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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:
Ver. 13,14. Our Saviour having in this sermon delivered many hard sayings to flesh and blood, here obviates a twofold temptation they might have to the neglect of them:
1. From their difficulty.
2. From the paucity of them who live according to these rules.
He here compares heaven to a house, a stately house, into which a
strait gate leadeth to a city, the way to which is a
narrow way. There is nothing more ordinary in holy writ, than to call a common course of men’s actions a way. It is also compared to a
gate. The sum of what our Saviour here saith is this: There are but two ultimate ends of all men, eternal destruction and eternal life. The course that leadeth to destruction is like a broad way that is obvious to all, and many walk in that. That course of life and actions which will bring a man to heaven is strait, unpleasing to flesh and blood, not at all gratifying men’s sensitive appetites, and narrow, (the Greek is, afflicted), a way wherein men will meet with many crosses and temptations; and there are but a few will find it. You must not therefore wonder if my precepts be hard to your carnal apprehensions, nor be scandalized though you see but few going in the right road to the kingdom of heaven.