Understanding Matthew 7:13 & 14

​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.