The Road Less Traveled, Luke 13:23-24

1 Choosing the Right Way,

Luke 13:22–24 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.

1 Choosing the Right Way, :22-24

1.1 Strive to enter through the narrow door: How?

1.2 Why will some not be able?

2 Choosing the Wrong Way,

Luke 13:25–26 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.’ 26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’

2.1 Formality without Faith

2.2 Ritual without reality

2.3 Religion without righteousness

3 Choosing the Weeping Way,

Luke 13:27–30 ESV

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.”

3.1 SEPARATION

3.2 SORROW

3.3 CONCLUSION

1 Choosing the Right Way, :22-24

22 He went on his way through (lit. was going 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.

1.1 Strive to enter through the narrow door: How?

· Jesus is the door, ;

· Enter by a new birth, (context?)

o Through belief and baptism,

o Preceded by repentance,

· Continue in Repentance,

· Remain faithful to things taught,

1.2 Why will some not be able?

· They cannot find the door

· They refuse to enter the door

· The time for enrollment is limited.

· The period of grace will irrevocably end.

· The time of judgment will begin.

2 Choosing the Wrong Way,:25-26

25 When once the master of the house (Jesus) 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. (Jesus did this)’

2.1 Formality without Faith

· : Eating w Jesus does not grant you access (i.e. the L.S.);

2.2 Ritual without reality

· : Must have a real relationship. (ESV) — 6 And he said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, “ ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; (ESV) — 12 which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.

2.3 Religion without righteousness

· : Must lead to being born again as a new creation; ; .

3 Choosing the Weeping Way, :27-30

3.1 SEPARATION

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

3.2 SORROW

: 28 In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (horrors of eternal punishment), when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob (sym. All of Israel) and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.

3.3 CONCLUSION

: And people (Gentiles) 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.”

· The last: (tax collectors, sinners, the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind)

· The first: (Pharisees, scribes, lawyers, priests)

BOTTOM LINE QUESTION: Can Jesus today say: “I know you”?