As Jesus’ journey toward Jerusalem progresses, He becomes increasingly direct about the consequences of repenting or rejecting Him. Luke’s overwhelming theme is salvation, and that’s foremost in tonight’s encounter. In Luke 13: 5, he talks about “repent or perish.” In Luke 13: 6-9, he describes an unfruitful fig tree, the national symbol of Israel, that resists the care and nourishment of the vinedresser too long, resulting in destruction! These set the stage for tonight’s passage.

Encounter Jesus – Luke Week 9

Jesus, the Narrow Door

Luke 13: 22-30

AUDIO

Lecture Handout

Luke Week 9 – The Narrow Door Handout (2)

Lesson Notes

The Narrow Door (Read Luke 13: 22-30)

  • Verse 22 – Jesus is making His way toward Jerusalem, but He takes a long, windy path
    • visiting towns and villages, teaching, healing, etc.
  • Verse 23 – “Lord, will those who are saved be few?”
    • Most Jews thought they’d all be saved.
    • They’re beginning to realize that Jesus is teaching something else.
    • This is a question people will struggle with today.
    • Even Christians struggle with the idea that many will not be saved.
  • Verse 24 – Strive to enter through the narrow door – recent incidents had highlighted repentance and faith – the narrow door.
    • Many will seek to enter and won’t be able to – they refuse to repent and believe.
    • Trying to get in on their own.
  • Verse 25 – Once the door is shut, it’s not opening.
    • Eventually it will be too late to choose Christ – you’ll die or Christ will return
    • People will beg of Jesus once they stand before Him to be judged
    • And He’ll essentially respond “I don’t know you” – that’s the implication of “I don’t know where you come from”
  • Verse 26 – they say we ate with you, we saw your teaching – this is how we know that the owner in this parable is Jesus
  • Verse 27 – Still Jesus says, “I don’t know where you come from”
    • It’s fine that you come and hang out near Jesus – spending time in church or around Christians
    • That doesn’t mean you know Jesus – you could go to church your whole life and not know Jesus
    • You have to choose faith in Him, choose relationship with Him for yourself!
    • “Depart from me, all you workers of evil”
  • Verse 28 – Cast out of God’s Kingdom – this is for people who didn’t believe – damnation
    • Misery as you SEE others in heaven and know you aren’t going.
    • A huge part of Hell is that eternal separation from God combined with the perfect knowledge that you are separated and why – that it’s your own fault
    • Lists the patriarchs and prophets in heaven
    • But you won’t be there if you don’t enter through the narrow door
  • Verse 29 – People will come from all directions, all nations to feast with God in the Kingdom
    • But not some people who thought they had it all together
  • Verse 30 – The Great Reversal – Last and First
    • From what we’ve seen so far in Luke – sinners and outcasts are in
    • Sinful women and tax collectors are in, by faith
    • Poor and sick are in, by faith
    • Pharisees and religious leaders are out, because no faith
    • Gentiles are in, most Jews are out
  • Jesus is the narrow door – that’s the implication of the passage, but we get help from other gospels
    • Matthew 7: 13-14 – Enter by the narrow gate -> the way that leads to life eternal
    • Matthew 7: 21-23 – People will come to Christ claiming great works in His name – His response – “I never knew you”
    • We must have a genuine relationship with Christ, which begins with the profession of faith, but involves a lifetime of obedience, service, and growing in His likeness.
    • John 14: 6 – The way, truth, life – no one comes to the Father except through the Son
    • Many Christians struggle with t his – we don’t necessarily want it to be true
      • We want our ______ friends to get into heaven as is, because they’re nice
      • But if we take seriously the words of Christ, that isn’t an option
      • It’s not an option because our sin is always too great to approach a perfect and holy God
      • No other door or gate answers the sin problem
    • If this seems unjust to those who aren’t Christians, remember that God made a provision for non-believers nearly 2,000 years ago – “the church”
      • That’s why we have the work of the Great Commission – to shine the light of Christ into a dark and unbelieving world
      • The rallying cry shouldn’t be “that’s unfair,” it should be Romans 10: 11-15
      • This is why we must reach out and support that effort to reach out – to pray for the lost and for the advance of the gospel in the community and around the world.

Today’s Prayer: Pray for the lost to find the narrow door, for us as a community of faith to shine the light to help them find the door.

Next Week: Luke 14: 12-24 (The Parable of the Great Banquet)