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 (NIV).

The NIV captures the meaning better than the ESV for this verse in Matthew’s Gospel. The ESV rendering has: 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. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

The ESV seems to follow an alternative reading from a manuscript witness that has “easy” in vs. 13 which then determines the reading in vs. 14, rendering it as “hard.” Therefore, the NIV and ESV have completely different concepts as to what the verses say. So, is the way to life narrow or hard?

The ESV cannot be correct by following an alternate reading, since, that reading contravenes the totality of scripture which presents salvation as something God does while His people are mostly passive. The idea of difficulty also brings works instead of grace into the equation.

Matthew, later in his book, presents Jesus inviting those who have been heavily burdened to come to Him to have their load lifted: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light (Mt. 11.28-30 ESV).

The cognitive disonance of informed disciples would be a bridge too far if Matthew has Jesus saying in one place His yoke is easy and another place that the way to life is hard. The best solution is to go with the majority reading which has the way to life (Mt. 7.14) described as “compressed.” This agrees with the first part of the verse where the gate is characterized as “small.” It may be a small gate since it’s entered on one’s knees. The Way of Jesus is narrow because it’s the new life in the Spirit instead of continuing to live by our wits in the flesh.