Text: Luke 13:22-30
Date: December 8, 2024

Introduction

General Introduction: Today we come to a passage which I personally believe if one of the most fearful passages in the entire New Testament. I have been tempted many times when preaching sermons to reference this passage, but have held myself back most times from doing so, because of the gravity of Christ’s words, and not wanting to throw these words around lightly. Jesus, in this passage, minces no words. He speaks with utmost clarity on the final judgment that is to come, when each stand before God on our judgment. And in this passage he describes two different kinds of people. On the one hand are those who will enter into glory, and rest in the presence of Christ, alongside the great prophets of old. And on the other side are those who are cast out from the Kingdom, away from Christ, and into Hell. The great sadness about this passage is not just that folks are cast away from the presence of Christ, but that they thought they were going to be getting in. They were deceived, deluded.

Today’s Tone: The tone of today’s message is quite serious. And I tell you that up front. I always preach with severity, because I know that I will stand before God on my judgment and give an account for every word that I have preached from this pulpit. I take this very seriously. But today there is an added seriousness, an increased urgency of preaching, because Christ in this text elevates the conversation to one of urgency, and immediacy, and importance.

Main Idea: In the midst of Christ’s teaching today, he lays out one clear command. This is a command that Christ is speaking to you. He says, “Strive to enter through the narrow door.”

Luke 13:22–30 “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 la…”

Meaning & Application

As we consider this text, I want to consider it by answering four questions that are essential to understand in depth if we are to be blessed by this passage.

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I WHY IS THE GATE NARROW?

First, why is the gate narrow?

General Remarks: We might begin by remembering that this was certainly not brand new language for Jesus. Back in Matthew 7:13 in the midst of his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said:

Matthew 7:13–14 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

The imagery is similar. We are instructed to imagine that there are two ways to go through this life. One way is a very wide path with a very wide door to enter through. It is easy to enter through. It costs a person very little. This wide way and this wide gate is the path of least resistance. It is the path of the many. It is the way of the world. And Jesus says “That way leads to death.” But there is a second way, a narrower way with a narrower gate. It is a far more difficult path, a far more difficult journey, filled with all kinds of dangers and risks and unknowns and uncertanties. But though it is more dangerous, it is the only path to life, and therefore do not miss it.

Illustration: Dogs with Stick: Remember our question that we are attempting to answer. Why is the gate narrow? What is it about this doorway that is so restricting. The truth is that the problem is not with the gate, but with us. We are like dogs trying to enter a door with a seven foot stick in their mouth. They can’t get through because they’re unwilling to let go of the stick. Let me tell you four of the major sticks that you must let go of, if you wish to enter the narrow gate.

1 Pluralism: First, the pluralism. Today, the religion that is popular is the one that says that all paths lead to God, it is called pluralism. But you must abandon that stick. Jesus Christ alone, is the gate. He is the door. He instructed as much in John 10 when he said.

John 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

The question asked was “Will only be saved.” And Christ’s answer is not that all will be saved. It is to show how difficult it is to be saved, and that many will be lost. Jesus is not a door among many. He is the only door. He is the way, the truth, and the life. This is very narrow. It is exclusive. It is not Christ as one among many acceptible forms of spirituality. It is not Christ alongside secular visions of success and secular visions of religious plurality. It’s Christ alone. To enter through the narrow door, is to believe in Christ, his death and his resurrection for the forgiveness of sin.

2 Pride: Second stick: pride. We see in our story before us a group of individuals who stand before the very gate, but are not permitted through. And the reason for their failure? Pride! These foolish men believe they are worthy to enter the narrow gate. They quickly spout off their accomplishments as if they had something to boast about.

Luke 13:26 Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’

There they are, standing at their final judgment, and what is their appeal to Jesus as to why he should let them in. “Look at what we have done.” No! They have it all wrong. The answer is look at He has done, what Christ has done! These men cannot physically enter the gate because they are so puffed up with pride. They are like oversized floats at a parade puffed up greater than a city block, and they are trying to squeeze through the narrow gate. Foolishness. They must first have their egos popped to release the air. And what will they find? Underneath all the gas that and air, was just a helpless poor wretched sinner in desparate need of salvation. That is you. And all forms of deceiving ourselves that we are something other than that is just dressing ourselves in a cartoon foolery.

3 Pleasure: Third stick: pleasure. Jesus says the way that leads to life is difficult. The life of a Christian is a rocky path indeed. Yes, Christ is our great comforter. Yes he is our healer. Yes he is our helper. Yes he gives us the Spirit to lead and guide. Is the Christian life the only true way to life, with joy, with satisfaction, yes! But make no mistake, the path he leads us on is full of trouble on every side. Christ must lead you through the gate, but many who at first desire to be led by CHrist through the gate, find that they never let go of the hand of this other master, the Lord of Pleasure.

4 People Pleasing: Fourth and finally, the stick of people pleasing. Many will try to hold Christ’s hand but as he starts to lead you, you will hear the mocking voices of the world around you telling you all that you stand for and all that you believe in is wrong or overdone. We look back at our list of Christian heroes of history and we celebrate their lives. But you have to understand in their days, they were labeled everything you can imagine. They were labeled bigots, and closed minded, and anti-science, and overly political. But, like the Apostle Paul, they held on to Christ’s hand despite the chorus calls around them.

Closing Remarks: Truly this is a narrow gate. What stick are you holding onto? What little vice is threatening your journey on the narrow path

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II WHY ARE WE COMMANDED TO STRIVE TO ENTER

The second question we ought to ask from this text is ‘Why are we commanded to strive to enter?’

The Simple Answer: There is a very simple answer to this isn’t there? Jesus, in this passage is dealing with eternal destinies. He is speaking about the final judgment and where we will all spend eternity lays out two paths for each and every person’s eternal destiny. And there are two and only two options. There are those who enter through the narrow door, through Jesus Christ and his death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sin. And there are those who are cast out from his presence into a place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Pastoral Urging: And now we must linger here for a moment. This is the text before us. We cannot escape or avoid Jesus words. And I want to urge each and every person in this room to think deeply on this truth. The day is coming quickly when each of us will stand before a Holy God. And according to this passage, it will be too late to chose another course. We either choose Christ in this life, or we suffer away from Christ in the next life.

Path 1 – The Narrow Gate: Let us first examine the beauty and wonder of the other side of the Narrow Gate.

Kingdom of God (28): First, in verse 28, Paradise is called the “Kingdom of God.” Now that phrase we have already preached on as we have gone through Luke. While we experience the Kingdom of God in part here, we will be immersed in the fullness of the Kingdom there. While we experience Christ through the presence of the Holy Spirit here, we will be in the presence of Christ himself there. While we enjoy fellowship with other believers here, we will dine with the prophets of old there in a depth of relationship that is not marked by even the slightest shade of sin. We will live in the Kingdom of God.

All Kinds of People: And in verse 29 Jesus says that people will come from every direction (from the North, South, East, and West) across the planet into the Kingdom. This means that heaven will be a fascinatingly diverse place, as saints from every culture, and every tribe enter through that narrow door.

Recline at Table: Notice the language, they will “recline at table.” That is a reference to the leisurely way that men and women in that day and age enjoyed a meal together. Their meals would be served at low tables to the ground, and you would sit with your feet by the table, leaning back on an elbow, enjoying conversation between bites of food. This is an image of full joy, and rest, and abundance. In the Kingdom of God, we will be joined by saints from around the world, and we will rest, and be filled. We will eat, and be satisfied. We will be commune, and enjoy one another. We will see Christ, and talk with Christ, and share a meal with Christ. Yes, the Kingdom of Heaven is a kingdom of radical abundance, and overflowing joy and loveliness. There will be no shade of sin, no ounce of discontent, no striving after more, because every moment and every experience will be always be perfectly enough.

Those Who are First: And in the Kingdom of Heaven, we will see that some of the most cherished saints in that place, were hidden gems in this world. Some of those who are considered last here in the eyes of the world, will be so near to the heart of Christ there in that world. Nobody will be jealous about whose lot is better or worse in that kingdom. For we will all rejoice with one another at the goodness and the reward we have received.

Final Word: Friends, strive to enter by the narrow gate. Everything your soul has ever wanted, and so much more, is found through that narrow gate. It is worth every sacrifice.

Path 2 – Cast Out: But there is another destiny. And this passage has some words to share about that destiny as well.

Seeking to Enter (24): First of all, it describes those who are not permitted to enter the Kingdom as seeking to enter the kingdom, yet being unable. CS Lewis very famously painted a picture of hell this way. He said in hell there will be tour busses up to heaven, and the doors will be wide open to let anyone in who wants to come in. But that tour bus from hell will drive right by and every person on the bus will say “No, not me, I don’t want to go in there.” While that is a bit more easy to digest vision of heaven and hell, I am afraid it does not comport with this passage. Jesus says, that at least some will look into the Kingdom of Heaven and desire to be in there, but will not be permitted.

Weeping and Gnashing of Teeth (28): Jesus says they will be cast out from his presence into a place where there is “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” I don’t think this means that they are being physically tortured in a way that causes that kind of traumatic response. But that language seems to be something of a metaphor to describe the aweful reality that will beset those on whom the door to the Kingdom of Heaven shuts forever. When the last glimmer of light fades. And you turn and face your reality with the full knowledge that eternity is forever. That experience can be only be described as “weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

I know not where you come from: Twice in this passage, Jesus says to those who end up here, “I do not know where you come from.” I want us to linger on this phrase for a moment, because Jesus repeats it twice, and I think it is near the center of this passage. You can just picture thes individuals standing at the precipice of their eternity, appealing to Christ to let them in, and being confronted by those words “I do not know where you come from.” This is not the only time Jesus used language like this. In Matthew 7, Jesus taught something very similar. He said

Matthew 7:21–23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

I think that wording “I never knew you” gets at the heart of what Christ is saying. These men and women were around Jesus. They ate in his presence, they even tried to take his name upon their lips. They participated in Christianity. But their participation was not marked by knowing Christ, but simply by being around Christianity. Today, the phrase “nominal Christian” comes to mind. Someone who came to Church, was around Christ, saw others who knew Christ, but they themselves did not know Jesus. You can just imagine a nominal believer standing before Christ and saying, “But I went to Church all the time.” And Christ saying, “I never knew you.” God forbid one soul in this room experiences such a fate.

How Can You Tell If This is You: I’d like to a moment and just appeal to each of you in this room today, don’t let this be you. One of the heavier aims of my preaching is to help expose what the Bible refers to as hypocrites. And at times, I confess I have perhaps pushed on that aspect of preaching a bit too hard. But the reason I have done so is because of passage like this, and because I want every person who ever leaves any sermon I ever preach, to leave with an overwhelming sense of assurance of their salvation.

Not Salvation by Works: I want to be very clear. This is not salvation by works. See if you hear this message and you think, “I just have be more zealous, then I’ll be saved,” then you’ve got it all wrong. No one is saved by works. We are saved by grace through faith alone! The only thing we can do is to fall down in utter surrender at the feet of Jesus, confess our sin, and cast all our hope on him that He will save us. And then he leads us through that narrow gate, and when he does that, he plants a seed of striving after Christ in your heart. I am not the judge of who confession of faith is sincere and whose is not, that is God’s responsibility. But I can lay before you some tests that you can ask yourself that will be helpful indicators.

Repent & Confess: Have you confessed and repented to God, that you are guilty of all kinds of sin. And that God would be utterly just and totally justified in casting you away from His presence? And is that sense of your sin, in some degree, ever with you?

Belief in the Cross: Have you looked to the cross, and seen Jesus in his death. And do you, with all of your heart believe that Christ died for you on the cross in order that your sin might be forgiven. And is your life defined by that great exchange, of Christ’s life for yours underneath the wrath of God?

Desire to Follow Christ No Matter the Cost: Do you see the fruit in your life of a desire to “strive to enter through the narrow gate?” This is a fruit of the Spirit, meaning once Christ has truly rescued a soul, a zeal for godly living begins to well up in them because of their love of Christ.

Caution: If you see these things in your life, even in their infancy, then I think you know deep in your soul already all about the Kingdom being prepared for you. But if you are in here today, and you’re saying, “Actually, I’m a lot like those men in the story today that are around Christianity, but my life is not defined by the Lordship of Jesus, then friend perhaps today is the day when you need to begin the journey for the very first time with Christ. Perhaps today is the day to get honest with God, to repent of sin, to come to the end of yourself, to latch onto Christ.

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III HOW MIGHT WE STRIVE TO ENTER?

With my remaining time, I would like to answer one more question. The main imperative that Christ gives us in this passage, is that we are to “strive to enter through the narrow door.” That is a command from Jesus. This is not an option. Those who are to inherit the Kingdom of God will strive to enter. The word means “to agonize, to exert significant effort, to overcome obstacles in order to achieve the set goal.”

Illustration – Mountain: If you will imagine with me for a moment, a great mountain before you. Filled with steep cliffs, hidden caves and dangers, all kinds of wild and terrible animals, pitfalls. There is no way up it, but for a seemingly impossible narrow path, that at times looks nearly impossible to see. There are parts of that path that in the distance that you are certain, there is no possible way you could get through. But you know that at the end of that path is that precious narrow gate, Christ. As a Christian, whether iyou perish along the way, whether good weather or bad weather accompanies you, Christ is all in all, and the narrow path you will follow. With that as your image, what advice do we give our traveler. Let me give you three tips for your journey. Permit me to give you three bits of advice for this journey.

1 Learn to Use Your Map and Compass: First, learn to use your map and compass as if you truly depended on them. Your map is the Word of God, the Bible. It tells you everything you need to know about how to stay on that narrow path and arrive at that narrow gate. Your compass is the Holy Spirit that has been given to you. A Christian who reads their Bible every day, and who prays in the Spirit throughout the day, will most certainly not lose the path. But show me a traveler up that mountain who very rarely opens their map, and very rarely opens their compass, and I’ll show you a man or woman who is either lost already or on the verge of it. God has given you these tools not to tickle your mind, but to save your soul.

2 Find Sherpas to Lead You Through the Hardest Parts: Second, you must find sherpas to lead you through the hardest parts. When climbing unknown difficult terrains, climbers will hire local experts called sherpas, men familiar with the mountain to lead them properly. If you want to strive faithfully, you will need some guides, some men and women who are proven, who are a little weather worn, who have a few scars to prove their faithfulness, who you can follow. A good sherpa is usually not your best friend, but they’re dependable.

I humbly submit to you, that your Pastor, whether that be me or whatever Church you are a part of, ought to be a primary sherpa for you. Every Christian needs a Pastor. Someone whom you trust. Someone who is doctrinally sound. Someone who is up ahead of the path a little bit, and showing you the way. Wherever you go in your life after, find a faithful pastor, and follow him.

3 Get Rid of the Junk that is Slowing You Down: Third, get rid of the junk that is slwoing you down. Imagine for a moment that climber trying to get up that mountain while carrying a full sized suitcase full of all their belongings. They’ll never make it. Their only hope is to let go of the suitcase. It’s holding them back. Church, we must regularly scan our life, and ask what habits, what relationships, what media, what hobbies, what belongings, what personal plans and desires, we have that are functioning like that suitcase. And the very hard work of striving, is letting go of it. Is there anything in your life that God is asking you to let go of? Maybe its music listen to, or television you watch. Perhaps its a bad habit with technology. Or maybe its a friendship that keeps leading you off the narrow path.

Closing Remarks: What a precious, wonderful, gift our salvation is! What a treasure Christ is! What a kingdom love the Kingdom! What a radical life we have been called to. What a joyous fellowship we participate in! What a feast we shall have! And all of this, and so much more, because Jesus Christ, gave his life for us! His love is overwhelming.

Closing

I’d like to close our sermon today with an invitation to every person in this room. Perhaps you’re in here today, and one of two things is true of you. Either, you are not a follower of Jesus, but today you would like to become a follower of Christ. Or, perhaps up until today you may have called yourself a follower of Jesus, but in reality you were a nominal Christian, there was no striving, and the truth there was no striving because you were not yet a Christian. If that is you as well, I want to invite you right now to fall down at the foot of the cross, and to cast yourself upon Christ. Only he can transform your heart.