Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

People's New Testament

13:24 Strive to enter in. The language implies that effort, earnest, agonizing is necessary. The word strive in the Greek is agonizomai, from whence our word agonize comes.

By the strait gate. The door of the kingdom is so narrow that we cannot take our sins, our lusts, our worldliness and worldly pleasures in with us.

Wesley's Notes

13:24 Strive to enter in - Agonize. Strive as in an agony. So the word signifies Otherwise none shall enter in. Barely seeking will not avail. Mt 7:13.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

24. Strive-The word signifies to "contend" as for the mastery, to "struggle," expressive of the difficulty of being saved, as if one would have to force his way in.

strait gate-another figure of the same. (See on [1659]Mt 7:13, 14).

for many . will seek-"desire," that is, with a mere wish or slothful endeavor.

and shall not be able-because it must be made a life-and-death struggle.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

13:23-30 Our Saviour came to guide men's consciences, not to gratify their curiosity. Ask not, How many shall be saved? But, Shall I be one of them? Not, What shall become of such and such? But, What shall I do, and what will become of me? Strive to enter in at the strait gate. This is directed to each of us; it is, Strive ye. All that will be saved, must enter in at the strait gate, must undergo a change of the whole man. Those that would enter in, must strive to enter. Here are awakening considerations, to enforce this exhortation. Oh that we may be all awakened by them! They answer the question, Are there few that shall be saved? But let none despond either as to themselves or others, for there are last who shall be first, and first who shall be last. If we reach heaven, we shall meet many there whom we little thought to meet, and miss many whom we expected to find.