Strait is the Gate and Narrow is the Way Matthew 7:14

Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.” Jesus continued, “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?” Jesus concluded, “Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”, and He told His disciples, “Enter you in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat”, and in chapter seven and verse fourteen of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus told His disciples,“strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life” where we read:

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.

The verse reads, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, ...” Matthew began with the word, “because” or “since, on account of and these things begin so” “strait” which means “narrow” “is the gate” which means “is the access or entrance into any state”, “and narrow” or “and afflicted, thronging, with tribulation and trouble” “is the way” which refers to “the journey, highway or traveled road”. Jesus presented the first part of the reason His disciples were to “enter in” the “narrow” “gate” and the life of “affliction, tribulation and trouble”.

The verse goes on to say, “... which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew continued with the words, “which leads” or “that brings, carries and puts one” “unto life” which refers to “toward life real and genuine which is a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed and in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body) which is to last for ever”, “and few there be” or “and there is a small number, quantity and size” “that find it” which means “who discover, understand, learn, see, recognize and detect the everlasting life”. Jesus declared that the “narrow gate” and “afflicted way” lead to “everlasting life”, and there are only a small number of people who “discover and recognize” this “way”.

When we meditate upon Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the “narrow and troubled” path is the way that leads to “eternal life” with God, and those who yield to Him as their personal “Savior and Lord” will have aligned with this more difficult path. Many people are following the path of the “wide gate” and “broad way”, and God desires to “save” them from this destructive path when they receive His Son Jesus into their lives. Only a “few” people discover God's “strait and narrow” way, but those who do shall enjoy life forevermore with God.

Next time Jesus tells His disciples, “beware of false prophets”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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