Matthew 7:13

Enter ye in. In vs. 13 and 14 Jesus formally invites His audience to accept His principles as the working policy of their lives, and points out to them the way to begin, and where to begin. He is the “door” (John 10:7, 9) and the “way” (John 14:6). He who would enter into the kingdom of heaven, who would “have life” and “have it more abundantly,” must needs enter by Him; there is no other way (John 10:7-10). Compare Luke 13:24.

Strait. Gr. stenos, “narrow.” “Strait” must not be confused with “straight.” The gate stands at the beginning of the way, not at the end. It is narrow, and through it may pass only that which is essential to the journey along the way. Anciently the gates of cities were closed at sunset, and since the cities were often situated atop hills or precipitous rocks, the path that led upward to the gates was often narrow. He who would enter before the closing of the gate must “strive” by persevering effort up the pathway that leads home, to be in time “to enter in” (see Luke 13:24).

Broad is the way. The concept of the “two ways” appears often (see Deut. 11:26; 30:15; Jer. 21:8; cf. Ps. 1).