King James Bible
"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:"
Jesus commands his listeners to deliberately choose the narrow entrance, using 'strait' (meaning narrow or restricted) to emphasize the difficulty and intentionality required. This metaphor of two gates appears within the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus contrasts Kingdom living with popular religious practices. The alternative path is characterized by its spaciousness and ease of access, yet its destination is ruin. The Greek word for 'destruction' (apoleia) implies not annihilation but spiritual loss and separation from God's purposes. The majority choose the easier path, making the narrow way countercultural by nature. This observation warns against following popular opinion in spiritual matters and reinforces that true discipleship requires swimming against the cultural current.