THE NARROW DOOR

Passage: Luke 13:22-30

Key verse: 24a

NIV

The Narrow Door

22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem.(A) 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,(B) 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.’(C)

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!’(D)

28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth,(E) 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(F) 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.”(G)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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ESV

The Narrow Door

22 (A)He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and (B)journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, (C)will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 (D)“Strive (E)to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 (F)When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, (G)‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, (H)‘I do not know where you come from.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, (I)‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, (J)I do not know where you come from. (K)Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 (L)In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see (M)Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but (N)you yourselves cast out. 29 And (O)people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and (P)recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, (Q)some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Make every effort (22-27)

Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to suffer and die on the cross. In every place he taught about the kingdom of God. When someone asked him if only a few people would be saved, Jesus told him not to assume that he was saved just because he was a Jew, or because he had eaten with Jesus--or even because he had engaged in many Christian activities, including Bible teaching. The narrow door is the door of repentance and faith. It is a door that leads to a personal relationship with Jesus. All who do not accept Jesus on his terms are evildoers--even those who seem to be doing good (27).

2. The great feast (28-30)

All kinds of people from everywhere will sit down with Jesus and the patriarchs at the great Messianic feast. But those who, even though they know the truth, are afraid to make a commitment will be on the outside looking in, and weeping.

Prayer: Lord, I come to you with a repentant heart, seeking only to know you and walk with you. I want to go through the narrow door.

One Word: Make every effort to know Jesus