The Narrow Door

Luke 13:22 CSB

22 He went through one town and village after another, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem.

Here Luke is foreshadowing Jesus’ coming sacrificial death. Yet even though Jesus is on His way. He stops at many small villages on the way. Most of us if we were about to die a horrific death would not be concerned with the lives of others. Yet, Jesus despite this terrible knowledge continues to minister to people in these obscure places. It was in one of these small villages that someone in the crowd asked Jesus this question publicly.

Luke 13:23 CSB

23 “Lord,” someone asked him, “are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them,

I. A Public Question

This is an interesting question. A question many have been puzzled by since the gospel has been preached. How many people will be saved? We know that in other passages of scripture like Matthew 7:14 “14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.”

Jesus seems to allude to this fact.

Yet Jesus seems to redirect his focus.

II. A Personal Answer

Luke 13:24 (CSB)

24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door...”

This is an imperative statement with an understood “you”. In other words, Jesus is saying “you” make every effort. He turned this man’s speculative question or concern about the number of those who would be saved into a personal charge. Jesus is saying don’t worry about the number but rather make sure that you are one of those that enter into the kingdom.

The word translated “make every effort” comes from the Greek word “agonizomai” as I am sure you have already heard it in the word, it means to agonize. Jesus is not saying that one must work hard in order to get the narrow door to open.

Rather He is saying in order for one to enter by it he must agonize over it or make it His/her top priority. The salvation of our soul should bring us fear and trembling. No one will enter into heaven that first hasn’t had agony over the state of their unrepentant heart and the fear of God’s wrath.

The gospel message will create in the not yet repentant agony or an internal conflict. We see this example in the

Rich Young Ruler - he couldn’t exchange his love for earthly riches for eternal reward. It created agony.

We saw it in the man who cried out from the crowd. I will follow you. Yet when hearing that Jesus had no place to lay his head. He no longer followed. It created agony or conflict.

In each of these scenarios these men didn’t make entering into the narrow gate their top priority instead the cares of this world seemed to valuable to give up and so they went away from Jesus lost. The agony of earthly loss was to much for them. But listen to Paul who after meeting Christ on the road to Damascus dedicated himself to Christ.

Acts 20:24 CSB

24 But I consider my life of no value to myself; my purpose is to finish my course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of God’s grace.

This is not a toil of outer works but rather of the Heart. Jesus is saying to His audience to agonize over the condition of thier heart and to surrender it to Christ.

However, we know that not everyone will heed this instruction. So Jesus gives a stern warning to those who put of this decision.

III. A Stern Warning

Luke 13:24–25 CSB

24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able 25 once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door. Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up for us!’ He will answer you, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from.’

So what does this passage mean?

Two possibilities

#1. Ultimate rejection of the Gospel by an individual. We read in Romans 1 where a person can resist God for so long that God will eventually turn him over to his own destruction. This person is known as a reprobate. A person who has ultimately rejected. How can this happen? Scriptures tell us in John 6:44

John 6:44 CSB

44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.

If an individuals heart becomes so hard that they will not respond to the drawing of the Father than God may stop drawing them. If they are given over to a reprobate mind there will be no convincing them to come. They will not have a desire to be saved.

While I believe this is a true teaching, there is a second option that seems to fit this passage better.

If we turn to Genesis 7:13-17

Genesis 7:13–17 CSB

13 On that same day Noah along with his sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, entered the ark, along with Noah’s wife and his three sons’ wives. 14 They entered it with all the wildlife according to their kinds, all livestock according to their kinds, all the creatures that crawl on the earth according to their kinds, every flying creature—all the birds and every winged creature—according to their kinds. 15 Two of every creature that has the breath of life in it came to Noah and entered the ark. 16 Those that entered, male and female of every creature, entered just as God had commanded him. Then the Lord shut him in. 17 The flood continued for forty days on the earth; the water increased and lifted up the ark so that it rose above the earth.

In this account of Noah and the Ark we see some similar statements and ideas. The ark is a symbol of salvation and all those that entered into it were saved from the flood, the great judgement of the Lord. We see in this passage that once the animals, Noah, and His family entered into the Ark. The Lord shut them in. The Lord shut the door. There was no longer any opportunity for repentance. Time was up.

The judgement had been decreed and all those who waited to see if the judgement truly would come were lost.

In the same way we see this type of imagery in our text found in Luke

The master arises at the proper time and shuts the door. God in his mercy in wisdom decreed that for a period of time man would have the opportunity to repent. There is a deadline. If this seems to hard for you to accept I will bring to you many examples of God’s deadlines.

Our first is Noah and the Ark

Jonah and Nineveh

Sodom and Gomorrah

The nation of Israel completely annihilating cities including every man, woman, and child because the people in these cities had become reprobate. They would not repent.

While God’s endurance and patience is long with this world. He tells us their is a day approaching where he will shut the door and all those who waited or rejected will suffer his eternal judgement and wrath. It will be two late. We don’t know the day or the hour but we do know that it is quickly approaching. If you have been playing the church came while refusing the gift of salvation you will suffer like the rest.

In fact look at the reactions of those who are on the outside when the door is finally shut.

Luke 13:25–28 CSB

25 once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door. Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up for us!’ He will answer you, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from.’ 26 Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you’re from. Get away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown out.

There are going to be people who hung out with Jesus and his people. But no amount of church attendance. No amount of listening to His teaching will replace your need to repent and turn to Christ while there is still time before you are cast into the place of despair and torment. His patience and longsuffering are great, Yet Jesus came to warn us of his sin, God’s perfect standard, and his coming judgement.

John 16:8 CSB

8 When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment:

John 16:9 CSB

9 About sin, because they do not believe in me;

John 16:10 CSB

10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me;

2 Corinthians 6:2 CSB

2 For he says: At an acceptable time I listened to you, and in the day of salvation I helped you. See, now is the acceptable time; now is the day of salvation!

Do not put off the opportunity that may not come again tomorrow. Repent and turn to Christ while there is still time.

So who can be saved?

Luke 13:29–30 CSB

29 They will come from east and west, from north and south, to share the banquet in the kingdom of God. 30 Note this: Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

Anyone that will repent and turn to Christ. Jesus made it clear that peoples from all nations will turn to him before it is too late. Isn’t God good that he did not come for only one people group or even those who are considered by this worlds standards as good. People from anywhere who have done anything can be saved.

Luke 5:32 CSB

32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

To those who are certain of their repentance and salvation:

Are you warning those of the coming judgement? Are you expressing through both your life and words the gospel message?

To those who have neglected the salvation of the Lord:

There is coming a day when it will be too late and you will find yourself knocking at the door

Luke 13:25 (CSB)

Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up for us!’ He will answer you, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from.’

Once the time has passed you will not have an opportunity to repent and turn to Christ. Just like in the account of Noah’s ark. Noah was preacher of righteousness, yet the people did not listen.

In the end God shut the door and judgement came.

I plead with you to make today the day of salvation! Do not neglect to respond to the Holy Spirit drawing you to repentance.