Matthew 7:14Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Moreover the very circumstance that He calls it strait contributes to make it easy; by this He warned them to be always watching; this the Lord speaks to rouse our desires. He who strives in a combat, if he sees the prince admiring the efforts of the combatants, gets greater heart. Let us not therefore be sad when many sorrows befal us here, for the way is strait, but not the city; therefore neither need we look for rest here, nor expect any thing of sorrow there. When He says, Few there be that find it, He points to the sluggishness of the many, and instructs His hearers not to look to the prosperity of the many, but to the toils of the few.

The disciple of the Lord reassures us that such a person will always be regarded with awe, stating: 'Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been tested, he will receive the crown of life' (James 1:12)."

Consequently, anyone hoping to enter the belly through this constricted path must be vigilant against any diversions or temptations that stray from the Lord's commandments, adhering to the instruction: "Let not thou stray to the right hand or to the left" (Deuteronomy 17:11).

It is one thing to inquire about Him who manifested in the world, and quite another to contemplate Him who resided within the one who appeared. In the world was He who transcends it. The Word of truth entered the world, and through His truth, as it pertains to us, He instructed us on how to walk in His light. ‘The gate,’ He declares, ‘is narrow.’

As you navigate through hardships and confront various tribulations, let your eyes be set on the promise of what lies ahead, drawing renewed strength from the hope of reward. It offers considerable solace to understand that these paths and gates are transitory; they do not endure. While many may choose the route that appears pleasing and labor-free, few venture down the path that is difficult and demanding. It is essential to recognize that Christ refers to the route of heavenly existence as narrow and constricted due to the temporal trials He endured. Conversely, He assures us that the yoke of His commandments is gracious, and the burden of His directives is light (Matt. 11:30), owing to the promise of eternal blessings. While virtue may seem weighty due to the effort required, it becomes lightened by the rewards that follow; the anticipation of future joy alleviates the heaviness of present sorrows.

Those burdened with unnecessary possessions, unwilling to share with their neighbors, will find it equally challenging unless they rid themselves of such distractions: the gate is narrow and the way is constricted! Women, in particular, have much to release from their hearts if they wish to pass through this tight gate! This journey is arduous and fraught with obstacles, filled with thorns that scratch and prick. One must shed abundant sweat, endure hard labor, and bear much suffering in order to enter into Heaven, for "through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God!" Those who seek comfort and are offended by the slightest word will be unable to enter paradise: the gate is narrow, and the way is filled with sorrow! Who among us desires to reach Heaven? Certainly, all do. Thus, let everyone understand that the road to it is narrow and filled with hardship! When the prophet Elijah ascended to Heaven, he cast aside his outer robe. What did that robe signify? A humble sheepskin. Likewise, you, who exploit others or take advantage of the poor, should recognize that you will not be allowed entrance to Heaven disguised in another person's clothing. Do not cling to the foolish notion that you can enter Paradise adorned in someone else's belongings, having taken what rightfully belongs to your neighbor!

Who could reopen them, if not the Lord of heaven and earth, the Life Giver, the only begotten Son of God, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who appeared in the flesh? Through His death, He eliminated the sting of sin's death and, by the miraculous power of His resurrection, shattered the gates of hell. By His divine blood, He purified the hearts of believers from sin’s defilement and offered Himself as an atoning sacrifice for humanity’s transgressions. As the eternal Advocate and High Priest, He ascended into heaven so that God’s presence might intercede for us (Hebrews 9:24). He opened the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven for all, demonstrating through His holy life the path to eternal existence. These gates, opened by Him, can never be closed against us if we remain loyal to His commandments and choose to persistently walk in the way of the saints (Hebrews 9:8), guided by our eternal Shepherd. The entrance that calls us, dear brethren, to eternal life is narrow. Just as one must discard excess garments to pass through a tight opening, we must likewise shed our old sinful selves (Eph. 4:22) along with their corruptions. This requires relentless effort to overcome the passions and sinful inclinations bred by sin. Strive to enter by the narrow gate (Luke 13:24), the Savior urges. Forsaking a sinful existence and committing to a life of holiness and virtue as prescribed in the Gospel is essential for salvation. The salvation, wrought by the blood of Jesus Christ, reveals that God, in His infinite compassion, has provided us with every opportunity and the grace needed to transform from sinners into saints and inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. As St. Paul states, the grace of God has been made evident. The Apostle Paul admonishes us to reject ungodliness and worldly desires, living uprightly, righteously, and devoutly in this present age while we eagerly await the hope and revelation of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14). All His divine abilities for life and godliness are imparted through the knowledge of Him who called us by His glory and virtue. Thus, we are promised an honorable and magnificent prospect: that we may share in the Divine nature, having escaped the desires of the world (2 Pet. 1:3, 4), asserts St. Peter. Nothing unclean will enter the Kingdom of Heaven (Rev. 21:27), the immutable word of the Lord declares. It is reserved for those who, by faithfully observing the Lord's commandments, have maintained the purity bestowed upon each Christian through the grace of baptism, or for those who, having squandered this invaluable gift due to their sins, have reclaimed it through true repentance and the diligent transformation of their hearts and lives in accordance with His precepts. There is no other gate, nor any other path to eternal life, as the Lord Jesus, our Guide to Heaven, has laid before us the route of humility, diligence, patience — in essence, the path of the Cross, the one true way of the saints. The gate is narrow, and the way is constricted that leads to life, and few find it. Conversely, the broad gate and the wide path symbolize the life of sinners, lived not in accordance with the spirit and commandments of the Gospel, but rather based on the corrupt inclinations of our nature and the spirit of a world ensnared by evil (1 John 5:19), manipulated by the deceiver of souls, the enemy of our salvation. The broad gates are for those who enter without striving to conquer their passions and cleanse their souls from all sin through fasting, prayer, repentance, and adherence to all of the Lord's commandments, thus yielding themselves to their lustful temptations. This path is expansive, for those who traverse it indulge in excess, luxury, and worldly amusements, paying little heed to the salvation of their souls. The tempter employs every trickery to entice them to remain on this course, presenting various enticing images that spark fleshly desires, material greed, and prideful ambitions (1 John 2:16). Yet these wide gates and this expansive road lead to inevitable destruction, as declared by the eternal Truth itself. With profound compassion, the Savior observes many treading the path of ruin, while few discover the narrow road of salvation and life. He watches them and, with boundless patience, waits for their conversion, warning His faithful followers to avoid emulating the many who are lost. This warning is crucial for nothing sways the hearts of individuals, even those with good intentions toward a Christian life who lack experienced, unwavering faith in Christ, quite like the misleading example of the crowd. The tempter frequently succeeds in weakening our determination to turn back to God, trying to convince us that the narrow path of salvation, opened by Jesus Christ, is unattainable, and portraying the genuinely pious and virtuous Christian life as filled with sorrow and hardship. However, true prosperity and joy on earth belong to the virtuous and the saints who endeavor to uphold the Lord's commandments. The Savior invites, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30). Hearken, brethren, to the compassionate voice of boundless love, as our Redeemer undertakes the divine labor for our salvation, making our virtuous and godly life joyful. He bore our sins so that His saving commandments may rest lightly upon us. Can His infinitely loving heart impose burdensome commands? His commandments are not burdensome (1 John 5:3), declares His beloved disciple John. Why do many find them so? Perhaps because we are reluctant to learn meekness and humility solely from Him. Feeling the weight of our sins, we fail to approach Him with a contrite heart to lay down the heavy yoke of sin at His cross. In essence, we do not love Him as we ought, if we truly seek salvation and life in Him. When we love Him with all our heart, following Him becomes easier, and the sorrows encountered along the path of the cross turn sweet. In the grand scheme, how insignificant are the temporary trials and labor we experience compared to the promise of eternal joy and glory afforded to us by our Lord Jesus! Is it befitting for a soldier of an earthly king to falter amid the challenges of battle, especially when victory is assured? Brothers and soldiers of Christ, it is better to perish heroically on the journey to eternal life and glory than to live in negligence and indifference towards the salvation of our souls, which lead to destruction.

Therefore, those who journey down this restricted path must be vigilant against any straying, adhering closely to the commands of the Lord, as it is written, ‘You shall not turn aside to the right or to the left (Deuteronomy 17:11).’

St. Philaret elaborates that this journey often traverses the rivers of tears—blessed are those who mourn—or the desert of spiritual poverty—blessed are the poor in spirit—or through the wilderness of humiliation—blessed are the rejected; on this road, we encounter mortal peril. The one who loses their soul for My sake will find it, and at times, separation from those closest to us may be necessary, as the Lord states, for I have come to turn a man against his father. This path is indeed narrow and fraught with difficulty: the holy ascetics have drenched it with their sweat, and the holy martyrs with their blood.

Saint Elijah Minyatii expresses that anyone who walks with pride and arrogance will not be able to proceed unless they lower themselves in humility: narrow is the gate and narrow is the way! Those who are satisfied with earthly possessions will not enter, unless they subject their bodies to fasting and labor: narrow is the gate and narrow is the way! Those burdened with unnecessary possessions, who do not share with their neighbors, will also struggle unless they reduce their hoard: narrow is the gate and narrow is the way! Entry into Paradise requires much toil, sweat, and endurance through suffering: through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22). Anyone who seeks comfort and ease, who cannot withstand a single word of criticism, will not find their way into Paradise: the gate there is narrow and the way is arduous.

And few, the Saviour notes (oh, how few there are), will discover it! Among those few, some are just beginning their journey, others are in the midst of it, while some fall at the very end. The path is undeniably narrow, but it is essential for anyone desiring to access the Kingdom of Heaven. You will not be granted entry wearing the old garment of sin; that must be discarded. In what manner, you ask? Blessed Augustine provides insight: ‘Observe the serpent: to shed its old skin, it must pass through a narrow opening. Where might such a narrow opening be found? Listen: the narrow gate of sorrows leads to life...’ The Venerable Theodora expressed that just as trees cannot yield fruit without enduring winter storms and rains, so too in this present age, which is akin to winter, we can only become heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven through numerous trials and tribulations.

If the journey to the Kingdom of Heaven is constricted, one may wonder why the Lord states elsewhere, My yoke is good and My burden is light? St. John Chrysostom poses this question and offers his own answer: ‘This path is indeed manageable, for it involves a way and a gate; on it, nothing stands still, as all sorrow and joy in life are fleeting. ‘The one who experiences offences,’ notes the blessed Theophylact, ‘is merely passing through gates. Likewise, the one who indulges in pleasures is just traveling a temporary road. Yet, since both conditions are transient, we should choose the better.’

Blessed Augustine explains that the gates to the Kingdom of Heaven are not inherently narrow; rather, we constrict them through our pride, leading us to despair over our inability to enter, lamenting the barriers. How might we ease our souls? We must partake of the cup of humility, though it may be bitter, yet it is healing. ‘As water that is constrained rises, so too does the soul, pressed by troubles and through repentance rise to God and find salvation,’ declares the Venerable John the Ladder-bearer. Thus, a God-fearing woman, overwhelmed with sorrow, when questioned by an elder about her tears, replied, ‘I weep because I have forgotten God, and God has forgotten me; for three years, due to my sins, He has not sent me any sorrow...’ She viewed tribulation as a profound mercy from God. St. Paul referred to tribulation as light, as St. Chrysostom interprets, not because of the adversity itself, but due to the resolve of ascetics and the hope for future blessings. Therefore, let us not despair when we encounter misfortunes along the way of life. The Lord labeled the path as difficult to rouse wandering souls from their slumber. While the way may be unfortunate and the gates narrow, the destination they lead to is anything but!