This verse actually denotes our first instruction in Righteousness. It describes two ways available to mankind, the way of God and the way of Satan and human nature. The narrow gate is our entrance into the Salvation Process. The following commentaries will establish that entering the Salvation Process is harder than just going the way of the world. The Wycliffe commentary will show how this is our first experience in Godly calling and our new relationship with Christ.
Matt 7:13-14
[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 [the Kingdom] is "pent up, narrow, close," and not obviously
entered. The way to death s 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 [the Kingdom]. It
is narrow. It is not "the great highway" that people tread. Few go there. Here
and there one may be seen-traveling 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 people 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 life. See Luke 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:(from Barnes' Notes)
Enter ye in by the narrow gate (ASV).
To those who had already entered by faith into relation with Christ (as well as
others who were listening; v. 28), our Lord describes the comparative
unpopularity of their new position. The order of gate and way suggests the gate
as the entrance to the way, symbolic of a believer's initial experience with
Christ, which introduces him to the life of godliness. The first Christians were
called those of "the Way" (Acts 9:2; 19:9,23; 22:4; 24:14,22). Though the mass
of mankind is upon the broad way that leads to destruction (eternal ruin), the
other gate and way are so small as to need finding. Yet the same God who
provided Christ, who is both gate and way (John 14:6), also causes men to find
the portal (John 6:44).(from The Wycliffe Bible Commentary)
The following link is to a paper showing that Matthew 7::13-14 is not an
indication of most of mankind taking the broad way to destruction. Click
here.
Lesson 11:
Instructions –
Enter at the strait gate
1) Understand that "strait" and "straight" have vastly different
meanings.
2) Understand that with your repentance, baptism and receiving of the Holy
Spirit, you entered at the strait gate into the Salvation Process...the way that
leads to eternal life.
3) Know these verses show no indication that most of mankind will fail in
their quest of Salvation or will take the broad way to destruction.
4) Stay in the Salvation Process.