Matthew 7:13 (LSB)

Passage

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

Nearby Context

Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Matthew 7:12 “Therefore, in all things, whatever you want people to do for you, so do for them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

Matthew 7:14 For the gate is narrow and the way is constricted that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "enter", "through", "narrow", "gate", "wide", "broad", and "leads". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "enter" and "through", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "Therefore in all things whatever you want..." into verse 14's "For the gate is narrow and the...", so "enter" and "through" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "enter" and "through" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.