How Many?

Series on Luke

IV The Imperatives of the Kingdom

B Instruction in Rejection

10 Saved or Lost

Text: Luke 13:22-30

Introduction

The question here addressed to Jesus in verses 22 and 23 would have been typical of those scribes or Pharisees who were more interested in religious speculation than commitment, Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” Lord,are only a few people going to be saved? Jesus’ response shows that sometimes the most difficult questions have the simplest answers. Jesus implies that this question is really not our concern. What they and we should be concerned with is whether we are on the narrow path that leads to life eternal. Already in 9:51 Luke told us that Jesus had set his face resolutely to go to Jerusalem. He reminds us here that we are even closer to that fateful hour of decision in verse 22. Would the Gentiles be saved? Would the Jews who did not strictly observe the law be saved? Many thought not! Jesus says the vital question is, will you be saved? Consider his answer in four ways: the door, the delusion, the deception, the doom.

I The Door

The Greek translated “make every effort” in verse 24 is the word from which we get agony. It implies the most extreme personal desire. In response to what is a rather light-hearted attitude toward salvation Jesus says it requires extraordinary commitment, He said to them, Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Unfortunately in our time we do everything to make salvation as easy as possible. Our man-centered philosophy makes us want to sweep everyone in with the greatest of ease. It is a sugar coated gospel with 12 lane highway to heaven, and to make it worse, we live in a generation when the philosophy that all roads lead to glory surrounds us. Jesus makes it clear that there is only one door, and he is it, as in John 10:9, I am the gate,whoever enters by me will be saved, and John 14:6, I am the way the truth and the life no man comes to the father except by me. But our Lord goes beyond this. Too often we stop here. He not only says the door is here and it is open, he says that going through it is a life changing decision. Sometimes people have a hard time going through the door to a new job, sometimes they have a hard time going through the door of the church when they’re getting married, both mean a change of lifestyle and commitment. But I guess the hardest door that i can think of is the door to the gas chamber or the room where they give lethal injection to convicted murderers. If you read the gospels carefully that is exactly the comparison Jesus is making. If any man will come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. The problem here is that the questioner has a different “few” in mind than Jesus has. In Matthew 7 He says Narrow is the door that leads to life and few there be that find it, but those few are the ones who truly surrender to his Lordship.

II The Delusion

The delusion, the dream, the fantasy, the fiction is that door will always be open. Jesus closes that door in verses 24 and 25, Many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ Applied to the nation Israel Jesus was reminding them that he was their Messiah, their Savior, their shepherd who was giving his life for them and if they rejected him the door would be shut. This is the primary thrust of his words as he spoke to his own generation. We should not, however, discount these words for our own generation. The apostle Peter, writing to Christians says in II Peter 3:8-11, But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives. I am sure the answer to the last question is that we ought to be people that make every effort to press through the door while it is open.

III The Deception

Here we come to the reason for the delusion. In the thinking of Israel the age of the Messiah was pictured as a banquet in which the Messiah and His people would enjoy table fellowship together. The problem was they were presumptuous about the host. Jesus says the door is open but when the feast begins it will be shut. Now if you invite me to dinner at six and I show up at midnight I’m too late even though you may be my friend. These people assumed that familiarity was the same thing as obedience. This is perfectly pictured in the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25. The five wise ones have oil for their lamps and respond to the call that the bridegroom is coming. The five foolish virgins have no oil and have to go look for some so when they get there the door is shut. In Jesus’ parable here the owner of the house says to those beating on his door. I never knew you in verses 25-27, You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ Workers of unrighteousness! The sense of familiarity was all on their part. Who really are the friends of God? Look at James 2:20-24, You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. James is not saying that salvation is not by grace through faith. We cannot open the door, we cannot issue the invitation, we cannot even respond to the invitation without the gift of grace, but neither can we go through that door and expect to be the same afterward. That’s why James says true believers not only hear the word they do it.

IV The Doom

There is of course doom for those who are not truly committed in verses 28-30, “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.” Such were some to whom Jesus spoke that day. This passage is devastating to the Jewish people. Their fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob will go in, and people from all over, that is the Gentiles will go in, but they will be shut out. They will be out because they did not obey God and show that they truly believed in Him. Their religious exercises were empty. It is always that way with hypocrites. Jesus answer to the initial question is there will be fewer than you expect to see, and many you do not expect to see. Few and many are relative terms. but what counts is that you need not be shut out. The final commentary, the last will be first and the first will be last is not referring to some ranking in heaven but to the distorted human view of what constitutes a right standing with God. The Jews thought they were first, but they will end up last. But whether it is then or now, Jews or Gentiles, the disappointment here is tied to the misconception that I “can be carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease, while others fought to win the prize and sailed through bloody seas. No I must fight if i would reign increase my courage Lord, I’ll bear the toil ,endure the pain supported by thy word.”