As most of you know, life is a constant series of choices – doors – many of which are rather simple. At any point in your life, you may be presented with two doors, and of necessity you make your choice. Once you pass through that particular door, you soon come to another pair of doors or maybe three. After making that choice there are two more – and then four more – and then two doors again. The Lord Jesus presents this idea to us here in these scriptures. In fact, this is an image which He brings to our attention in a couple of different contexts. Luke 13 appears to have been part of a gospel message, but Matthew 7 was primarily intended for His disciples. In both scriptures the Lord suggests that one of the most important pairs of doors in our lives is in regard to Himself – His kingdom and salvation from sin. And in that light one listener asked an appropriate question – “Lord, are there few that be saved?”
The majority of the people of this world think that nearly everyone will be saved and eventually make it to Heaven. The only possible exceptions will be really, really bad people like Hitler, Stalin and serial killers. But even those opinions are open to debate. Some people aren’t even sure that murderous dictators and serial killers will be excluded from Heaven. Just give them a few years in purgatory to drive away their wickedness and then let them in. After all, how can a loving God turn away the people of His own creation?
I am afraid that when the final reckonings are made – when the saints finally stand before the Bema Throne – and then later when “the rest of the dead, small and great stand before God, and the books are opened, and the dead are judged out of those books according to their works“… not only will the non-believer be surprised when they are not invited into the Kingdom of God – but even the saints will be surprised at their relatively small number. I fear that there will be thousands of former members of God’s churches, who will stand among the crowd in front of the Great White Throne, rather than with the saints at the Judgment Seat of Jesus Christ. That may even have been true of disciples who were listening to Christ that day on the hill. There are many reasons to come to this conclusion and these passages are just a pair of them. “Lord, will there be many, or few, who are finally saved?”
Keeping Matthew 7 in the back of our minds, I’d like us to think about Luke 13 using these six divisions: The QUESTION, the SERMON, the REASON, the ARGUMENT, the REPLY, and the RESULT. Please follow along with me – because this is very important.
First there was the QUESTION: “Lord, are there few that be saved?”
We are not told the identity of the man who asked the question. We are not told if it was one of Jesus’ disciples or one of His enemies. Whoever this was, by asking the question, that person probably felt good about the asking. After all didn’t he display a certain kind of spirituality by asking such a great question? This was one of the common academic questions discussed and debated in the Jewish seminaries. People who ask questions like this must be far more spiritual than the rest of humanity.
Generally speaking there is a lot more interest in the exotic things of the Bible than in the more important. If I published in the newspaper that next Sunday I would prove that Barak Obama is the anti-Christ, we might have a pretty good crowd in here – perhaps including some government investigators. If I announced that I could positively prove whether or not there were nails on the ends of the toes of Nebuchadnezzar’s image and exactly what they meant, that might excite some people. If I announced that we would spend a month analyzing the question of a cash-less society in the light of the mark of the beast, we might attract some of the curious. But then on the other hand, how much of a crowd would be here if we began a series of messages on the Kingdom of God?
People get excited about the mysterious and exciting, but the really important questions often get ignored. And even though “Lord, are there few that be saved?” is in some ways a worthy query, that questioner could have been asking far more important questions. For example, he might have asked, “Lord, what must – “I“ – do to be saved?” Instead, he probably patted himself on the back for asking something so thought-provoking – theological and religious. And besides, people who ask questions like this one, must already be among the saved, right?
Although the Lord eventually and indirectly answered the question, He began with a MINI-SERMON.
What did the Lord mean by the words “strive to enter in at the strait gate”? The Lord Jesus doesn’t say a word here about forgiveness, regeneration, adoption or justification. He didn’t mention the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb, or the application of the blood of Atonement. He doesn’t talk about faith or repentance either. The word “grace” can’t be found in either of these two scriptures. In fact the implication is that “entering” in is the responsibility and work of man.
Perhaps the thing to note here are four words found in Luke 13:28 – “the kingdom of God.” The thing, the room, or the place into which we should be striving to enter is “the kingdom of God.” Some people may try to dispute that point, but it’s actually pretty tough one to win. The Kingdom of God is found throughout the New Testament from the Sermon on the Mount to the epistles of Paul. Out many dozens of scriptures, I’d like you to look at just one:
Turn to Acts 28:23-31. “And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. Be it known therefore unto you, that THE SALVATION OF GOD is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and had great reasoning among themselves. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching THE KINGDOM OF GOD, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.” Was Paul preaching the gospel or was he preaching the kingdom of God? Is there a difference?
What is the Kingdom of God? By definition a kingdom has a couple of essential parts: A kingdom involves a King and the dominion over which He rules. Isn’t this the subject of the Lord’s words in Matthew 7 even though they aren’t found there? “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” I remember the day when it occurred to me that the word “strait” wasn’t misspelled. It’s not “S-T-R-A-I-G-H-T,” but rather “S-T-R-A-I-T.” And the meaning is entirely different as well. It’s not talking about a straight line or a straight road – one which doesn’t bend or curve. It is talking about something that is narrow and tight – constricted. It is more like a straitjacket rather than a straight line. What is this narrow gate or the door into the Kingdom of God? It is exactly the same as the gate or the door into salvation – it is the Lord Jesus Christ. “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” – John 10:7 and 9. In case someone is wondering, the word “strive” means exactly what you might think that it means. It means “to fight,” or “labor fervently” – it is related to “strife.” The Greek word is “ag-o-nid’-zom-a-hee” from which we get the word “agonize.” The man asked “Are there few that be saved?” And Lord Jesus’ mini-sermon in answer to the question was: “Agonize to enter in at the strait gate.”
But why is this agony so important; What is the REASON?
“For many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are.”
The Lord here is using a small example to illustrate a much larger truth. He talks about a house, as representing the Kingdom of God. So picture a nice 2,000′ bungalow with an open door, inviting each and every passerby to come on in. The owner of the house is sitting on a chair in the living room right in front of the door or window. He has a big smile on his face as He waits for people to come in to visit. It is not necessary to bring gifts to this Host. It is He who is ready to give gifts to everyone who comes into His house. But there is an obvious proviso – the house belongs to the Master. And if anyone enters in it will be according to His rules. Furthermore the doorway is rather strait, forcing the visitors to leave some things behind. And that is precisely why so few enter into the house. In order to enjoy the house, visitors must be willing to acknowledge the Master. In order to enter the Kingdom it is essential that we submit ourselves to the King.
The door to the Lord’s house is wide open today – it may be strait – but it is open. It has been open for a great many centuries, and the Lord has employed thousands of evangelists to encourage people to enter. But at some point the Master is going to get up out of His chair and walk over to close that door. And at that moment a storm is going to come crashing down on the irresponsible people outside. It will be just as it was in the days of Noah. They are going to come running up to the door of the Master’s house, begging for admission. But it will be eternally too late. “When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, And ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; And he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are” – Luke 13:25.
And then there will come all the ARGUMENTS of the outsiders.
“Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.” Just a few moments after Jesus said, in His sermon on the mount, “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, And many there be which go in thereat”, He added, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” Here He says, “But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”
These people, then locked out of the house, will argue, “But we’ve enjoyed your gracious blessings before. And we have permitted you to walk among us, teaching and preaching.” True, but to be fed at the Master’s earthly table for 70 years doesn’t make that diner a Christian. To devour meal after meal, reap harvest after harvest, without any genuine thanksgiving or love toward the God Who has made it possible…. to grow fat on the wealth of the Lord’s marvelous creation, without bowing before the God of that creation… doesn’t prove that we are Christians. In fact it proves just the opposite. And to listen to the preaching of the gospel of God’s love, doesn’t necessarily mean that the hearers acknowledge Christ to be the King in their lives. To know that Christ Jesus died on the cross, making an atonement for the sins of many, doesn’t mean that those who know it, actually trust the Lord or benefit from that atonement. As I’ve already suggested, there will likely be thousands of people who will go straight to hell from the fourth row of pews in their friendly neighborhood Baptist Church. And all their arguments will be ignored, because they haven’t been subjects of the King of Heaven.
The Lord’s REPLY to these arguments is short and very bitter:
“Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.” I believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. I believe that each and every attribute of God is to be found in Christ. And that includes in a very unique and special way – His omnipresence. What is it to depart from the ever-present God? “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” In the context of Matthew 7, which we will consider briefly this afternoon, there is reference to “fire.” “Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.” That fire may have been metaphorical when Jesus spoke to the disciples on the mount. But the fires of Hell are not metaphorical – those fires are as real as the fire in our furnaces.
Those who refuse to enter the strait gate – the narrow door – will be “cast into outer darkness.” For all practical purposes, those people will be eternally parted and “de-parted” from God.
And obviously, the RESULTS of that will be inexpressible grief.
“There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out…. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.”
There will be people from all over the world and from every age since the time of creation, who will sit down to feast upon the fullness of the blessings of the Divine Kingdom. The old patriarchs will be there, saved by grace through faith, just as was Peter, John and Paul. Elisha and Samuel, Daniel and Ezekiel will be there resting in the Kingdom of God. “And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.” My understanding is that this is referring to people like us, descendants of Japheth and Ham, Who may be more numerous in that Kingdom than the people of Shem and Eber. Not only more numerous, but perhaps more honored and rewarded too. It doesn’t matter so much about your heritage as it does about the state of your heart. What is important is whether or not Christ is your Lord as well as your Saviour. And if He is not your Lord, there is no reason to believe that He is your Saviour. It doesn’t matter if you are Jew or Gentile – what is important is whether or not you enter that strait gate.
And to return to this man’s original question: “Lord, are there few that be saved?” Quite clearly, the Lord Jesus implies, “Yes there are VERY few that be saved.” Despite the hundreds of thousands of people who are sitting in various kinds of churches today, there will be few saved. Despite the millions who think that their morality or hospitality will carry them into Heaven, there will be relatively few who are there. There are very few who are striving to kill the rebellion of their own hearts. There are very few Jonathans in the world who are willing to forsake their supposed rights to the throne through their father Adam, and who are willing to bow before Christ David, the God-authorized King. “Lord, are there few that be saved?” Yes, there are very, very few indeed.
But you can be among them. You can repent before God – repenting of your wilfulness and with all the rest of your sins. You can love, and trust, and cling to the Son of the King for all the blessings of the Kingdom. But on the other hand, if you at this moment are saying “No” to God, then you should have serious concerns about your soul. If Christ is not your King, you are not in the Kingdom? If Christ is not your King, is He really your Saviour? Argue the point all you like, but the answer is “no” – you are a rebel – lost and without hope.
Who is the King of your life? Are you a citizen of the Lord’s Kingdom? Strive to enter in at the strait gate; humble yourself before the Lord. Repent before God and put your faith in the death of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.