Matthew 7 · Verse 14

Matthew 7:14

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7:14, King James Version

Matthew 7:14 in other translations

BSBBut small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
WEBHow narrow is the gate and the way is restricted that leads to life! There are few who find it.
ASVFor narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.
YLThow strait is the gate, and compressed the way that is leading to the life, and few are those finding it!
DARBYFor narrow the gate and straitened the way that leads to life, and they are few who find it.
BBEFor narrow is the door and hard the road to life, and only a small number make discovery of it.
WebsterBecause strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth to life, and few there are that find it.

What does Matthew 7:14 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
14. 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.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 14. Mt 7:14

(1) "Because", or "how" (b) "few there be" Mt 20:16, 25:1-12, Rom 9:27,29

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 14 Because strait is the gate - Instead of οτι because, I should prefer τι how, which reading is supported by a great majority of the best MSS., versions, and fathers. How strait is that gate! This mode of expression more forcibly points out the difficulty of the way to the kingdom. How strange is it that men should be unwilling to give up their worldly interests to secure their everlasting salvation! And yet no interest need be abandoned, but that which is produced by injustice and unkindness. Reason, as well as God, says, such people should be excluded from a place of blessedness. He who shows no mercy (and much more he who shows no justice) shall have judgment without mercy. Jam 2:13. Few there be that find it - The strait gate, στενη πυλη, signifies literally what we call a wicket, i.e. a little door in a large gate. Gate, among the Jews, signifies, metaphorically, the entrance, introduction, or means of acquiring any thing. So they talk of the gate of repentance, the gate of prayers, and the gate of tears. When God, say they, shut the gate of paradise against Adam, He opened to him the gate of repentance. The way to the kingdom of God is made sufficiently manifest - the completest assistance is promised in the way, and the greatest encouragement to persevere to the end is held out in the everlasting Gospel. But men are so wedded to their own passions, and so determined to follow the imaginations of their own hearts, that still it may be said: There are few who find the way to heaven; fewer yet who abide any time in it; fewer still who walk in it; and fewest of all who persevere unto the end. Nothing renders this way either narrow or difficult to any person, but sin. Let all the world leave their sins, and all the world may walk abreast in this good way.

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 7:14 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.

τίtiWhichG5101
στενὴstenēsmall [is]G4728
ἡhētheG3588
πύληpulēgateG4439
καὶkaiandG2532
τεθλιμμένηtethlimmenēcompressedG2346
ἡhētheG3588
ὁδὸςhodoswayG3598
ἡhēwhichG3588
ἀπάγουσαapagousais leadingG520
εἰςeistoG1519
τὴνtēn<the>G3588
ζωήν,zōēnlife,G2222
καὶkaiandG2532
ὀλίγοιoligoifewG3641
εἰσὶνeisinareG1510
οἱhoithoseG3588
εὑρίσκοντεςheuriskontesfindingG2147
αὐτήν.¶autēnit.G846

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

Cross references for Matthew 7:14

  • Luke 13:23-30

    Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 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: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. …

  • Matthew 22:14

    For many are called, but few are chosen.

  • Matthew 16:24-25

    Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

  • Romans 12:2

    And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

  • Isaiah 35:8

    And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.

  • Mark 8:34

    And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

  • Proverbs 8:20

    I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

  • Acts 14:22

    Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

  • John 15:18-20

    If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

  • John 16:33

    These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

  • Isaiah 30:21

    And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.

  • Proverbs 4:26-27

    Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
because. or, How. narrow.
16:24,25; Pr 4:26,27; 8:20; Isa 30:21; 35:8; 57:14; Jer 6:16
Mr 8:34; Joh 15:18-20; 16:2,33; Ac 14:22; 1Th 3:2-5
and few.
20:16; 22:14; 25:1-12; Lu 12:32; 13:23-30; Ro 9:27-29,32; 11:5,6
Ro 12:2; Eph 2:2,3; 1Pe 3:20,21

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

Context

  • 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.

  • Matthew 7:15

    Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Read all of Matthew 7

Matthew 7:14 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque estrecha es la puerta, y angosto el camino que lleva á la vida, y pocos son los que la hallan.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		car étroite est la porte, et resserré le chemin qui mène à la vie, et peu nombreux sont ceux qui le trouvent.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn eng ist die Pforte und schmal der Weg, der zum Leben führt, und wenige sind, die ihn finden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quam angusta porta, et arcta via est, quæ ducit ad vitam: et pauci sunt qui inveniunt eam!