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Translation
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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Cyril of Alexandria
The narrow gate also represents the toils and sufferings of the saints. For as a victory in battle bears witness to the strength of the soldiers, so a courageous endurance of labours and temptations will make a man strong. Now our Lord does not seem to satisfy him who asked whether there are few that be saved, when He declares the way by which man may become righteous. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Few are those being saved, because the narrow gate cannot admit many.
Western Saints
Bede
But someone said to him, "Lord, are only a few saved?" And he said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow door." The hall of salvation is entered through the narrow door because it is necessary to overcome the enticements of this deceitful world through labors and fasts. And he well said, "Strive to enter," because unless the struggle of the mind is fervent, the wave of the world is not overcome, by which the soul is always drawn back to the depths.
Bonaventure
Second, as regards the instruction in word, by which he responds to the question about the fewness of those who are saved, he adds: And a certain one said to him: Lord, are those who are saved few? This man asks this because he had not heard the divine saying, by which it is said in Matthew 20: "Many are called, but few are chosen"; as a figure of which it is said in Micah 7: "Woe is me! …
Glossa Ordinaria
This question seems to have reference to what had gone before. For in the parable which was given above, He had said, that the birds of the air rested on its branches, by which it might be supposed that there would be many who would obtain the rest of salvation. And because one had asked the question for all, the Lord does not answer him individually, as it follows, And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate.
Translation