matthew-7:13-14

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 7:13

(13) Enter ye in at the strait gate.—The figure was possibly suggested by some town actually in sight. Safed, the “city set on a hill,” or some other, with the narrow pathway leading to the yet narrower gate, the “needle’s eye” of the city, through which the traveller entered. Such, at any rate, was the picture which the words presented. A like image had been used before, with a singular coincidence of language, in the allegory known as the Tablet of Cebes, the Disciple of Socrates: “Seest thou... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Matthew 7:14

(14) Narrow is the way.—Literally, pressed, or hemmed in between walls or rocks, like the pathway in a mountain gorge.Which leadeth unto life.—Noteworthy as the first passage in our Lord’s recorded teaching in which the word “life” appears as summing up all the blessedness of the kingdom. The idea is developed as we advance; the life becomes “eternal,” and finally we are taught that the eternal life consists in the true and perfect knowledge of God and Christ (John 17:2-3).Few there be that... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Matthew 7:1-29

Matthew 7:1 'Next week, it is still but the 10th of April, there comes a new nineteen' to the guillotine; 'Chaumette, Gobel, Hébert's widow, the widow of Camille: these also roll their fated journey; black Death devours them.... For Anaxagoras Chaumette, the sleek head now stripped of its bonnet rouge , what hope is there? Unless Death were "an eternal sleep"? Wretched Anaxagoras, God shall judge thee, not I. Carlyle, French Revolution, Vol. III. book vi. chap. iii. For myself, I no more... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:1-29

Chapter 7The Gospel of the Kingdom("Sermon on the Mount") - Matthew 5:1-48; Matthew 6:1-34; Matthew 7:1-29IT may seem almost heresy to object to the time-honoured title "Sermon on the Mount"; yet, so small has the word "sermon" become, on account of its application to those productions of which there is material for a dozen in single sentences of this great discourse, that there is danger of belittling it by the use of a title which suggests even the remotest relationship to these ephemeral... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Matthew 7:1-29

CHAPTER 7 1. The Judgment of Righteousness.(Matthew 7:1-14 .) 2. Warning against False Prophets.( Matthew 7:15-20 .) 3. Warning against False Professors. (Matthew 7:21-29 .) The chapter which follows contains the last words of the great discourse of our Lord. The contents of this chapter are very instructive and form a most fitting end of the declaration of the King. The first few verses contain a warning against judging. We have in the beginning of the chapter something which is... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Matthew 7:13

7:13 {5} 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:(5) The example of life must not be taken from the multitude. read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - Matthew 7:14

7:14 Because {c} strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.(c) The way is straight and narrow: we must pass through this rough way and suffer, endure, be changed and so enter into life. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 7:1-29

Simple honesty will understand these first five verses without difficulty. The word "judge" is used in various different ways in Scripture. Believers are told to "judge" what Paul says (1 Corinthians 10:15), that is, to discern for themselves what is right. The assembly is told to "judge them that are within" (1 Corinthians 5:12), which involves administering righteously and maintaining proper order in the church. In certain cases therefore we are responsible to judge. But here the Lord... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Matthew 7:1-29

THE CODE OF THE KINGDOM The King has announced His kingdom at hand, and now declares the laws or code of that Kingdom. These which we began to speak of in the last lesson, have a two-fold application, ultimately to the Kingdom when it shall be set up, and approximately and in an accommodated sense to the Christian at present. Except at the first of these is kept in mind, confusion and uncertainty must attend the interpretation. We have two figurative descriptions of disciples, “Salt” and... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Matthew 7:13-14

Chapter 26 The Straitness of the Gate Seeking and Not Entering the Eleventh Commandment the Exhortation Prayer Almighty God, our hearts know thee, and in their deepest love is thy name set as their one jewel and treasure. We cannot understand thee, but we can love thee; thou dost not come into our intelligence or sit down in our understanding, thou knockest at the door of our heart, and into its love thou dost come with all readiness, bringing with thee all heaven. Our hearts are towards thee... read more