​Matthew 7:13 & 14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult (narrow) is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”
 
The Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5:1-7:28 is an exposition by Jesus Christ on living for the Kingdom of Heaven, also called the Kingdom of God.  The Lord was primarily speaking to His disciples (Matthew 5:1), though there was a crowd of people gathered around them listening.  It was not, as some have taught, an evangelistic sermon.  He would not have started an evangelistic message by calling His audience the salt and light of the world.  According to Matthew 4:17 His focus was preparing Israel for the Kingdom.  the context is always a key consideration in determining the meaning of a passage. 
 
so, in determining what the narrow and wide gates and ways stand for, we have to look to the context of the sermon.  The Body of this Sermon, which begins in Matthew 5:21, presents us with a series of contrasts between the conventional teachings of the Rabbi’s and the true words of Jesus Christ.  The Lord started with the format of “you have heard that it was said” followed by “but I say to you.”  Then in chapter 6 He switched to a more direct line of “how to” instructions on charitable deeds, prayer, fasting and wraps up with contrasting faith and worry.  Just prior to the short passage on the gates and ways Christ focused on dependence on God.   He followed Matthew 7:13 & 14 with a warning to avoid false teachers.  He also pointed to the end for those who depend on good works to earn their place in the Kingdom.
 
Therefore, based on that analysis of the Sermon, I believe it is clear that the wide gate and wide path is following the conventional teaching of working your way into the Kingdom.  The narrow gate is the way of faith.   I would point you to the summary statement on which Jesus Christ ended this sermon. 
Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
 
 
The Narrow Gate is entered by faith, believing the promise of Jesus Christ for everlasting life and entrance into the Kingdom.  The Narrow way is believing and living by His words in this sermon.  He spelled out living by faith in Matthew 6:1-7:12.     

​There are times when the Lord made reference to the disciples having little faith.  One example is found in Matthew 8:23-27.  Little faith translates a single compound word in the original language, oligospistos.  Oligos means small as in number or size.  Pistos means belief or faith and is the noun form of Pisteuo, the verb to believe.  Pistos or faith, being a noun, refers to what is believed.  It is not describing the intensity or strength by which it is held.  So, when Jesus Christ said the disciples had little faith, He was saying their belief structure was limited in content or range.    
 
The context makes that clear.  In Matthew 8:18 the Lord had instructed the disciples to set out in a boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.  As they were making the crossing the wind picked up and with it the waves.  They were apparently taking on water and the men were afraid they would be swamped.  The Lord was sleeping but they woke Him up saying “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”  And Jesus Christ replied, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”  Now, based on their words I have no doubt they believed Jesus could save them and I’m sure they strongly held that belief.  So, what could Christ have meant by saying their faith was small? 
 
Let’s go back to v. 18 where the Lord had instructed them to take the boat to the other side of the lake.  When Jesus Christ, being God, says we’re going to cross the lake it means they were going to cross the lake.  When they woke Him up, they had not yet reached the other side.  Therefore, the boat was not going to sink.  At least not until they had reached the other shore.  We are to believe, life by, every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.  They forgot that and so the Lord referred to their faith as little.   
 
Summary:  Believe means to be persuaded something is true.  It is a simple either/or process.  You either believe a proposition is true or you don’t.  There are no degrees of believing.  Belief or faith is the what of believing, the object or content.  Those distinctions are important because confusion on their meaning will rob you of the fullness of joy the Lord wants for you.  The secret to avoiding little faith is to read your Bible. Learn about all that God has promised, 2 Peter 1:2-4.  

How do I know I have truly believed in Jesus Christ and have eternal life?  A lot of people wrestle with that question likely due to the confusing way Salvation is often presented.  They hear things like everlasting life is a free gift from God through faith which is quickly followed by some additional condition that must be fulfilled.  Such as if your life hasn’t changed in some particular way then you haven’t actually or truly believed.  I heard one pastor say it this way, if you aren’t different then you haven’t got it.  It being everlasting life. 

Those who say such things are basically presenting two false concepts.  The first being you cannot trust what you believe.  Why, because there is apparently more than one way to believe something.  That is what they are implying when using terms like genuine faith, saving faith and truly believe.  I know it sounds absurd but using those terms suggest there is a way to believe something while not actually believing it.  The second error is they slander the Creator God.  When Jesus Christ told Nicodemus “whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” He (Jesus Christ) didn’t actually mean it.  If that is the case then abandon all hope for we have nothing for which to live.    

Jesus Christ said we can trust the word of God.  He asserted the Bible is completely trustworthy.  So, accepting that as true, here is something that sheds light on the Biblical concept of believing.  I have not found a single place in the Gospels where the word believe is modified by an adverb.  I find it significant that Jesus Christ always spoke of believing as if it was a binary function.  You either believe or you don’t.  Some references you can check out for yourself in the Gospel of John: John 1:2, 3:16, 5:24, 6:29, 6:47, 11:25-26.  These verses deal specifically with receiving everlasting life, but you will find the same thing true of the Lord’s other uses of the word believe. 
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For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast Ephesians 2:8 & 9.  If you have believed in Jesus Christ for everlasting life then He has given you everlasting life.  You have only to look to His words for the assurance you have life.  We rest in His promise not what we do.