Matthew 7:13-14, part of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and it reads:
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
The passage emphasizes the importance of making conscious and disciplined choices to live a life aligned with God’s will. The “narrow gate” symbolizes the path of righteousness and faith, which is challenging and requires effort and dedication. In contrast, the “wide gate” represents the easy, worldly path that leads to spiritual destruction and separation from God.
The wide and narrow gates are metaphors. We all start on the path toward the wide gate. The narrow gate being hard to find doesn’t mean God is hard to find. God is accessible to everyone through creation, scripture, prayer, and the longing in our hearts.
It means we make choices and the discipline required to live according to God’s teachings. It’s less about God’s presence being hard to find and more about the challenge of staying on the “narrow path” amidst life’s distractions and temptations.
The narrow gate metaphor reminds us that while God’s grace is freely given, actively living in faith takes effort and perseverance. It encourages believers to seek and keep God with sincerity and commitment, even when it is difficult or you may doubt God’s existence.
Think of it, in part, of The Road Less Traveled by M. Scott Peck, a book based on the idea that personal growth and fulfillment often come through facing life’s challenges with discipline, responsibility, and grace rather than taking the easy way out.
Peck’s philosophy aligns in some ways with Matthew 7:13-14, as both encourage choosing the path that requires effort and commitment but ultimately leads to deeper rewards-whether spiritual, emotional, or personal. Here, we’re talking spiritual, which leads to growth in all other ways.