ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR

Luke 13:22-30 / Keywords 13:24

Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

 

The Narrow Door

13:22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”

He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’

“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’

26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’

28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

1. As Jesus continued teaching on the way to Jerusalem, someone posed a difficult question: “Are only a few people going to be saved?” People who ask this may assume they are one of the saved and have lists of reasons why others are not. But Jesus was not interested in joining in speculation about others. Instead, Jesus’ answer makes us consider our own condition and destiny: “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”

 

2. What is required to enter the door? Jesus likens it to a homeowner who, after settling all the family inside, gets up to lock the door. At that time, simple association will not produce an invitation inside. Indeed, many who heard his teachings and had meals with Jesus, would be left outside. We cannot remain on the fence. Like the Patriarchs and Prophets, we must decide to live by faith. Many who seemed to be “first”, would in fact be last, while the last will be first. This is why it is so important, as Jesus tells us, to make every effort. Not that we save ourselves, but that we seek to live in conformity with God’s direction for us, to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me (Php 3:12).

 

Prayer Father, thank you opening the narrow door to relationship with you through Jesus. Help me not take this for granted but enter your presence daily.

One Word Appreciate the grace of God