Matthew 7:14 (YLT)

Passage

how strait <FI>is<Fi> the gate, and compressed the way that is leading to the life, and few are those finding it!

Nearby Context

Matthew 7:12 `All things, therefore, whatever ye may will that men may be doing to you, so also do to them, for this is the law and the prophets.

Matthew 7:13 `Go ye in through the strait gate, because wide <FI>is<Fi> the gate, and broad the way that is leading to the destruction, and many are those going in through it;

Matthew 7:14 how strait <FI>is<Fi> the gate, and compressed the way that is leading to the life, and few are those finding it!

Matthew 7:15 `But, take heed of the false prophets, who come unto you in sheep's clothing, and inwardly are ravening wolves.

Matthew 7:16 From their fruits ye shall know them; do <FI>men<Fi> gather from thorns grapes? or from thistles figs?

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "strait", "gate", "compressed", "leading", "life", and "finding". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "strait" and "gate", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "Go ye in through the strait gate..." into verse 15's "But take heed of the false prophets...", so "strait" and "gate" 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 "strait" and "gate" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.