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

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.”

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