The Door that is Narrow

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 13:22-30).

In a time when Jews believed that only the most wicked and evil among them would not be allowed into heaven, someone in the crowd wanted to know if Jesus was going to change that. The question reveals the heart of a follower that was incited by the possibility that Jesus was truly the Christ, the Son of God, with authority over the living and the dead… “For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living” (Romans 14:9). Jesus’ reply is precious and filled with encouraging truth about the door that is narrow.

Faith in Jesus Christ is the narrow door. Jesus did not give a direct answer to the question “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” Instead He revealed a much more important truth about heaven. Certainly the question how many will be saved is much less important than the question how can anyone be saved? Jesus seized this opportunity to echo the wonderful truth that He is the only way to heaven… “’In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.’ Thomas said to him, ‘Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (John 14:2-6). In another place Jesus even more clearly identified Himself as the door to salvation… “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9). Jesus also taught that faith in Him was the key to unlocking and entering the doorway to salvation… “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25-26).

Many will strive but not be saved. Jesus told the inquisitor that many who strive to be saved will not be saved. It’s clear that He was referring to those who seek salvation through their own effort. Salvation by works is an abomination to God because it denies and rejects the sovereignty and grace of His Son, Jesus Christ… “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12). The Holy Spirit affirms this truth about God’s grace in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians… “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Many will be saved without striving. Jesus revealed two truths about those who will enter into salvation by grace through faith in Him. First, they will be many, as they come from the four corners of the earth. Second, they will be from the Jews, who were the first, and the Gentiles, the last to hear the gospel. This truth is confirmed in the Revelation Christ shared with John… “They sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth’” (Revelation 5:9-10).

As we grow up into Christ, we are ever more thankful for the grace that gives us faith to open…

The Door that is Narrow.