Is the "narrow way" HARD?
KJV Mt 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
ESV 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Holman 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
CEV 14 But the gate to life is very narrow. The road that leads there is so hard to follow that only a few people find it.
Nkjv 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
The modern versions make salvation hard/difficult, when it is actually quite easy. That's a serious difference dealing with the vital doctrine of salvation.
The narrow way is EASY. Getting saved is easy, just believe on Jesus Christ. No effort at all. The scriptural examples of how easy it is are things like, opening a door, drinking water, eating bread, and all them actually require more effort than believing on Jesus.
Living for Christ is EASY, even though Christian sissies (which can be any of us) might sometimes think it's hard.
Mt 11:30 For my yoke is EASY, and my burden is light.
Pr 13:15 ... the way of transgressors is HARD.
Now YOU might think the narrow way (either getting saved or walking with Christ) is hard or difficult, but God says it is easy. If you disagree, your disagreement is not with me, it's with God. Take it up with him, set him straight on the matter.
We see a similar phenomenon here.
Is it HARD to get into God's kingdom?
KJV Mark 10:24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
The KJV notes that it is hard for those who TRUST in RICHES to enter the kingdom - that's because we must TRUST in CHRIST - and then entering the kingdom is EASY. But the modern versions still make it hard:
NIV The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!" (the NASV reads almost the same)
NASB The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
Holman But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, "Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!
NWT But the disciples gave way to surprise at his words. In response Jesus again said to them: "Children, how difficult a thing it is to enter into the kingdom of God!"
ESV And the disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said to them again, "Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!
NLT This amazed them. But Jesus said again, "Dear children, it is very hard to get into the Kingdom of God."
CEV The disciples were shocked to hear this. So Jesus told them again, "It's terribly hard to get into God's kingdom!"
Now it is not just hard, not just difficult, not just very hard, it is now terribly hard. At this rate the next version that comes out will have to say "it is impossible".
Why do the modern versions omit the vital words "TRUST IN RICHES"? Prominent KJV naysayer James White says, "This variant gives us an instance where the modern texts follow a very small minority of Greek texts (White, The King James Only Controversy, p.169)."
The truth of the matter is that the United Bible Society and the Nestle/Aland Greek texts can muster only 4 (that's four) Greek MSS. that omit the phrase, viz. the ever untrustworthy Sinai and Vatican Codices, D (Delta) and Y (Psi).
The Johannine Comma (1 John 5:7) rests on much greater manuscript evidence than our present example, yet it is rejected by these Bible critics as spurious. This simply shows the selective deceit they exhibit when wanting to find error in the KJV.
(Some of this material was stolen from Marty Shue)
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