Our Gemara on Amud Aleph states that the doorway space of the Temple is considered part of the Temple. 

This Gemara about the entrance to the sanctuary brings to mind a famous adage regarding repentance, and may also give us more insight into its text:

“God says, make an opening the size of the point of a needle, and I will make you an opening the size of the hallway into the Temple.”

Actually, this adage appears in a number of variant forms. The one above is found in Eitz Yosef Eicha Rabbah (5:20) and also in the Tashlich liturgy. A different form comes from Shir Hashirim Rabbah (5:2):

“God says, make an opening the size of the point of a needle, and I will make you an opening that wagons and carriages can pass through.

In this version, we do not have the entranceway to the temple, but just a secular building’s opening that wagons and carriages can pass through. 

A different reading states, “God says, make an opening the size of the eye of a needle…” (Maharzu Shir Hashirim Rabbah 5:2:2:1, Pesikta Rabasi 15:1)

Each reading might be emphasizing a different point. For example, the point of the needle is even tinier than the eye of the needle, which might imply that God is even more gracious and allows even a tiny crack. On the other hand, a needle has no point without being threaded, so the eye of the needle where the thread goes through represents practical action. This implies there has to be practical action in order to receive this extra boost from God. 

But what is the difference in implication between the entranceway to the Temple versus an opening to a secular building, which is brought enough to pass through wagons and carriages? Wagons and carriages often carry more than one person. Perhaps this is alluding to the idea that if you open the door of repentance a tiny crack, God will make a wide doorway and it will also transport friends and families as well - the carriages and wagons. On the other hand, the reference to the Temple hallway implies an elevation in holiness. Furthermore, our Gemara adds another layer. The hallway is considered already like you are inside. Perhaps this is alluding to the repentance process. Not only do you just need to open the door a tiny crack, you also only need to enter partially and it’s already like you’re inside.