What is the Narrow Gate? Biblical Meaning Explained
Summary:
Jesus’ teaching about the Narrow Gate and Wide Gate in Matthew 7:13-14 is one of His most serious warnings. This Bible-based study explains what the Narrow Gate means, why few find it, and how Scripture describes this narrow path that leads to life.
The Narrow Gate Bible Passage
The Narrow Gate in Matthew 7:13–14 represents the path that leads to eternal life. The Wide Gate represents the broad and popular path that leads to destruction — which in biblical context refers to final judgment and eternal separation from God. Jesus contrasts the two to show that following God’s will is not the majority choice.
Matthew 7:13-14
13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
What Does the Narrow Gate Mean?
Jesus’ contrast between the Narrow Gate and the Wide Gate shows that truth is not determined by majority opinion. The broad road represents following popular religious culture without fully embracing God’s will as revealed in Scripture. The narrow path requires sincere obedience to God rather than social Christianity. The "wide gate" verse backs up my views on the churches' deficiencies, as described in my page, Are We True Christians?
Why Only Few Find the Narrow Gate?
It is not that the narrow gate is difficult to find, and the wide gate is easy. It is that the majority of people don't care about truly seeking God, and therefore end up in the wide gate. Only the few that have genuine interest in seeking God will find the narrow gate. If we were to guess at who is in the wide gate, we'll find a combination of: "Churchgoers" that are Christians for the social aspect of it, "Churchgoers" misled by their churches, and non-Christians.
A side note: There are other Bible-versions / interpretations using different terms to describe the narrow gate. Examples, "painful, difficult, or agonizing". I think these are misleading, and not consistent with the rest of the Bible. Those using these terms want to claim that there is some form of paying for our sins here on earth. Which is contradicting to Jesus's teaching, example the Lord's Prayer - we are renewed and forgiven daily; not mixed in with some agony and suffering for us to fully atone for our sins!! This is worse than the Purgatory theology!!
Another verse from Jesus:
Matthew 22:14
“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
Although I am trying hard in this website to help people see the Bible clearly, I think Jesus' statement of "the narrow gate" will stand regardless. This is because only a few people have eyes that see and ears that hear. Do you want to ensure you make it to the narrow gate? Look here: How to Be True Christians.
Does “Few” Contradict Revelation’s "Multitude"?
There is a seemingly contradicting reference from the apostle John in Revelation 7:
Revelation 7:9-10
After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
Before we declare this as contradicting to the "narrow gate", let's look at some world stats. From public records, as of today the total number of people that ever lived on earth since creation is around 117 billion. Even a small fraction of this number (example 1%) would be in billions and would qualify for "a multitude in white robes too numerous to count on judgement day". Thus "the narrow gate" is not contradicting when we put things into perspective.
How to Enter the Narrow Gate
According to Jesus, the sinless cannot enter "the narrow gate"! The one whose sins are forgiven can!
Matthew 5:20 Jesus: "For I tell you that unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."
The Jewish scribes and Pharisees were the role models in perfection and living sinless all their lives. But Jesus told them it's not good enough!! He said they needed to exceed that level of sinless perfection in order to enter heaven! How do we achieve that? We do, by getting our righteousness renewed daily through praying the Lord's Prayer.
This biblical article clarifies the Lord's prayer in a way you've never seen before: The Lord's Prayer is Severely Misunderstood. Pray this daily prayer genuinely and wholeheartedly as explained in this article to receive the Bread of Life and renew the Holy Spirit in you. And you will be in the narrow gate.
The Narrow Gate vs the Wide Gate
Jesus using these specific terms "narrow" and "wide" to describe the picture, clearly means there is a big difference between them. That is, it is not close to half and half, nor even quarter and 3-quarter. It's a bigger difference than that.
So, if 1% of the total population of earth since creation is in Billions, or even 5%, are you in this number? I'm only stirring things up, so you re-evaluate your spiritual status. Look at all the other links on this website and see where you are. Are you in the 5% number (narrow gate)? Or in the 95% number (wide gate)?
The Narrow Gate challenges believers to examine whether their faith is shaped by Scripture or by religious tradition. Jesus warned that many would choose the broad road, not because it is labeled “wrong,” but because it is easier and widely accepted. His teaching calls each person to evaluate their walk with God personally. For more on this, refer to my page, Are We True Christians?
It doesn't matter how happy you are at your church right now. The sun will continue to shine on the "righteous" and the "wicked"; God is not striking down atheists and devil-worshippers either! I would worry about being in the "I never knew you" line at judgment, Matthew 7:23.
Updated 12 February, 2026
Related Subjects:
I Never Knew You. Away From Me You Evildoers (This one is on my Quora space)
The Lord's Prayer is Misunderstood