Matthew 7:13 - An Understandable Version (2005 edition) “You should enter [God’s kingdom] by means of the narrow door, for the wide door and the broad road are the ones that lead to [spiritual and physical] destruction. And many people will enter [that wide door]. More versionsKing James Version (Oxford) 1769 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Amplified Bible - Classic Edition Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it. American Standard Version (1901) Enter ye in by the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many are they that enter in thereby. Common English Bible “Go in through the narrow gate. The gate that leads to destruction is broad and the road wide, so many people enter through it. Catholic Public Domain Version Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the way, which leads to perdition, and many there are who enter through it. Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version Enter ye in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there are who go in thereat. |
“But it is too bad for you hypocritical experts in the Law of Moses and [you] Pharisees! [It is] because you withhold the kingdom of heaven from people, for you do not enter it yourselves, nor [do you] allow those who are trying to enter it to get in.
Then He [i.e., the King] will say to those at His left side, ‘Go away from me, you who are cursed [by God], into the never ending fire which is prepared for the devil and his angels.
And these [i.e., the ones at His left side] will go away to never ending punishment, but those who did what was right will go to never ending life.”
“You must repent [i.e., change your hearts and lives], for the kingdom of heaven will soon be here.”
But the door that is narrow and the road that is restricted lead to [spiritual] life and [only] a few people will find them.
So therefore, every one of you who does not say ‘goodbye’ to everything he owns cannot be my disciple.
And it happened, as the two men were leaving Him, that Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is [so] good for us to be here. Let us make three [small] shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” [But] he did not realize what he was saying. [See note at Matt. 17:4]
I am the gate; if anyone enters [the corral] through me, he will be saved [i.e., from condemnation], and will find pasture [i.e., will receive spiritual nurturing].
Jesus answered him, “I am the way [to God], and the truth [to believe], and the life [to live]. No one can go to the Father, except through [believing in] me.
Therefore, you people [must] repent [i.e., change your hearts and lives] and turn [back] again [to God] so that your sins will be blotted out and so that you may enjoy times of [spiritual] refreshment from the presence of the Lord [i.e., through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit].
What if God [did] patiently put up with people who deserved His wrath and [who were] ready for destruction, even though He was willing to demonstrate His wrath and power?
For the god of this world [i.e., Satan] has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, so that they would not see the light of the Gospel of the splendor of Christ, who is the image of God.
Therefore, the Lord says [Isa. 52:11], “You people should leave their company [i.e., unbelievers, verse 14] and separate yourselves from them, and do not touch anything unclean [i.e., their evil practices], and I will welcome you.”
And those persons who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified [i.e., put out of their lives, Col. 3:4ff] the sinful cravings of the body, along with their passionate desires.
Their [ultimate] end is [spiritual] destruction; their god is their appetite; they boast of what they ought to be ashamed of, and they [constantly] think about worldly things.
We [also] know that we are [children] of God and that the people of the whole world lie under [the control of] the evil one [i.e., Satan].
Then the great dragon was thrown out [of heaven]; he is the snake from ancient times who is [also] called “the Devil,” and “Satan,” the deceiver of the entire world. He was thrown down to earth along with his angels.
And everyone who lives on earth will worship the beast, [even those] people whose names had not been recorded in the book of life belonging to the Lamb, who was killed [i.e., in prospect] from the creation of the world. [Note: This sentence could also read “...not been recorded from the creation of the world in the book of life belonging to the Lamb who was killed”].
And if any person’s [name] was not found recorded in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
He threw him into the pit, and closed it and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that time, he must be released for a short while.