In my humble opinion, the final five sayings of the Sermon on the Mount are Jesus’ most challenging. Our Lord pulls no punches as He concludes His message. The saying we will explore in this article preemptively warns those who will listen: There is only one way to enter into kingdom life, and it is both narrow and difficult.

Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. Matthew 7:13-14

Much that Jesus said runs counter to western, humanistic culture (e.g., turn the other cheek, the meek inherit the earth, lay up treasures in heaven). Here we find a saying that, sadly, runs contrary to current church culture. If you’re reading this, you know what I mean.

There was a time when this saying of Jesus was well known to all Christians; now, perhaps not. Even those of us who have heard it many times have failed to grasp – or have lost – the gravity of its meaning. Entering the kingdom of God is not as easy as we would like to think; nor communicate.

The Gate: Narrower than One Might Think

First, let’s deal with the meaning of the narrow gate. The Greek word used here means: Well, it means narrow – as in not wide. Jesus intends for his disciples to visualize a gate that is difficult to pass through. Maybe not the eye of a needle (for everyone), but certainly narrower than a standard doorway.

In a later conversation, he made this abundantly clear.

Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Luke 13:23-24

Nothing short of striving will get us through the narrow gate. The Greek word used here is agōnizomai. It is the word from which we get “agonize”. Agōnizomai means “to contend with adversaries, fight”, “to struggle, with difficulties and dangers”, and “to endeavor with strenuous zeal”. I wonder how many church fellowships describe the salvation process in these terms.

Does this describe your pursuit of the kingdom of God? It may sound a bit different than what you have been taught. It may be challenging the way you think. Don’t get discouraged. We all need our minds renewed.

To avoid any confusion, striving to enter the narrow gate is not equivalent to a works or performance-based salvation. There is no contradiction between this passage and Ephesians 2:8-9. Striving is by grace, through faith. However, followers of Jesus Christ soon learn that following means going where Jesus went (John 20:21), and death to self is agonizing business.

Whatever striving looks like for you, I am sure it is not easy. It is important that we search this out – for ourselves and for those God has entrusted to our care.

The Way: Much More Than Narrow

Sometimes you just have to wonder what the translators were thinking. Three popular translations use the word “narrow” to describe the way that leads to life. In their defense, “narrow” is the opposite of “broad”, but nowhere else in the New Testament do we find thlibō translated this way. Nine other times it carries the meaning “trouble, afflict, throng, and suffer tribulation”. Blue Letter Bible’s Outline of Biblical Usage defines thlibō as “to press (as grapes), press hard upon; a compressed way; and to trouble, afflict, distress”.

Make no mistake about it, the difficult way awaits those who have entered through the narrow gate. The difficult way is really difficult. God’s way to life is not the easy way.

Of course, this makes sense in light of everything else Jesus, Paul, and Peter had to say about entering the kingdom of God.

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 2Timothy 3:12

Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you… 1Peter 4:12

It is amazing, sobering and scary to realize how easily we have lost the eternal meaning of this saying. It is baffling to consider that we could have drifted so far from the truth.

Few will find the gate and way that lead to eternal life. Many will seek to enter, and not be able. These are the words of God, spoken with undeniable clarity, through the mouth of His Son.

Believing into the kingdom of God is not easy – it is difficult. Entering in is not automatic – it requires striving. The way will include a surprising amount of trouble, affliction and distress. Those that teach otherwise are shepherding the children of God to the gate… and leaving them there.

As we will see in a future saying, they may as well have been on the broad road; for destruction will be their end – and their blood will be on the hands of their shepherds.

Humbly yours and forever His,

Rob

#iamjustthepen