matthew-7:13-8:34

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:13-20

Two ways. The course of human action is in Scripture called a way. Of these there are two—the right and wrong, the good and the evil. There is no intermediate way. Here we have— I. THE WAY OF DEATH . 1 . It is broad. 2 . Its gate is wide. 3 . Its company is large. 4 . Its end is destruction. II. THE WAY OF LIFE . 1 . It is strait. 2 . Its gate is narrow. 3 . The company is select. 4 . Its end is life. III. WHICH... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:13-27

(4) Epilogue (cf. Matthew 5:3 , note). Dare to take up this position, which has been laid down in Mt 5:21-7:12, involving though it must separation from the majority of men ( Matthew 7:13 , Matthew 7:14 ); and this notwithstanding the claim of others to reveal the Lord's mind, whose true nature, however, you shall perceive from their actions ( Matthew 7:15-20 ); they that work iniquity have neither present nor future union with me ( Matthew 7:21-23 ). Finally a solemn warning ( ... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Matthew 7:13-14

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... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Matthew 7:13

Matthew 7:13 . Enter ye in at the strait gate The gate of true conversion, of self-denial, mortification, and universal holiness; the gate in at which few, comparatively speaking, are inclined to enter. “How strait,” says Erasmus, in his paraphrase on the place, “is the gate, how narrow the way that leadeth to life! In the way, nothing is to be found that flatters the flesh, but many things opposite to it, poverty, fasting, watching, injuries, chastity, sobriety. And as for the gate, it... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:13-29

45. The two ways (Matthew 7:13-29; Luke 6:43-49)There are two ways of life. One is the easy way of pleasing self, which most choose and which leads to destruction. The other is the narrow way of denying self for Jesus’ sake, which leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).One reason why many do not follow the narrow way is that they are deceived by those who teach their own views on how people can find meaning in life. Their teaching at first sounds reasonable, but in the end it proves to be destructive.... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Matthew 7:13

Enter ye in, &c. Repeated on a later occasion. Luke 13:2 . at = through, or by means of Greek. dia. strait = narrow. wide. Greek. platus. Occurs only here. broad = extensive. Greek. euruchoros. Occurs only here. the way. For "the two ways", see Deuteronomy 30:15 , 1 Kings 18:21 . 2Pe 2:2 , 2 Peter 2:15 . leadeth = leads away. to = unto. Greek. ei s. go = enter in. thereat = through. Greek. dia. App-104 .Matthew 7:1 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Matthew 7:13

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. For narrow is the gate, and straitened the way, that leadeth unto life, and few are they that find it.The relative number of the saved and the lost is plain from this. They shall be as the few to the many. This eternally recurring contrast between the numbers of the saved and the lost with reference to each succeeding generation should not be... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Matthew 7:13-14

Matthew 7:13-14. Enter ye in at the strait gate— That is, strive to enter. See Luke 13:24. By the figurative expressions used in these verses, our blessed Saviour gives us to understand how easy it is to enter into destruction, and how hard it is for proud man to come to him for salvation through the infinite merit of his blood and by the power of his almighty grace: intimating at the same time,that the generality of mankind tread in the wide paths of error, and follow their passions; while... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Matthew 7:13

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 ( :-), "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." read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Matthew 7:12-29

II. THE AUTHORITY OF THE KING 4:12-7:29Having introduced the King, Matthew next demonstrated the authority of the King. This section includes a narrative introduction to Jesus’ teaching and then His teaching on the subject of His kingdom. read more