roads were allowed to be sixteen cubits broad, the private ways only four. The words in the original are very emphatic: Enter in (to the kingdom of heaven) through This strait gate, δια της στενης πυλης, i.e. of doing to every one as you would he should do unto you; for this alone seems to be the strait gate which our Lord alludes to. For wide is the gate - And very broad, ευρυχωρος, from ευρυς, broad, and χωρος, a place, a spacious roomy place, that leadeth forward, απαγουσα, into That destruction, εις την απωλειαν, meaning eternal misery; intimating, that it is much more congenial, to the revengeful, covetous heart of fallen man, to take every advantage of another, and to enrich himself at his expense, rather than to walk according to the rule laid down before, by our blessed Lord, and that acting contrary to it is the way to everlasting misery. With those who say it means repentance, and forsaking sin, I can have no controversy. That is certainly a gate, and a strait one too, through which every sinner must turn to God, in order to find salvation. But the doing to every one as we would they should do unto us, is a gate extremely strait, and very difficult, to every unregenerate mind.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 7:12-14

Christ came to teach us, not only what we are to know and believe, but what we are to do; not only toward God, but toward men; not only toward those of our party and persuasion, but toward men in general, all with whom we have to do. We must do that to our neighbour which we ourselves acknowledge to be fit and reasonable. We must, in our dealings with men, suppose ourselves in the same case and circumstances with…

Read the full comment on Matthew 7:12-14 →

Matthew 7:13 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ΕἰσέλθατεEiselthatedo enterG1525

διὰdiathroughG1223

τῆςtēstheG3588

στενῆςstenēsnarrowG4728

πύλης,pulēsgate,G4439

ὅτιhotiForG3754

πλατεῖαplateiawide [is]G4116

ἡhētheG3588

πύληpulēgateG4439

καὶkaiandG2532

εὐρύχωροςeuruchōrosbroadG2149

ἡhētheG3588

ὁδὸςhodoswayG3598

ἡhēwhichG3588

ἀπάγουσαapagousais leadingG520

εἰςeistoG1519

τὴνtēn<the>G3588

ἀπώλειαν,apōleiandestruction,G684

καὶkaiandG2532

πολλοίpolloimanyG4183

εἰσινeisinareG1510

οἱhoithoseG3588

εἰσερχόμενοιeiserchomenoienteringG1525

δι᾽di᾽throughG1223

αὐτῆς.autēsit.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 7:13

Luke 13:24-25
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:
Proverbs 16:25
There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
John 14:6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 10:9
I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Proverbs 9:6
Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
Galatians 5:24
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Matthew 3:2
And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Ezekiel 18:27-32
Again, when the wicked man turneth away from his wickedness that he hath committed, and doeth that which is lawful and right, he shall save his soul alive. Because he considereth, and turneth away from all his transgressions that he hath committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die. Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal? Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord God. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. …
Matthew 3:8
Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
Revelation 20:15
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
2 Corinthians 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

at.
3:2,8; 18:2,3; 23:13; Pr 9:6; Isa 55:7; Eze 18:27-32; Lu 9:33; 13:24
Lu 13:25; 14:33; Joh 10:9; 14:6; Ac 2:38-40; 3:19; 2Co 6:17; Ga 5:24
for.
Ge 6:5,12; Ps 14:2,3; Isa 1:9; Ro 3:9-19; 2Co 4:4; Eph 2:2,3
1Jo 5:19; Re 12:9; 13:8; 20:3
that.
25:41,46; Pr 7:27; 16:25; Ro 9:22; Php 3:19; 2Th 1:8,9
1Pe 4:17,18; Re 20:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

Matthew 7:12
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:13
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:
Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Read all of Matthew 7

Matthew 7:13 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Entrad por la puerta estrecha: porque ancha es la puerta, y espacioso el camino que lleva á perdición, y muchos son los que entran por ella.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Entrez par la porte étroite; car large est la porte, et spacieux le chemin qui mène à la perdition, et nombreux sont ceux qui entrent par elle;
German Elberfelder 1871	Gehet ein durch die enge Pforte; denn weit ist die Pforte und breit der Weg, der zum Verderben führt, und viele sind, die durch dieselbe eingehen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	Intrate per angustam portam: quia lata porta, et spatiosa via est, quæ ducit ad perditionem, et multi sunt qui intrant per eam.