The wide and the narrow gate (1) - All The Good Seed Daily Devotionals for 2026

The Good Seed - Tuesday, June 10, 2025
by GBV Dillenburg GmbH

Details

The wide and the narrow gate (1)

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. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:13

The wide and the narrow gate (1)
These words from the Sermon on the Mount are addressed by Jesus to His disciples, His followers. It is as if He wants to rob them (and thus also us today) of an illusion. Jesus is challenging them to make a decision. He speaks of two gates, two ways or paths, two destinations and two groups. He directly calls for a decision: “Enter by the narrow gate”. Only then does He describe the image, naming the beginning, the way and the goal.

Everything fits through the wide gate: art and culture, sport, pleasure and entertainment. This gate is inviting, comfortable and easy to find. Everyone passes through it from birth. You can even find the respectable, the successful and the religious here, but also those who have stumbled and fallen. There are those who are proud of themselves as well as those who have given up. No one is rejected – there is room for everyone in the wide gate. But obviously it is a dangerous passage, because the gate leads “to destruction”. Is everyone who passes through it aware of this?

The narrow gate is quite different. It is narrow, small and more difficult to find. Moreover, it isn’t very inviting. Those who enter have to give up their own ideas. “Good works” that are supposed to secure someone a place in heaven cannot pass through here. Going through the narrow gate has to do with the recognition and confession of sins, with rebirth and conversion and “repentance toward God” (Acts 20:21).

I have entered the wide gate by birth; to enter the narrow gate, on the other hand, I have to consciously decide. Jesus Christ invites me: “I am the door; if anyone enters by Me, he will be saved” (John 10:9).

(to be continued tomorrow)

Today’s reading: Genesis 42:9-26 · Psalms 28:1-9

More From Our Daily Devotional Archives

The LORD is near
for Saturday, December 21, 2013
by Jacob Redekop, Brian Reynolds, John van Dijk, Eugene P. Vedder Jr

Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways

Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His waysBehold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the...More

Open Heavens
for Saturday, February 8, 2014
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

ACCEPTED TIME 2

God is never too early and He is never too late. His timetable is set on purpose; the purpose is not only for your sake but also for His. In all things, His name shall be glorified. No doubt, He would have been glorified healing Lazarus of his sickness, but this can't compare to raising him from the dead after four...More

Open Heavens
for Monday, February 28, 2017
by Pastor E.A Adeboye

IMPEDIMENTS TO PRAYER

Read:
. He is looking for those who are ready and committed to walking in His footsteps. God is holy, and He has called us to holy living. We are to do as He commands because we are the light of the world. God in Heaven is glorified when our light shines in the midst of the darkness of this world. If you...More

The Good Seed
for Monday, January 4, 2022
by GBV Dillenburg GmbH

Standing in the limelight

Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern for all who are going to believe on him for everlasting life.
1 Timothy 1:15.16.

Standing in the...More