Morning Bible Study: Luke 13:22-30

The Narrow Way

22 He went through one town and village after another, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. 

23 “Lord,” someone asked him, “are only a few people going to be saved?”

He said to them,

24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able 

25 once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door. Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up for us!’ He will answer you, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from.’ 

26 Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ 

27 But he will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you’re from. Get away from me, all you evildoers!’ 

28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth in that place, when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown out. 

29 They will come from east and west, from north and south, to share the banquet [Lit recline at the table] in the kingdom of God. 

30 Note this: Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

Commentary

(the following is from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary, 1706 -- www.christianity.com)

"Our Savior came to guide men's consciences, not to gratify their curiosity. Ask not, How many shall be saved? But, Shall I be one of them? Not, What shall become of such and such? But, What shall I do, and what will become of me? Strive to enter in at the strait gate. This is directed to each of us; it is, Strive ye. All that will be saved, must enter in at the strait gate, must undergo a change of the whole man. Those that would enter in, must strive to enter. 

Here are awakening considerations, to enforce this exhortation. Oh that we may be all awakened by them! They answer the question, Are there few that shall be saved? But let none despond either as to themselves or others, for there are last who shall be first, and first who shall be last. If we reach heaven, we shall meet many there whom we little thought to meet, and miss many whom we expected to find."