April 11 2025

Friday April 11

A Call to the Urgency of Salvation

Luke 13:22-30

22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them, 24 "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,' 26 then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.' 27 But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.' 28 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, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last."

As we have been studying Luke 13, we have heard Jesus give us a call to genuine repentance (vv. 1-5), a call to bear fruit (vv. 6-9), a call to spiritual freedom (vv. 10-17), and a call to spiritual discernment (vv. 18-21).  Today, in Luke 13:22-30, we will hear Jesus give us a call to the urgency of salvation. In this passage, Jesus is journeying toward Jerusalem through Perea’s cities and villages, and He faces a probing question: “Lord, are there few who are saved?” His answer sidesteps speculation, turning it into a personal challenge with the imagery of a narrow gate, a shut door, and a surprising feast. As we look at this passage it should speak to our hearts about our own salvation, and our response to the urgency of God’s call.

As Jesus is teaching, someone, perhaps curious, skeptical, or admiring, asks about the number that will be saved. The scribes often debated this, but Jesus reframes it: “Don’t ask how many; ask if you will be one.” He says, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able” (v. 24). “Strive” here is athletic—agonize, like an Olympian racing for the prize (1 Corinthians 9:25). Salvation is free, but it’s not easy. The gate is narrow, demanding a changed heart, a new birth, and a disciplined life (Luke 9:23; Matthew 7:13-14). Most prefer the wide, easy road to destruction.

Then comes a sobering picture: “When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, you begin to knock, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will say, ‘I do not know you, where you are from’” (v. 25). They protest, “We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets” (v. 26), but He replies, “Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity” (v. 27). These are Jews of Jesus’ day, privileged with His presence, eating with Him, hearing His words, yet uncommitted. They delayed, trusting their heritage as “children of Abraham” or their proximity to Jesus. God was patient, but the door shut, picturing Israel’s rejection and the Roman judgment of AD 70. It’s personal too: familiarity with Christ isn’t faith. Many seek too late, when mercy’s door closes.

The consequence stings: “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out” (v. 28). Imagine the shock of hearing about the patriarchs and prophets feasting, while they’re excluded, and gnashing their teeth in regret over wasted chances (Psalm 112:10). Pride blinded them; they thought they were first, but Gentiles, the “unclean dogs” from east, west, north, and south come and take their place (v. 29). “The last will be first, and the first will be last” (v. 30). God’s kingdom flips human rankings. The Jews’ religious tradition couldn’t save them; it takes more than reverence for the past (Isaiah 64:4; Titus 1:16).

Why did they miss it? For the same reason we miss it!  A false sense of security, Jesus was among them, yet they didn’t trust Him (Luke 10:13-16). Pride kept them from humbling themselves. Worst, their wills resisted: “Ye would not” (Luke 13:34). Delay hardened their hearts, a warning echoed in Hebrews 4:7: “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.” Salvation demands effort, not to earn it, but to overcome sin, Satan, and self through repentance and faith.

For us, this is a wake-up call. The question isn’t “How many?” but “Am I striving?” Many seek casually, liking holiness but not pursuing it, banking on religious church ties or past moments with God. Jesus knows His own; the rest He discards as “workers of iniquity,” despite their pleas. Yet, hope shines: people from all corners of the earth will come, striving against obstacles, and will feast with the saints. Salvation’s door is open now! “And you will seek me and find me when you have searched for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

Closing Challenge

Are you striving or coasting? This week, pinpoint one obstacle to your faith—pride, delay, or complacency. Take a deliberate step through the narrow gate: confess a sin, pray earnestly, or share Christ with someone. Don’t wait until the door shuts—agonize for salvation today.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank You for the narrow gate of grace, open now but not forever. Forgive us for trusting in privilege or procrastination instead of You. Stir us to strive—wrestling sin, seeking You with all we have. Help us enter before it’s too late, and may we rejoice with the saints from every corner. Amen.

God bless!