Luke 13:26-30

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-We’re going to be back in Luke 13 this morning.

Let me encourage you to turn there...

…and to follow along in your own Bibles...

(Doing that may be more helpful than you think)

-We began looking at this event last week...

…but we only made our way down to Verse 25.

So, we’re going to...

...pick back up in Verse 26 (with our exposition)...

…but we’re going to read over...

…the whole thing first...

…and spend a few minutes...

…being reminded of the immediate context.

Luke Chapter 13...

And we’ll begin reading in Verse 22.

This is the Word of the Lord:

Luke 13:22–30 (ESV)

22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.

23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them,

24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

25 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, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’

26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’

27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’

28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.

29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.

30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

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Pray

-Well, before we jump in to Verse 26...

…let’s do a brief survey of Verses 22-25.

They are particularly important...

…since, they are part of this same event.

-In Verse 22, Luke had reminded us...

…of that broader setting...

…that had been introduced back in:

Luke 9:51 (ESV)

51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.

He was headed for Jerusalem, because...

He was headed for the Cross

He was headed for the Resurrection

He was headed for the Ascension!

So, Luke had updated us on that journey...

…by saying, in Verse 22:

Luke 13:22 (ESV)

22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.

-Now, in Verse 23, Luke had told us, that...

Luke 13:23 (ESV)

23 ...someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” . . .

(Remember the previous parables)

Mustard Seed

Leaven

And, Jesus had responded...

…NOT, by giving a direct answer to the person...

…but, by turning and saying this...

…to the onlookers:

Luke 13:24 (ESV)

24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

And we saw from other passages...

…that the narrow door...

Was ultimately the Cross of Christ!

And that meant that...

…he was the only way...

…that anyone, of any nationality...

…would ever be able to enter the Kingdom of God....

…and that, no one was simply going to...

…arrive in the Kingdom of God by default...

…simply because of...

Their Nationality

Their Ethnicity

Who their parents are!

If they didn’t...

Luke 13:24 (ESV)

24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door...

i.e., if they didn’t have...

Repentance towards God

Faith in Jesus Christ...

If they only...

Luke 13:24 (ESV)

24...seek to enter...

…on the day of judgment...

…to avoid eternal condemnation...

…they would not be permitted to come in.

-And we had ended with...

…that stark and solemn warning, in Verse 25:

Luke 13:25 (ESV)

25 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, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’

In other words, if you don’t make haste...

…to repent and trust in Jesus, now...

…you may cross a line to where...

…you no longer have the opportunity to do so.

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-Now, Verse 26 picks back up...

…where that left off...

…with that group of presumptuous rebels...

…appealing the verdict...

…that they had just been handed down...

…from the master of the house.

Jesus tells them:

Luke 13:26 (ESV)

26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’

What’s the basis for their appeal?

What do you mean…???

Luke 13:25 (ESV)

25 … ‘I do not know where you come from.’

Don’t you remember us?

We’re your people!

Why, we...

Luke 13:26 (ESV)

26 ...ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’

“We were all around you...

…during your earthly visitation!”

“Plus, how can you not know...

…where we come from?”

“We bear the marks of circumcision of our flesh!”

“Where else could we come from...

...but your Holy Nation?”

“Who else could we be...

…but your holy people???”

Ryken says:

Luke, Volumes 1 & 2 (Shut Out)

They are completely surprised by this because they thought they knew Jesus, and they assumed that he knew them. After all, they had direct exposure to his earthly ministry.

There were people in the crowd that day who witnessed his miraculous wonders and listened to him preach in their own home towns . . . Some of them even shared table fellowship with him.

They knew Jesus socially...

Nevertheless, they did not know Jesus as their Savior and their God.

Presuming on their outward privileges, they never went through the narrow door to salvation. Assuming that they were already in, they never took the trouble to commit their lives to Christ.

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-Brethren, proximity to Christ...

…doesn't mean that you...

…automatically have a relationship with Christ!

That’s true for...

Unbelieving Jews...

But, it’s also true for...

Cultural Christians

The children of Christian parents (God doesn’t have grandchildren!)

Formally consecrated “Covenant Children”

Unregenerate churchmen of any age!

You can’t presume upon your outward privileges.

Jesus told NICODEMUS:

John 3:3 (ESV)

3 ...unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Guys,

Repentance towards God...

Faith in Jesus Christ...

The Regeneration of the Holy Spirit...

…are the only means of entrance...

…into the Heavenly Jerusalem!

In fact, think about what Jesus said in...

Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV)

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

That takes it beyond mere passive proximity!

These people claimed...

…that they did amazing deeds...

In HIS name

On HIS behalf.

And, yet he tells them:

Matthew 7:23 (ESV)

23 . . . ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

And remember, that...

...He had just said:

Matthew 7:15 (ESV)

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

-Brethren, the sobering reality is, that...

Many will look the part externally...

But not BE the part in reality.

And a lot of times...

…it’s hard for us to tell the difference.

Do you remember the Parable of the Weeds in Matthew 13?

Matthew 13:24–30 (ESV)

24 . . . “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field,

25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away.

26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.

27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’

28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’

29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.

30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’ ”

The Master knows the difference.

The Master knows the hidden reality of the heart.

He isn’t fooled by appearances.

-Now, look at Verse 27...

…but remember the appeal they had made:

Luke 13:26–27 (ESV)

26 . . . ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’

27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from...

I haven’t sown you here

You’re not my sheep

You’re not my people

You don’t belong in my house!

And, again he passes down the verdict...

Luke 13:27 (ESV)

27 ...Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’

Consider this from...

Revelation 22:14–15 (ESV)

14 Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

15 Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.

The JFB Commentary says:

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Chapter 13)

No nearness of external communion with Christ will avail at the great day, in place of that holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.

(A Reference to Hebrews 12:14)

-Now, look at Verse 28.

It picks up with the “departure”…

…of those “workers of evil:”

Luke 13:28 (ESV)

28 In that place …

What place?

The place of their banishment

Outside of the Kingdom of God:

After the Judgment,

During the Eternal State.

He says:

Luke 13:28 (ESV)

28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth...

Now, when we hear those two things...

…coupled together like that...

…we tend to lump them into...

…one singular description...

…of the typical human response...

…to the sufferings and torments of hell, right?

And that’s certainly a proper thing to do.

-But, I think our text begs a little “nuance.”

Consider this, from I. Howard Marshall:

The Gospel of Luke (i. Entry to the Kingdom 13:22–30)

κλαυθμός is ‘weeping’ (Acts 20:37), and is expressive of sorrow at the thought of the loss which must be endured (cf. 6:25; Jas. 4:9; 5:1)...

βρυγμός is the chattering or gnashing of teeth. It can be an expression of rage (Acts 7:54), like the snarling of a lion (Pr. 19:9), and the verb expresses the hatred shown by enemies...

The thought here is of anger directed against the master, rather than of ‘despairing remorse’ . . .

These feelings arise at the sight (through the opening in the door) of the company present at the banquet.

Look at what He’s talking about:

Luke 13:28 (ESV)

28 ....there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.

Mike McKinley explains:

Luke 12–24 for You (Unexpected Guests)

The Jewish nation took great comfort from the fact that they were God’s people; after all, they had access to God’s word and all of the promises of God made to the patriarchs...

But in Luke 13:28 . . . they find themselves “thrown out,” left to gaze in on their beloved patriarchs and prophets enjoying the great feast that would celebrate the ultimate coming of the kingdom of God...

This is what he’s referring to:

(We’ll see the imagery in the next Verse)

Isaiah 25:6–9 (ESV)

6 On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.

7 And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.

8 He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.

9 It will be said on that day, “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.”

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You see, the faith-filled, and faithful, of their forefathers...

…would feast at this Messianic banquet...

…and they would be left to watch them...

…from OUTSIDE the city.

And it made them sad and very angry...

…for all of eternity.

-But, that’s not all!

Not only will they be sitting outside...

…watching their fore-bearers...

(Those who did “strive” through faith in God)

…watching THEM feast at the Messiah’s table...

…They’ll see THIS, as well:

(I believe this is what makes them so enraged)

Luke 13:29 (ESV)

29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.

Now, why should this make them mad?

Did God not say to Jacob:

Genesis 28:14 (ESV)

14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

What’s the difference?

That’s referring to Israel infiltrating the Nations.

In Verse 29, he’s talking about the Nations...

Gentiles

Non-Jews

The Physically Un-Circumcised.

…infiltrating the People of God.

He’s saying this:

Matthew 8:11–12 (ESV)

11 I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,

12 while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

And I imagine that, that’s...

…going to cause them great anger.

Think about it:

They had prided themselves as...

…having the exclusive, hereditary right...

To the God of Abraham

The Messianic Kingdom

While those from the...

North

South

East

West...

Were kept out of that Kingdom.

But, now, because of their response to Jesus...

The opposite is happening.

The roles are being reversed.

They are the ones...

…if they don’t repent...

…that will be on the outside looking in.

Look at the language of reversal in Verse 30:

Luke 13:30 (ESV)

30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

John Gill’s explanation here is excellent:

The Gentiles, the most mean and abject, afar from God, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, called last of all: these shall be first, and sit down among patriarchs and prophets, men of the first rank here on earth, in the kingdom of heaven, and enjoy the same glory and happiness with them:

The Jews, who were first the visible professing people of God, to whom the oracles of God, and outward privileges and ordinances were given; who had the Messiah first sent to them, and the Gospel first preached among them;

these shall be last, be rejected and despised, and shut out of the kingdom of heaven, they thought themselves heirs of, and expected to enjoy; — John Gill

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And again, I think next week’s text...

…would force us to come to the same conclusion.

-But, does this have any application for us?

Of Course!

Perhaps countless applications!

But, the primary is this:

It’s not...

The mere knowledge of Jesus...

Or physical proximity to Jesus...

Or Your parents relationship with Jesus...

…that gets you into the eternal Kingdom of God...

…It’s YOUR relationship to Jesus!

So, the call is this:

Luke 13:24 (ESV)

24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door...

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How do we do that?

Repentance towards God

Faith in Jesus Christ

Let’s Pray:

-Brothers, would you please come up...

…and go ahead and distribute the elements?

Brethren, in a very real sense...

...The Lord’s Supper foreshadows the Messianic Banquet!

In it we are reminded...

…of the place we have been given...

On the mountain of God

In the Kingdom of God

At the Table of God.

But we don’t DESERVE to be here…

…anymore than they do.

We take our seat, at our Lord’s table...

Because He deserves to be there...

Because He earned the right to receive the blessings of God...

And by the grace of the Holy Spirit...

We are united to him in faith!

So, let’s reflect on that truth...

…as we partake this morning.

Let’s reflect on the glorious grace of God...

…that has made us all:

Ephesians 3:6 (ESV)

6 ...fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Leave Up

Go ahead and play, brother.

Matthew 26:26–29 (ESV)

26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.”

27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you,

28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”