Matthew 7:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus invites us through the narrow gate, the way of life that few even notice.
The Context of Matthew 7:13
Near the close of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus draws the teaching to a point of decision. He sets two gates and two roads before His listeners and calls them to choose.
What Does Matthew 7:13 Mean?
Jesus pictures two gates and two roads. One gate is narrow and easy to walk past. The other is wide, with a broad road beyond it, and a great crowd streaming through. The wide way asks nothing and demands no turning, which is exactly why so many take it, and Jesus says honestly where it leads. The word translated 'strait' means narrow or tight, not 'straight.' The gate of life is a snug fit; we cannot bring everything through it, and most never slow down enough to find it.
Yet the first word of the verse is an invitation: 'Enter ye in.' Jesus is not standing at the narrow gate to keep people out but calling them in. He would later say, 'I am the door' (John 10:9), and that changes everything. The narrow way is narrow because it is the shape of one Person, and to enter is to come to Him. The road may be less crowded, but it is the way home, and He walks it ahead of us.
Matthew 7:13 in the Original Language
stenos (στενός), 'strait' -- narrow, tight, confined; a small gate, not a straight road.
How to Apply Matthew 7:13 Today
This verse asks us where our feet are actually walking, and it does so as an invitation rather than a threat. The narrow gate is open, and Jesus Himself is the way through it. We do not find it by drifting with the crowd; we find it by coming to Him.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 7:13
What does Matthew 7:13 mean?
Jesus invites us through the narrow gate, the way of life that few even notice.
What is the context of Matthew 7:13?
Near the close of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus draws the teaching to a point of decision. He sets two gates and two roads before His listeners and calls them to choose.
How can I apply Matthew 7:13 today?
This verse asks us where our feet are actually walking, and it does so as an invitation rather than a threat. The narrow gate is open, and Jesus Himself is the way through it. We do not find it by drifting with the crowd; we find it by coming to Him.