Choosing the Narrow Way

Reading: Matthew 7:1–14

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” 

 Matthew 7:13–14

In the closing words of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus places before us a defining choice: two gates, two roads, and two ultimate destinations. The wide road is easy, crowded, and socially reinforced, requiring little reflection and even less resistance as it drifts toward destruction. The narrow road, however, demands intentionality. As Jesus teaches in Matthew 7, this path is marked by a refusal to judge others (vv. 1–5), a persistence in seeking God through prayer (vv. 7–11), and a commitment to the Golden Rule (v. 12). It is not narrow because God is stingy with grace, but because the virtues of love, truth, and humility always require a narrow focus and a total surrender of the self.

Choosing life often means choosing against the current of modern culture. It is the difficult trade of discipline over indulgence, forgiveness over resentment, and obedience over the hollow sound of human applause. Jesus does not describe the narrow way as glamorous; He describes it as life-giving. While the crowd moves quickly and comfortably, the disciple walks attentively, understanding that following Christ requires intentional choices that prioritize God's kingdom over personal convenience. As Psalm 1 reminds us, the blessed person does not “walk in step with the wicked” but delights in the law of the Lord.

Ultimately, the narrow way is not about achieving perfection, but about maintaining the right direction. It invites us to pause at the crossroads of our daily routines and ask: "Am I following Christ’s way, or the crowd’s way?" By choosing the "small gate," we are stripping away the heavy baggage of pride and self-interest to fit through the only entrance that leads to vibrant, eternal life. Though the path may be traveled by few, it is the only road that ends in the presence of the Father. Our task is to ask daily: Whose voice am I following?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, guide our steps on Your narrow path today. Give us the discernment to see the traps of the broad road and the courage to follow You faithfully, even when we feel we are walking alone. Strengthen our hearts to choose Your will over our own comfort. Amen.