Wide and Narrow

“Pass through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many pass through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

“Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?”

Jesus answered, “Make every effort to pass through the narrow door and get into the house. Because many, I tell you, will try to enter the house and will not be able. After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’

“But the master of the house will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’

“Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

“And the master of the house will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’

“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

(See Matthew 7:13-14; Luke 13:23-30)

-