Christian Standard Bible
Matthew 7:14
14How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
Matthew 7:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
- New International Version (NIV)But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
- English Standard Version (ESV)For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Context of Matthew 7:14
12Therefore, whatever you want others to do for you, do also the same for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13“Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. 15“Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves. 16You’ll recognize them by their fruit. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles?
Read all of Matthew 7Matthew 7:14 word by word
τί στενὴ ἡ πύλη καὶ τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδὸς ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τὴν ζωήν, καὶ ὀλίγοι εἰσὶν οἱ εὑρίσκοντες αὐτήν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- straitστενόςstenos · narrowG4728
- the gateὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the gateπύληpulē · gateG4439
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- narrowθλίβωthlibō · to press onG2346
- the wayὁδόςhodos · roadG3598
- which leadethἀπάγωapagō · to lead awayG520
- untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- lifeζωήzōē · lifeG2222
- fewὀλίγοςoligos · little/fewG3641
- there beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- that findεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
- itαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
Cross-references for Matthew 7:14
- Matthew 16:24Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
- Proverbs 4:26Carefully consider the path for your feet, and all your ways will be established.
- Proverbs 8:20I walk in the ways of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
- Isaiah 30:21and whenever you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear this command behind you: “This is the way. Walk in it.”
- Isaiah 35:8A road will be there and a way; it will be called the Holy Way. The unclean will not travel on it, but it will be for the one who walks the path. Fools will not wander on it.
- Isaiah 57:14He said, “Build it up, build it up, prepare the way, remove every obstacle from my people’s way.”
- Jeremiah 6:16This is what the Lord says: Stand by the roadways and look. Ask about the ancient paths, “Which is the way to what is good?” Then take it and find rest for yourselves. But they protested, “We won’t!”
- Mark 8:34Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone wants to follow after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
- John 15:18“If the world hates you, understand that it hated me before it hated you.
- John 16:2They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God.
- Acts 14:22strengthening the disciples by encouraging them to continue in the faith and by telling them, “It is necessary to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
- 1 Thessalonians 3:2And we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you concerning your faith,
- Matthew 20:16“So the last will be first, and the first last.”
- Matthew 22:14“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
- Matthew 25:1“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom.
- Luke 12:32Don’t be afraid, little flock, because your Father delights to give you the kingdom.
Commentaries on Matthew 7:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14Because strait is the gate - Instead of because, I should prefer 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…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-14Verses 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 those we have to do with, and…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14Only a few people accept the truth shown in Christ (see Matthew 19:23; 20:16; 22:14; see also John 3:19; 6:66–71).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. 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…Read the comment
Topics related to Matthew 7:14
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Matthew 7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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