Matthew 7:14 (WEB)
How narrow is the gate and the way is restricted that leads to life! There are few who find it.
Catechism · 3
"I Believe in Life Everlasting"
“For the gate is narrow and the way is hard, that leads to life, and those who find it are few."” — Catechism footnote: Mt 7:13-14.
The Moral Law
“The Law of the Gospel requires us to make the decisive choice between "the two ways" and to put into practice the words of the Lord.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 7:13-14,21-27.
In the Fullness of Time
“He can ask us to "seek" and to "knock," since he himself is the door and the way.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Mt 7:7-11, 13-14.
Fathers and councils · 37
Origen
- Origen, Against Celsus VI.16Book VI
“…with a rich man, and what signification the “narrow eye of a needle” had for him who saw that “strait and narrow was the way that leadeth unto life;” and to this point also, that this animal. according to the law, is described as “unclean,” having one element of acceptability, viz. that it ruminates, but one…” — editor's note: Cf. Matt. vii. 14.
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Jerome
“vii. 14.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment“The Bridegroom cannot be found in the streets: “Strait and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life.”” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 14.
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Catena Aurea on Luke
- Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Luke
“(Matt. 7:14.)” — the author cites it
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Cyril of Jerusalem
“In like manner enter thou also through the strait and narrow gate: rub off thy former self by fasting, and drive out that which is destroying thee.” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 13, 14.
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Eusebius of Caesarea
“Now some of the seven sects, which existed among the people and which have been mentioned by me in the Memoirs, asked him, ‘What is the gate of Jesus?’ and he replied that he was the Saviour.” — editor's note: For a discussion of this very difficult question, whose interpretation has puzzled all commentators, see Routh Rel. Sac. I. p. 434 sq., and Heinichen’s Mel.…
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Hippolytus of Rome
““And they went out at privy doors;” showing thus by anticipation, that he who desires to partake of the water in the garden must renounce the broad gate, and enter by the strait and narrow.” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 13, 14.
Read the whole comment“For few, he says, there are that journey by the narrow path.” — editor's note: Reference is here made to Matt. vii. 14.
Read the whole comment“Concerning these, it is said, the Saviour has expressly declared that “straight and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life, and few there are that enter upon it; whereas broad and spacious is the way that leadeth unto destruction, and many there are that pass through it.”” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 13, 14.
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Augustine of Hippo
“Now, thy way is narrow; and “few there be” that enter in through it: but into how ample a field it comes at the last, thou oughtest to consider.” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 13, 14.
Read the whole comment“Thou hast taken “our goings out of Thy way;” and hast shown us how “strait and narrow is the way that leadeth unto life.”” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 14.
Read the whole comment“Nevertheless a longing in heart must needs be; nor doth any man suffer this longing, but he that hath begun to walk in that narrow way: in order that he may know that there are not wanting to the Church persecutions, even in this time, when a calm is seen in the Church, at least with respect to…” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 14.
Read the whole comment“…the way wherein we are walking (if indeed we do walk in it), how narrow it is, and how through straits and tribulations it leadeth unto rest everlasting, and how that very thing which in human affairs is called felicity, is more to be feared than misery; since indeed misery ofttimes doth bring out of tribulation…” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 14.
Read the whole comment“He that showed us the narrow way, hath taught us to follow it.…” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 14.
Read the whole comment“…its own voice; but if it is without suffering, let it also be without the voice; but that it may not be without suffering, let it walk along the narrow way, and begin to live godly in Christ: it must of necessity suffer this persecution.” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 14.
Read the whole comment“And this he calleth a “path,” because “the way is narrow which leadeth unto life;” and since it is narrow, we cannot run therein save with a heart enlarged.…” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 14.
Read the whole comment“In another place He saith Himself, “Strait and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that go thereby: but broad and spacious is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which walk thereby.”” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 13, 14.
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John Chrysostom
“For it is a declaration of Christ, that the wide and broad way leads to destruction, but the strait and narrow one to life. ( Matt. vii. 13, 14 .)” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment““Narrow is the way” ( Matt. vii. 14 ), so that affliction thrusts us into the narrow [way].” — the author cites it
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Theodoret of Cyrus
“…and “The time cometh when whosoever killeth you will think he doeth God service,” and “Straight is the gate and narrow the way which leadeth unto life,” and “When they persecute you in this city flee you into another,” and I might quote all similar passages.” — editor's note: Matth. vii. 14
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Leo the Great
“But that this may be properly observed and guarded, the integrity of the catholic Faith must first of all be preserved, and, because in all cases “narrow” and steep “is the way that leadeth unto life,” there must be no deviation from its track, either to the right hand or to the left.” — editor's note: S. Matt. vii. 14.
Read the whole comment““For narrow and steep is the way which leads to life.”” — editor's note: S. Matt. vii. 14.
Read the whole comment“And thus is perfectly fulfilled that assurance of the Truth, by which we learn that “narrow and steep is the way that leads to life;” and whilst the breadth of the way that leads to death is crowded with a large company, the steps are few of those that tread the path of safety.” — editor's note: S. Matt. vii. 14.
Read the whole comment“…Divine power shall make those things possible which are to man impossible from his own lack of power: “for narrow and strait is the way which leadeth unto life,” and no one could set foot on it, no one could advance one step, unless Christ by making Himself the Way unbarred the difficulties of approach: and thus the…” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 14.
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Basil the Great
““Here is the strait and narrow way which leadeth unto life.”” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 14.
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Tertullian
“More easily, it may be, through the “strait gate” of salvation will slenderer flesh enter; more speedily will lighter flesh rise; longer in the sepulchre will drier flesh retain its firmness.” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 13, 14; Luke xiii. 24.
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“And even if this may not be, it would still be a great thing, at least as it appears to me, to travel excellently along even one.—“You are right in your conception.”—What then when you hear there is but One way, and that a narrow one, does the word seem to you to shew?” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 14.
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Catena Aurea on Matthew
- Rabanus MaurusCatena Aurea on Matthew
“But how is Christ’s yoke pleasant, seeing it was said above, “Narrow is the way which leadeth unto life?” [Matt 7:14] That which is entered upon by a narrow entrance is in process of time made broad by the unspeakable sweetness of love.” — the author cites it
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on Matthew
The Lord had warned us above to have a heart single and pure with which to seek God; but as this belongs to but few, He begins to speak of finding out wisdom. For the searching out and contemplation whereof there has…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
Though it be hard to do to another what you would have done to yourself; yet so must we do, that we may enter the strait gate.
Read the whole comment - Pseudo-ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
Otherwise; This third precept again is connected with the right method of fasting, and the order of discourse will be this; “But thou when thou fastest anoint thy head;” and after comes, “Enter ye in at the strait…
Read the whole comment - Glossa OrdinariaCatena Aurea on Matthew
Though love be wide, yet it leads men from the earth through difficult and steep ways. It is sufficiently difficult to cast aside all other things, and to love One only, not to aim at prosperity, not to fear adversity.
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on Matthew
But seeing He declares below, “My yoke is pleasant, and my burden light,” how is it that He says here that the way is strait and narrow? Even here He teaches that it is light and pleasant; for here is a way and a…
Read the whole comment - JeromeCatena Aurea on Matthew
Attend to the words, for they have an especial force, “many walk” in the broad way - “few find” the narrow way. For the broad way needs no search, and is not found, but presents itself readily; it is the way of all…
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John Cassian
“For “strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be which find it.”” — editor's note: Acts xiv. 22; S. Matt. vii. 14.
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Clement of Alexandria
“And it is to the “violent that the kingdom of God belongs.”” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 14, xi. 12, vii. 7.
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Cyprian of Carthage
“On this same subject, according to Matthew: “How broad and spacious is the way which leadeth unto death, and many there are who go in thereby: how straight and narrow is the way that leadeth to life, and few there are that find it!”” — editor's note: Matt. vii. 13, 14.
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Cross-references · 43
Cited together in Against Celsus VI.16.
Cited together in Against Celsus VI.16.
Cited together in Catechism §1036.
Cited together in Church History II.23.
Cited together in Catechism §1036.
Cited together in Catechism §1036.
Cited together in Catechism §1036.
Cited together in Catechism §1036.
Cited together in Against Celsus VI.16.
Cited together in Church History II.23.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 61.
Cited together in Catechism §1970.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 61.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 13:22–30 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 13:22–30 (Catena Aurea) and 1 other place.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 13:22–30 (Catena Aurea) and 1 other place.
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 13:22–30 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Augustine of Hippo on Luke 13:22–30 (Catena Aurea).
Cited together in Against Celsus VI.16.
Cited together in Catechism §1970.
Cited together in Catechism §1970.
Cited together in Letters Letter 123.
Cited together in Church History II.23.
Cited together in Church History II.23.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 49.
Cited together in Exegetical Fragments §24.
Cited together in Letters Letter 123.
Cited together in Catechism §1036.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 49.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 61.
Cited together in Exegetical Fragments §24.
Cited together in Church History II.23.
Cited together in Exegetical Fragments §24.
Cited together in The Stromata, or Miscellanies IV.2.
Cited together in Sermons on New Testament Lessons Sermon 61.
Cited together in Exegetical Fragments §24.
Cited together in Exegetical Fragments §24.
Cited together in The Institutes IV.38.
Cited together in Sermons Sermon 49.
Cited together in Exegetical Fragments §24.
Cited together in Church History II.23.
Cited together in Exegetical Fragments §24.
Cited together in Church History II.23.