Biblical Examples of Those Who Successfully Followed Narrow Road
The Bible describes a "narrow road" or "strait gate" that leads to life, in contrast to a broad way that leads to destruction [1, 7]. While the New Testament emphasizes the difficulty of this path, the Old Testament provides examples of individuals whose lives illustrate adherence to a righteous, albeit challenging, course.
One implicit example is found in the wisdom literature. Proverbs 15:19 states, "The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway" [2]. The "highway" here, in contrast to the sluggard's difficult path, is interpreted by some as a "plain and open way" for the diligent [10]. While not explicitly "narrow," it suggests a distinct path chosen by the righteous that, through diligence, becomes clear. This contrasts with the general understanding of ancient roads, which were often mere footpaths, narrow and unmaintained, unless specifically constructed for kings or armies [4, 6]. The "street called 'Straight'" in Damascus, mentioned in Acts 9:11, was an exception, being a wide thoroughfare [5].
The concept of a "way" (Hebrew: derekh) is central to biblical thought, often referring to a course of life or conduct [3]. The Psalmist speaks of those who are "undefiled in the way," walking in the "strait gate, and narrow way to eternal life," which is identified with Jesus Christ [12]. This suggests that following God's commands constitutes walking a particular path.
The New Testament explicitly frames the path to life as narrow and difficult to find [1, 7]. John Gill notes that this "strait gate" and "narrow way" is "unpleasant to the flesh to walk in, being hedged up on each side with afflictions and tribulations" [8]. Calvin also highlights the numerous obstacles, such as "high mounds and sometimes deep pits," that Satan and wicked people place in the way, emphasizing the need for divine guidance [9].
While the Bible does not provide a list of individuals explicitly labeled as "successful followers of the narrow road," the lives of figures like Abraham, Moses, and the prophets, who often faced significant trials and opposition for their faithfulness, can be seen as embodying this principle. Their journeys were marked by obedience to God's specific callings, often diverging from the prevailing societal norms or easier paths. The Israelites, for instance, were often described as having a "dissatisfied mind" and being "rarely contented," suggesting a tendency to stray from the path God set before them [11]. The "narrow road" is therefore characterized by intentionality, perseverance through difficulty, and reliance on divine direction [9].
Sources
- Matthew “Matthew 7:14 (BBE) — For narrow is the door and hard the road to life, and only a small number make discovery of it.”
- Proverbs “The way of the sluggard is like a thorn patch, but the path of the upright is a highway. -- Proverbs 15:19”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Arah — the way; a traveler”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Highways — Though during the sway of the Romans over Palestine they made a few substantial roads for their carts and chariots, yet for the most of the time, as today, the Jews had nothing such as we call roads, but only footpaths through which animals walk in single file. These are never cared for, no repairs are made or obstacles removed. This fact brings into striking prominence the figure of repairing a highway for the return Of the captives, or the coming of the great King. On special occasions kings had roads prepared for the progress of their armies, or their ow”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Street — The streets of a modern Oriental town present a great contrast to those with which we are familiar, being generally narrow, tortuous and gloomy, even in the best towns. Their character is mainly fixed by the climate and the style of architecture, the narrowness being due to the extreme heat, and the gloominess to the circumstance of the windows looking for the most part into the inner court. The street called "Straight," in Damascus, (Acts 9:11) was an exception to the rule of narrowness: it was a noble thoroughfare, one hundred feet wide. divided in the Roma”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Highways — Roads for public use -- Nu 20:19; De 2:27. Called the king's highway -- Nu 20:17. Marked out by heaps of stones -- Jer 31:21. Generally broad -- Jdj 20:32,45; Mt 7:13. Generally straight -- 1Sa 6:12; Isa 40:3. Made to all cities of refuge -- De 19:2,3. Often made in deserts -- Isa 40:3. Infested with Serpents. -- Ge 49:17. Wild beasts. -- 1Ki 13:24; Isa 35:9. Robbers. -- Jer 3:2; Lu 10:30-33. Beggars sat by sides of -- Mt 20:30; Mr 10:46. Often obstructed -- Jer 18:15. All obstructions removed from, before persons of distinction -- Isa 40:3,4; Mt 3:3. By-p”
- Matthew (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Matthew 7:14: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life--In other words, the whole course is as difficult as the first step; and (so it comes to pass that). few there be that find it--The recommendation of the broad way is the ease with which it is trodden and the abundance of company to be found in it. It is sailing with a fair wind and a favorable tide. The natural inclinations are not crossed, and fears of the issue, if not easily hushed, are in the long run effectually subdued. The one disadvantage of this course is its end--i”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 7:13: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way,.... And so, difficult to enter in at; and when entered, the way is unpleasant to the flesh to walk in, being hedged up on each side with afflictions and tribulations; and moreover, is like the "narrow place", or , "the strait place", as the Septuagint in Num 22:26 render it; in which the angel that met Balaam stood; and in which there was no turning to the right hand or the left; and such is the way to eternal happiness. The great encouragement to walk on in it is, because it is that way which leadeth unto life: un”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 14.15: single step without stumbling at the smallest stone that comes in our way. Satan and wicked men not only entangle and delay us by many perplexities, and not only present to us slight difficulties, but cause us to encounter sometimes high mounds and sometimes deep pits, which even the whole world would be unable to avoid. It is therefore proper for us to acknowledge how much we need heavenly direction, and to confess with Jeremiah, “I know, O Lord, that the way of man is not in himself; and it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.” ”
- Proverbs (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Proverbs 15:19: The difficulties of the slothful result from want of energy; the righteous find a plain [and open] way--literally, "a highway," by diligence (Sa1 10:7; Psa 1:3).”
- Joshua (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Joshua 17:18: The outgoings of it shall be thine - Clear away the wood, occupy the mountain, and you shall soon be able to command all the valleys; and, possessing all the defiles of the country, you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron: your situation will be advantageous, your numbers very respectable, and the hand of God will be upon you for good. 1. From the whole history of the Israelites we find that it was difficult to please them; they had a dissatisfied mind, and hence were rarely contented. From the above account we learn that the children ”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:1: ALEPH.--The First Part. ALEPH. Blessed are the undefiled in the way,.... Who are in the right way to heaven and happiness, which is Jesus Christ; the strait gate, and narrow way to eternal life; the only true way of life and salvation, in which way believers walk by faith. All out of this way are altogether become filthy; but all in this way are clean, even every bit: they are without spot and blemish, blameless and unreproveable, and without fault, before the throne of God and in his sight; being washed from their sins in the blood of the Lamb, and clothed with hi”