STRIVE TO ENTER THROUGH THE NARROW DOOR
Luke 13:1-35
Key Verse: 13:24
“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”
There was a popular TV show called “Let’s make a deal.” In this show winning contestants are asked to choose a door to obtain their prize. One door can have an expensive prize such as a car or a dream vacation, while other doors are empty. So they have to choose wisely. In this passage, Jesus mentions a door we should make every effort to enter. It is the narrow door. In Matthew 7:13, he mentions another door or pathway; it is known as the wide gate or broad door. The broad door looks cool and many fun things to do, but according to Jesus that door “leads to destruction.” However, the narrow door leads us to Christ and our final destination: the kingdom of God. In the show, Let’s make a deal, the host will not tell the contestants which door to choose. But Jesus tells us which door we should choose! Jesus says in verse 24, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” The words “will not be able” are very, very serious warnings to those Christians who skillfully want to follow Christ their own way. Let’s study very carefully and prayerfully, so that we may discover what is “the narrow door” that leads to the kingdom of God.
First, the narrow door is a life of repentance ,the broad door is a life based on one’s feelings (1-5). There some people who gathered around Jesus and mentioned to him about a gruesome and tragic story of Galileans whose blood Pilate mingled with their pagan sacrifices. How did Jesus respond? Look at verse 2,3 “…Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” Jesus also mentioned about another tragic story about eighteen people who fell to their death while on the tower in Siloam. He answered the same. “…unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (3,5)
To Jesus, it is not important how or why they died. To Jesus the tragedy of mankind is not the physical death that comes to all people. It is eternal punishment that comes upon those who do not repent. Here “perish” refers to the second death-eternal punishment in the fiery lake of burning sulfur (Rev. 21:8). Repentance is from the Greek word “metanoia” which means a “change of mind.” This means we change our minds how we view of God, ourselves, life events and others. Simply it means to see God in every situation. We are all sinners, we have to constantly repent of our pride, selfishness, unbelief, etc. To Jesus, repentance is most urgent for sinners. It is more urgent than getting a job or getting married. These days the word repentance is very unpopular and it is a politically incorrect subject that you will never ever hear discussed publicly. So we’ll never ever hear Conan or Letterman on the late night shows ask any of their guests, “What do you have to personally repent of?” But in this part, Jesus emphasizes the utmost importance of repentance as a prerequisite for eternal salvation.
One thing the crowd needs to repent of is fatalism. Jesus saw his people suffering from a fatalistic worldview. They thought the men died because they were terrible sinners. Sometimes when something bad happens to us we assume God is punishing us for a certain sin. This is not true. It is true that God is the God of justice and mercy. When he punishes, it is usually the last resort. God’s heart desire is to save and not to destroy. John 3:17 says “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Life is full of tragedies some experience divorce, death, financial ruin, etc. When something unfortunate happens, we can choose between two doors: narrow and the broad. The broad door is to live by one’s feelings. However, the broad door leads to fatalism and despair. The narrow door is to repent and see God. Last year, my brother and his wife experienced a great tragedy. My nephew Aaron died, 3 months after his birth. My brother fell into fatalism and questioned if God is punishing him for some sin he committed. My brother and his wife, could have become bitter towards God. However, my brother and his wife decided to enter the narrow door. They repented of their unbelief and decided to thank God. Through this ordeal, their love and faith in God deepened. They accepted that Aaron did not belong to them but to God. Last month, God blessed them with another son Xakery. Ironically, he was born the same day Aaron. Let us decide to enter the narrow door. Let us not live with fatalism in our hearts, but repent and see God’s love in every situation.
Second, the narrow door is the way of fruit bearing (6-9), while the broad door is the way of barrenness. In this parable, a man came to his fig tree seeking fruit and found none. He tells his vinedresser to cut it down since it hasn’t produced fruit after three years. But the vinedressers ask to give it one more year, he will try his best to make it bear fruit. If not, then it will be cut down. In this parable, the fig tree represents the life God has given to each of us. He gave us each life to be used for his glory. This is life is on loan by God. Here we learn God created us to bear fruit. Again, we have a choice to choose the narrow door of fruit bearing or the broad door of barrenness. Let us look at two examples of bearing fruit in verse 10-21.
Verses 10-17, reveals the contrasting lives of each choice. Jesus bore the fruits of compassion, while the synagogue ruler bore fruit of hypocrisy. In this part, Jesus healed a woman who was crippled. To a woman, outward appearance is most important. But this woman was a hunchback for 18 years. She lost hope of marriage. Jesus had compassion on her and healed her. She was a slave to Satan, but now has become a daughter of Abraham. Everyone was happy and praised God. However, there was one person who was not happy. It was the synagogue ruler. He criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath day. This man was ready to take care of his ox and his donkey, but he had no heart for this suffering woman. Jesus loved the ruler and exposed the root of his fruitless life. It was his hypocrite lifestyle. From last week, we were taught a hypocrite is an actor. He acted holy, but had no holy desire. Jesus was sorry this man did not bear any fruit in his life. He was like the barren fig tree that might be cut down.
In verses 18-21, the parable of the mustard seed and leaven is the fruit of good influence. A mustard seed is smaller than the sesame seeds of a Big Mac bun. But when it is planted it becomes a tree where many birds find rest. It is also like leaven which is like yeast, unseen. It permeates the dough and makes the bread big and full. The narrow door looks small like a mustard seed and insignificant like leaven. But in the end, it will produce a good and lasting influence. On the other hand, the broad door leads to spectacular, glamorous and impressive things. But in the end, everything will perish, spoil and fade away. When Jesus was born, he looked insignificant compared to the mighty Caesar Augustus. Jesus influence has branched out throughout the world the last 1000 years. He continues to do His mighty work throughout the world and our West Loop Church. Where is Caesar now? Caesar has become synonymous to a pizza chain and dog names. Bible study looks insignificant like a mustard seed. Students tend to despise our invitation to Bible study. But God works through the small seeds and yeast of Bible study. He changes our lives slowly and quietly and makes us fruitful and a source of good influence.
How can we bear fruit of compassion and good influence? John 15:5 reads "I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." We can bear fruit, when we remain in Jesus. Here fruit doesn't have to be tangible like growing disciples. Gal 5:22 (NIV) "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." These two examples teaches us that unless we Christians bear fruit pleasing to God, we will become like a fruitless tree where God will say, “cut it down” (7,9). Like the twice repeated warning “unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (3,5), this warning to the unfruitful is also repeated twice.
Third, the narrow door leads to the salvation (22-30), while the broad door leads to weeping and gnashing of teeth. As Jesus was heading to Jerusalem, someone asked him “Lord, will those are saved be few?” Perhaps this man shared a prevailing opinion that all the Israelites would be saved simply because they were Abraham’s descendants and all the Gentiles i.e. non-Jews, would be condemned simply because they were not Abraham’s descendants. How did Jesus answer? Look at verse 24 ““Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” Here the narrow door is Christ himself. Jesus understand to enter this door is not so easy. To enter the broad door requires no effort. But to enter the narrow door, we need to strive. Another term is to “make every effort.” Athletes make every effort in order to become a chosen Olympian. Students who make every effort can become straight ‘A’ students. It is no different as a Christian. This requires blood, sweat and tears. Some have given everything they have including their lives to enter this door.
Jesus mentions that time to enter the narrow door also have a time limit. It will not always be open. Look at verse 25 “When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, you will 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.’ Many Christians know what they should do, but they don’t make a decision for Christ. Salvation is at hand, we should not procrastinate. There will be a time when the door will be shut.
Jesus said many will seek to enter but not be able to. They had the false notion that they can be saved simply by association with Jesus. Look at verse 26, 27 “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!’ They thought they deserved to enter the house. They thought were saved because they drank and ate with Jesus and even heard him teach. What was the problem? The problem was they never made a commitment to follow him. This false notion of knowing Jesus by association is prevalent in our day. These days many they think they are saved if they wear a cross on their necks, vote republican, they are born in a Christian home or attend Westloop Church. Some even associate with Jesus for the wrong reasons. They follow Jesus because there are pretty girls at the church or they follow Jesus because they want to be entertained and feel good. However, salvation comes through personalization with Jesus. A good example of personalization is when Jesus asked his disciples in Luke 9:20, “Who do you say I am?” Jesus wanted each of disciples to make a personal commitment to him. Peter answered “The Christ of God.” Personally, this means we must accept Jesus as our Christ and King. This is commitment is also similar to marriage, “For better or for worse and till death.” According to verse 27, apart from full commitment to Christ, everything else is evil. In verse 28, 29, Jesus dispels the notion that the Israelites will be the only ones saved simply because they were Abraham’s descendants. Jesus said many Gentiles would be saved because of their personal faith in Jesus. Many Gentiles would feast with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and all the prophets.
Fourth, the narrow door leads to the Kingdom of God, while the broad road leads to nowhere (31-35). Some religious leader came to Jesus warning of Herod’s murderous plot. Perhaps they plan to scare him. How did Jesus respond? Jesus didn’t even blink. Jesus continued to do the work of God with boldness and courage. Jesus was on the narrow road and he had a clear path to the kingdom of God so he had absolutely no fear. Those on the broad road see many twist and turns that leads dark alleys and dead ends. When I first began driving as a teen, I made a wrong turn on a highway, I was so scared because I was lost, that I wet my pants. In life’s road do you every feel like that? Take the next exit on the narrow road and you will never be lost! Jesus is your GPS (Great Personal Savior) in life.
When one is fearful, selfish preservation is the first desire. In verse 34, Jesus did not even think about saving himself. He broke down with tears and lamented for the city of Jerusalem. He long to gather them in his arms but they were not willing. These days’ people are so fearful about losing their jobs, the swine flu and the year 2012. They can’t think of others but themselves. I pray we may keep on the narrow road and boldly do the work of God and lament for those who are lost in life.
In this passage, we learn we have to make a decision which door we have to enter. We cannot avoid this decision. This decision we determine our present and future life. We learn we must strive to enter the narrow door. We learn Jesus is the narrow door. Jesus the narrow door leads to the kingdom of God. Practically, we can enter the narrow door by the way of repentance, bearing spiritual fruit and having a personal relationship with Christ. May God bless you to enter the narrow door.