Day 69

Luke 13:22–30 (NIV)

²² Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 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, 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.’ 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!’

²⁸ “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, 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 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.”

Pray for God to show you something to use from the passage

Read the Passage

Who is in the passage?

What action verbs do you see?

What other words stick out in your mind

Questions

Why do people miss the narrow door?

What is Jesus trying to tell the Jews in this parable? What do we take from it for our day?

Why does the owner not let people in even though they claim he knows them?

Who are the people coming from all directions? What does that mean for you?

Verse 30- What does the last will be first and the first be last mean?

Notes

What is the size of the door in heaven and how do you get in? Who controls it?

vs 22- Jesus continues his walk to Jerusalem stopping to give his message to the towns and villages on the way.

vs 23- The question still rings out today. Jesus has been alluding to the fact that one has to make a decision to get to heaven or you will perish. So finally someone asks the question based on how Jesus had been teaching. "only a few people? This went against the common view of the Jews. They saw all Jews who acknowledge God as getting in. The rest of the world would not. But unless you were a really bad Jew you would make it. It was an inherited right.

vs 24-25

Jesus answers the question with a story.

It's about making the effort to enter a narrow door. Many will want to enter but be unable to do so. Why is it that many miss entering the door?

Think of it in today’s terms. Most people believe in heaven and want to go there. But just wanting to doesn't mean you will. You have to know the way. There are a lot of people listening to the wrong way to get there and think they will make it. But they won't unless they make the effort to follow the right way. Think back to the parable of the soil. (8:5) Many hear the word and respond but do not keep listening and growing in their faith. Other ways keep them from entering into the door. They may look in, may see it looks nice, but they decide there are better places.

The door represents the entrance to a banquet or large celebration. The Host (owner) chooses who may come in. Once the banquet starts you aren't allowed in. You only have a period of time to enter so best to do it now is the implication. It is what Jesus has been saying throughout chapters 12 & 13.

Those who realize their mistake (that will be all races but Jesus is just talking to the Jews at the moment) will bang on the door to get in. But the Owner will say he doesn't know you or where you come from.

vs 26 Those not getting in will say we ate and drank with you, we listened to you teach. (note by implication of vs 22 "teaching" Jesus is saying He is the owner of the house) It is their way of saying we deserve to be at the banquet. You do know us. The people had done these things with Jesus. But instead of helping them get to heaven it will be their judgment as to why they don't. They had had the chance to listen but did not apply what they heard. (6:49) It doesn't matter whether they are Jews or not, whether they heard Jesus. What matters is what did they do with what they heard. (You can have a map but it will not do you any good unless you follow it)

vs 27- Their banishment is severe. They all called evildoers, not children of Abraham.

vs 28- part of what hell is like- you will see what you missed. You will be in agony.

These verses speak to where we are in the United States. Many people believe Jesus is the way to God but choose not to follow.

vs 29- Jesus even hurts the Jewish pride more by saying people will come from every direction and from far away and enter into the banquet. (Probably meaning Gentiles) But you who saw me, ate with me, and heard me will be rejected!

vs 30- Those who had the first opportunity, but didn't enter in time will be left behind, Those last to be invited (the Gentiles- see Gen 12:2-3) will enjoy their places with the God following Jews at the banquet.

(Banquet described in Isa 25:6-ff )

Don't get caught up in the belief that as long as you are good you will get to heaven. It is about a relationship with Jesus. Not a superficial one, but a personal one.

We need to understand that for ourselves and for those around us. This is what Life is about!

Who do you know who is living in a false belief that they are going to heaven? What are you suppose to do about it?