Psalm 32:8-9 - I will counsel you and watch over you

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Be ye not as the horse, or as the mule, which have no understanding: whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding, Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check, Otherwise they will not come near to you.

Psalm 32:8-9

Commentary

I will instruct (v. 8) indicates God's continued guidance in our lives, which requires a teachable spirit on our part, not like a stubborn animal.

The Open Bible : New King James Version. 1998, c1997. Includes indexes. (electronic ed.) (Ps 32:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.

Horse / Mule

Do not be like the horse, restless to move ahead without command, or like the mule, obstinately refusing to go even when directed. Both animals need the bit and bridle in order to make them submissive and obedient. The believer should be so sensitive to the Lord's leading that he does not need the harsher disciplines of life to bring him into line.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Ps 32:8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Matthew 7:13-14 - Small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life

"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."

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. "For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it."

Matthew 7:13-14

Commentary

Christ is drawing the line as clearly as possible between the way that leads to destruction and the way which leads to life. Both the narrow gate and the wide gate are assumed to provide the entrance to God's kingdom. Two ways are offered to people. The narrow gate is by faith, only through Christ, constricted and precise. It represents true salvation in God's way that leads to life eternal. The wide gate includes all religions of works and self-righteousness, with no single way (cf. Acts 4:12), but leads to hell, not heaven. 7:14 difficult is the way.
Christ continually emphasized the difficulty of following Him (10:38; 16:24, 25; John 15:18, 19; 16:1-3; cf. Acts 14:22). Salvation is by grace alone, but is not easy. It calls for knowledge of the truth, repentance, submission to Christ as Lord, and a willingness to obey His will and Word.

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Mt 7:13). Nashville: Word Pub

"Popular religious contemplation imagines that almost all will eventually be saved, but Jesus suggests the opposite."

Believer's Study Bible. 1997, c1995. C1991 Criswell Center for Biblical Studies. (electronic ed.) (Mt 7:13). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.