The Narrow Door – Luke 13:22-30

According to Bible.org, “Ninety-five percent of all Christians have never won a soul to Christ.  Eighty percent of all Christians do not consistently witness for Christ.  Less than two percent are involved in the ministry of evangelism.  Seventy-one percent do not give toward the financing of the great Commission.  On a global scale, the countries with the most unreached people groups are India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh and Nepal.  The 50 largest unreached people groups comprise 1.476 billion people.  Forty-nine of these people groups are in restricted countries.  I know one missionary in one of these Muslim nations.  Will there be few who enter the kingdom?

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 ESV)

After Jesus’ remarks about the kingdom being like leaven someone has the question about how many will be saved and anticipates that the answer is, “few.”  Jesus does not answer this question directly.  Instead he describes the doorway into the kingdom as narrow.  This does not mean it is not available to all, nor difficult to enter, but that it is specific and there is a right and a wrong way as opposed to a very general and commonly conceived way.  The commonly conceived way to be saved is to do enough good deeds to win God’s favor.  The rebellious human heart loves this answer because it keeps him in control of his own destiny and makes salvation his reward for being so good.

But Jesus indicates that “many” will be unable to enter this door to the kingdom.  The door has and will be open until the Master shuts it and it is only then that some will try to enter, when they realize that their attempts to live life apart from faith in God have failed and the judgment is come.  God will declare that He does not know where they come from and won’t let them enter, and that they are “workers of evil” who cannot be let in.

Nevertheless, there will be many from all over the world who do come to His house and recline at table in the kingdom.  Many who would not be expected to be allowed in will come in because they submitted their lives to their Maker through Jesus His Son.  Can you say, “missions”?