ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR

Passage: Luke 13:22-30

Key verse: 24

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.
Source: BibleGateway

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' (22-25)

As Jesus taught in the various towns and villages, while making his way to Jerusalem, someone asked him if just a few people were going to be saved. Jesus’ answer may surprise us. He said that many will try to get through the door but won’t be able to. The door to salvation is narrow. There aren’t many ways that can be used to enter into God’s kingdom. There is only one, narrow way—through Jesus Christ our Lord. At some point, the door to salvation will close. And then it will be too late. No amount of pleading will get us in.

2. The last will be first; the first, last (26-3

)

Occasional, or even regular attendance at church is no guarantee of salvation. Jesus called those who had just hung around him 'evil doers'. We need a deep, personal relationship with Jesus Christ in order to be saved. To get into the heavenly banquet (be saved) we need to be of the faith of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They will be there because they believed God.

Prayer: Lord, help me to make every effort to enter through the narrow door; that is, through Jesus Christ.

One Word: Make every effort to be saved