Luke 13:24 - The Narrow or Wide Gate?

Luke 13:24; The Narrow or Wide Gate?

Luke 13:24 (KJV)  Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for 
many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.  

Strive. Gr. agonizomai, originally referred to the effort put 
forth by a contestant in an athletic contest to qualify for the prize, 
and hence came to mean in a general sense "to struggle," or "to 
exert oneself." Agonizomai is sometimes used in the NT of the 
Christian's efforts to qualify for entrance into the kingdom of heaven (1 
Cor. 9:25; Col. 1:29). It is also translated "fight" in 1 Tim. 6:12, 
with reference to fighting the good fight of faith (see 2 Tim. 4:7). 
[SDA Commentary] 

The word translated "strive" is employed in 22:44 to describe 
Jesus' struggle in Gethsemane. [Jamieson, Fausset, And Brown 
Commentary] 

The narrow door is Christ Himself apart from whom there is no 
other way to heaven. [Ryrie SB] 

Receiving salvation requires more concentrated effort than most 
people are willing to put forth. Obviously we cannot save ourselves - 
there is no way we can work ourselves into God's favor. The effort we 
must put out "to enter through the narrow door" is earnestly desiring 
to know Jesus and diligently striving to follow him whatever the 
cost. [Life Application SB] 

There will be surprises in the kingdom of God. Those who are 
very prominent in this world may have to be very humble in the next; 
those whom no one notices here may be the princes of the world to 
come. There is a story of a woman who had been used to every luxury 
and to all respect. She died, and when she arrived in heaven, an 
angel was sent to conduct her to her house. They passed many a lovely 
mansion and the woman thought that each one, as they came to it, must be 
the one allotted to her. When they had passed through the main 
streets they came to the outskirts where the houses were much smaller; 
and on the very fringe they came to a house which was little more 
than a hut. "That is your house," said the conducting angel. "What," 
said the woman, "that! I cannot live in that."  "I am sorry," said 
the angel, "but that is all we could build for you with the 
materials you sent up." [Barclay Commentary]