Why is the gate that leads to destruction wide (Matthew 7:13)?

Response

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), the Lord illustrates two gates, one wide and one narrow. Jesus explains to His audience that to witness and engage in His forthcoming kingdom, one must possess genuine inner righteousness, not just an outward compliance with a set of laws. The scribes and Pharisees were promoting a salvation based on works, claiming that following the law was the way to be righteous in God’s eyes. Jesus refutes this notion directly, stating emphatically that unless someone’s righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, they will not enter the kingdom of heaven “For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”, (Matthew 5:20).

In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus depicts two gates: the wide gate—chosen by many—that leads to destruction “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.”, (Matthew 7:13); and the narrow gate—taken by few—that leads to life “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”, (Matthew 7:14). One gate is wide to accommodate the multitude heading towards destruction, while the other is narrow to symbolize the few who seek and discover life. Jesus urges His listeners to enter through the narrow gate rather than striving to enter through the wide gate.

The wide gate was endorsed by those who were teachingIn teaching about righteousness, Jesus contrasted the broad gate, which gave the appearance of righteousness but lacked true righteousness, with the narrow gate, which led to the kingdom of heaven. The scribes, Pharisees, and other false teachers claimed that one could enter heaven by being related to Abraham and Moses or by following the Law of Moses. Jesus, however, emphasized the narrow gate as the way to enter the kingdom, representing the path of genuine righteousness. This kind of righteousness would bring glory to God rather than to the individual performing good deeds: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

While the scribes and Pharisees focused on external actions such as avoiding murder, Jesus taught that one’s inner attitude toward others reflected true character, as seen in Matthew 5:21-26. The standard set by Jesus was perfection, as stated, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). The wide gate leading to destruction, described in Matthew 7:13, represented the belief that one could be good enough through their own efforts. Jesus clarified that the standard was perfection, which no one could attain on their own. Humility was essential, as highlighted in the verse, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3).

Reflect on (Matthew 5:3) and acknowledge that people realized they needed assistance to be righteous – they needed a Savior.

The wide gate, which leads to destruction, suggests that loving those who love us is sufficient. In contrast, the narrow gate requires us to love even those who persecute and hate us (Matthew 5:44-47). The wide gate symbolizes self-reliance and is associated with conventional morals. On the other hand, the narrow gate, leading to life, is characterized by exceptional acts of kindness that go beyond typical human behavior. The standard for righteousness (perfection) is unattainable for us, and we are incapable of achieving such righteousness through our own efforts. Instead, we must depend on Jesus to be our righteousness.

Paul helps us comprehend how Jesus bore our sins and bestowed His righteousness upon us “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21), enabling us to be reconciled with God “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Paul emphasizes that salvation is not attained through works but by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9). If the wide gate leading to destruction also led to life, we could boast about earning our place in heaven through our deeds. In that scenario, we would receive the credit instead of God. By making the path to life narrow, God reveals His love, grace, and His immeasurable worth.

Trust and praise are essential elements of our relationship.