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The Parable Of The Narrow Door – Luke 13:22-30

by Chris Simmons

Luke 13:22-27, “And He was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. And someone said to Him, ‘Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?’ And He said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, “Lord, open up to us!” then He will answer and say to you, “I do not know where you are from.” Then you will begin to say, “We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets”; and He will say, “I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.’””

As Jesus taught, those who listened had to understand that the sacrifices to be made, challenges to be overcome and the lessons to be applied were significant (John 6:60; Luke 18:60). In this context, there was someone listening to Jesus teaching who felt compelled to ask “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” Jesus response to this question included a parable about a narrow door. This question regarding a “few” who would be saved is one that plagues countless numbers of religious people and members of the Lord’s church yet today.

We need to note that the question is not: who does God desire to be saved? For the answer to that question is unequivocally – everyone! We read in II Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” Paul wrote that God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (I Timothy 2:4). God desires all men to be saved but how many actually are is dependent on how each one of us responds to the invitation.

So what is the answer to the question posed to Jesus? We read in Matthew 22:14 that indeed, “few are chosen” and in Matthew 7:13-14 that “few are those” who find eternal life. The answer is “Yes” and the context of Matthew 22:14 helps us to understand that it is not a matter of who is called or invited. Though “few” are chosen, Matthew 22:14 teaches that it is the “many” who are called which is to be understood as encompassing all of mankind (cf. Romans 5:15). Thus we see in the context of Matthew 22:1-14 that the “invitation” to the feast was extended to everyone that could be found (“as many as you find there,” vs. 9). Indeed, there is no partiality with God, for God has extended His invitation to all (Acts 10:34-35; cf. II Corinthians 5:17; cf. Galatians 3:26-29; Romans 6:3-6) through the gospel of Jesus Christ (II Thessalonians 2:14).

What does the context in Luke chapter 13 teach us is the reason there are few who will be saved? First, Jesus responded by saying, “Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Christ says “many” will not be saved though they “seek” to be. Why is that?

First, because in this same verse Jesus notes again the narrow door (cf. Matthew 7:13-14) that will keep many from being saved. The word “door” in this passage simply refers to a portal or an entrance into something. There is but one divinely defined manner of entering into the kingdom of heaven. There are not multiple and varied means of entering God’s kingdom. Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6). The idea of the “narrow door” in this context and the “narrow gate”teaches us that the entrance into the kingdom is not the path of the many. One commentator noted of the gates that led into cities in that time, “some of those (gates) connected with the great avenues to the city (and) were broad and admitted a throng; others, for more private purposes, were narrow, and few would be seen entering them.” The audience of Jesus’ day would understand His reference to such narrow gates or doors and the road less traveled. Do we?

Second, in the context of Luke 13:22-30, Jesus teaches that many will not be able to enter His kingdom because they do not “strive” to enter in. The Greek word for “strive” is “agonizomai” from which we get our English word “agonize” and this Greek word is defined as “to struggle, literally (to compete for a prize), figuratively (to contend with an adversary)” (Strong's Greek Dictionary). Simply put, many want to go to heaven but are not willing to put in the diligent effort needed to be pleasing to God. Many are simply not willing to work for the prize of eternal life in heaven (cf. Philippians 2:12-13; Acts 2:40). There has been many an athlete who has desired the crown or the prize of a champion but was simply unwilling to put in the work necessary to attain it (cf. I Corinthians 9:24-27).

Third, in this context (verses 25-27), Jesus states that it is not enough to just be “religious” and simply listen to the teaching of Christ. Jesus notes the claims of some who tried to justify themselves by saying, “…we ate and drank in Your presence and You taught us in our streets…” But what had they done with that which Christ taught them? Is it not enough for us to be able to say “I went to church”? What impact had His teaching had on their lives? How has all the teaching that we have listened to changed our conduct and attitudes? Have we acted upon that which we have been taught from God’s word (Matthew 7:24ff)? Or are we one of those who are “always learning” yet “never able to come to a knowledge of the truth” (II Timothy 3:7)? Those who will be saved are those who have transformed their lives by the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:2).

Also, in this context, we are taught that there will be a time when it will be too late for those who were taught, but did not obey. We read in Luke 13:25, “once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from!’” Many will not be saved though they know God’s will and though they plan on obeying God’s will but just never get around to it. Preparation needs to be made and we need to be ready (Matthew 25:10-13). The few who will be saved are those who understand that “today is the day of salvation” (Hebrews 4:6-7).

The Bible’s answer to the question “are there just a few who are being saved?” is clearly, ”Yes.” But we must always remember that the choice belongs to us and the reasons for the many being lost are most certainly avoidable.

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