The Gospel of Luke: The Narrow Door | Salvation | Kingdom | Jesus

Описание: He said therefore, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.” And again he said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened.” He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” 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. 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.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 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. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
Luke 13: 18-30
Sermon Notes: 2/8/26
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Just prior to this passage, we saw that Jesus had no problem bucking standards and traditions when he healed on the sabbath. As he healed a woman, Christ brought forward two parables as rebuke to the religious elites: the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of leaven. In the parable of the mustard seed, a small seed grows into a large plant. The seed perseveres and grows into a huge tree. The tiny amount of leaven spreads throughout the large amount of flour. Jesus explains that the hypocrites cannot see the small, wonderful, impactful thing happening right before their eyes: His kingdom is not like what the world expects. His kingdom is anti-self. Because of the fall, all men carry self centeredness. And if we are to access the kingdom of God, it is through an act of denial of self. The kingdom of God is small to the eye, even though it is great in its effects.
Jesus is moving from town to town teaching about the kingdom of God. Someone brings a question to Jesus: “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” and the answer he gives is difficult to hear.
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It's not a direct answer. Instead, it's an admonition that we should concern ourselves with self examination. Instead of answering the question “will those who enter be few?” Jesus answers, “will of those who enter be YOU?” He implores people to "strive," which implies a fight and struggle. As it relates to salvation, he says the way in is narrow. It is hard to achieve the kingdom. You must struggle and fight and kill your flesh. Die to self! Make yourself the right shape and size to fit through that narrow doorway. This does not contradict other texts where it is made clear that salvation is not based on our own efforts. It is an anti-self message.
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These words from Christ tell us that there will be a time when the narrow doorway is closed! Many of those who knew Christ who didn’t fit through the doorway will be turned away from the door. This is purposefully uncomfortable. The Church, and the teaching of Christ is anti-self. If it makes us comfortable, and it seems easy… then it is most likely the wide door, rather than the narrow.
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If you lose everything for Jesus, you will win. But if you win much for self, you will lose. Our way must be denied, and His way, we must strive and struggle and fight for access through the narrow doorway!