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Luke 13:22-30
This passage teaches us that Jesus was teaching as He went throughout the towns and the countryside on His way to Jerusalem. Along His way, a man asks Jesus how many people are being saved. This man is not seeking to make a choice based on the condition of his own heart, but that the majority choice of the crowd is more important to him. Jesus teaches this man to put his focus on going through the narrow gate, which at first appearance may seem to be the road less traveled, but the true focus should be on his own beliefs and following what God puts in his heart. He should “narrow” his focus to his own heart. Jesus teaches him that a time will come when the door will be shut and many will be left outside wanting to enter. Jesus says that when the door is closed there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for those who are left out.
The narrow gate (Luke 13:24) will not necessarily conclude that fewer people will enter through it as Jesus states in Luke 13:29 that people will come from the north, south, east, and west to sit down in God’s kingdom. However, Matthew 7:13-14 teaches us that wide is the gate that leads to the many ways of destruction and narrow is the gate which leads to life, and few will find it. The focus of the narrow gate is reiterated in focusing on oneself and not what others are doing. Salvation is received when one opens his or her heart to Jesus and receives His Holy Spirit to dwell within them (John 14:15-18). Jesus taught that it is the condition of one’s heart that is one’s true self as where one’s treasure is so will be his heart (Matthew 6:21). No one else can make the decision for one’s heart except oneself.
Jesus concludes His response by saying that many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. This is referring to the self-righteous Pharisees who believe that they are holy because they parade around for everyone to see how holy they can make themselves; the ones who think they are first but will be last. And the Gentiles, who believe that they will be last or possibly excluded from salvation, by believing in Jesus, may be first.
This is a promise and example that salvation is a personal choice that while God calls us to Him, we must make the choice to receive Him for ourselves (the narrow gate), and not by following the crowd (those who will be left on the outside where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Luke 13:28).
This same concept holds true for us today. Accepting Jesus is a personal decision that will begin a personal relationship with our Creator God through believing that His Son died to pay our price for sin and then rose from the grave defeating sin, death, and Satan once for all (Romans 8:8-11). The wages of sin is death for those who will be left on the outside where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23).
Dear Lord,
Please give us the courage to enter through the narrow gate and realize the importance of our personal decision to believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to You except through Your Son Jesus (John 14:6). In Jesus name I pray, amen.