SEV Biblia, Chapter 7:14
Porque estrecha es la puerta, y angosto el camino que lleva a la vida; y pocos son los que lo hallan.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:14
Verse 14. Because strait is the gate] Instead of oti because, I should prefer ti 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 produced by injustice and unkindness. Reason, as well as God, says, such people should be excluded from a place of blessedness. He who shows no mercy (and much more he who shows no justice) shall have judgment without mercy. James ii. 13. Few there be that find it.] The strait gate, stenh pulh, signifies literally what we call a wicket, i.e. a little door in a large gate. Gate, among the Jews, signifies, metaphorically, the entrance, introduction, or means of acquiring any thing. So they talk of the gate of repentance, the gate of prayers, and the gate of tears. When God, say they, shut the gate of paradise against Adam, He opened to him the gate of repentance. The way to the kingdom of God is made sufficiently manifest-the completest assistance is promised in the way, and the greatest encouragement to persevere to the end is held out in the everlasting Gospel. But men are so wedded to their own passions, and so determined to follow the imaginations of their own hearts, that still it may be said: There are few who find the way to heaven; fewer yet who abide any time in it; fewer still who walk in it; and fewest of all who persevere unto the end. Nothing renders this way either narrow or difficult to any person, but sin. Let all the world leave their sins, and all the world may walk abreast in this good way.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 14. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way , etc.] And so, difficult to enter in at; and when entered, the way is unpleasant to the flesh to walk in, being hedged up on each side with afflictions and tribulations; and moreover, is like the narrow place, or stenov topov , the strait place, as the Septuagint in ( Numbers 22:26) render it; in which the angel that met Balaam stood; and in which there was no turning to the right hand or the left; and such is the way to eternal happiness. The great encouragement to walk on in it is, because it is that way which leadeth unto life : unto eternal life: it certainly leads thither; it never fails of bringing persons to it; believers in Christ, all that walk in Christ the way, though they are said to be scarcely saved, by reason of their afflictions and trials, they meet with in their way to the kingdom; yet they are, and shall be certainly saved: they shall be safely brought to glory; which will be an abundant recompense for all the troubles and sorrows that have attended them in their journey. And few there be that find it ; the way, and so consequently the life it leads to. The gate is strait; small and little, and so unobserved: there is but one way to heaven, and the generality of men neglect it. The way is narrow, and so disagreeable; the company few, and not engaging. Men choose large gates, broad ways, and much company. The flesh loves to walk at liberty, unconfined, and uncontrolled, and with a multitude to do evil: hence, Zions ways are thin of passengers; a small number, comparatively speaking, walk thereto, and will be saved; a remnant, a little flock, a little city, and few men in it. It is asked in the Talmud f478 , why is the world to come created with jod? (the least of the letters in the Hebrew alphabet) the answer is, because yj[wm wb yqydx , the righteous which are in it are few.
Some read the words, as the Syriac, Arabic, and Vulgate Latin, with a note of admiration, how strait is the gate! etc. and so some copies.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 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 towar 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 ourselve 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 act accordingly. There are but two ways right an wrong, good and evil; the way to heaven and the way to hell; in the on or other of these all are walking: there is no middle place hereafter no middle way now. All the children of men are saints or sinners, godl or ungodly. See concerning the way of sin and sinners, that the gate i wide, and stands open. You may go in at this gate with all your lust about you; it gives no check to appetites or passions. It is a broa way; there are many paths in it; there is choice of sinful ways. Ther is a large company in this way. But what profit is there in being willing to go to hell with others, because they will not go to heave with us? The way to eternal life is narrow. We are not in heaven a soon as we are got through the strait gate. Self must be denied, the body kept under, and corruptions mortified. Daily temptations must be resisted; duties must be done. We must watch in all things, and wal with care; and we must go through much tribulation. And yet this wa should invite us all; it leads to life: to present comfort in the favour of God, which is the life of the soul; to eternal bliss, the hope of which at the end of our way, should make all the difficultie of the road easy to us. This plain declaration of Christ has bee disregarded by many who have taken pains to explain it away; but in all ages the real disciple of Christ has been looked on as a singular unfashionable character; and all that have sided with the greate number, have gone on in the broad road to destruction. If we woul serve God, we must be firm in our religion. Can we often hear of the strait gate and the narrow way, and how few there are that find it without being in pain for ourselves, or considering whether we ar entered on the narrow way, and what progress we are making in it?
Greek Textus Receptus
οτι 3754 CONJ στενη 4728 A-NSF η 3588 T-NSF πυλη 4439 N-NSF και 2532 CONJ τεθλιμμενη 2346 5772 V-RPP-NSF η 3588 T-NSF οδος 3598 N-NSF η 3588 T-NSF απαγουσα 520 5723 V-PAP-NSF εις 1519 PREP την 3588 T-ASF ζωην 2222 N-ASF και 2532 CONJ ολιγοι 3641 A-NPM εισιν 1526 5748 V-PXI-3P οι 3588 T-NPM ευρισκοντες 2147 5723 V-PAP-NPM αυτην 846 P-ASF
