POSERS
PUNTED OUT
LUKE
13:22-30
Luke
13:22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying
toward Jerusalem.
Susie: Although
Jesus made several short trips to Jerusalem for various feasts during His
ministry, Luke emphasizes that everything Jesus did was ultimately leading to
the final destination of Jerusalem to fulfill His purpose on earth–death on the
cross as the final Passover Lamb.
Ellicott's
Commentary for English Readers
13:22
And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying—Literally,
making a journey, as implying a circuit deliberately planned. This is
apparently the continuation of the same journey as that of which Luke 9:51
recorded the beginning.
Luke
9:51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up,
he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem
Luke
13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved?
Susan: Although
large crowds still came out to hear Jesus, the committed followers are fewer
and fewer as persecution and threats from religious leaders increase. Following
Jesus as a way of life was becoming dangerous.
John
11:7-8, 16 Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea
again. His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone
thee; and goest thou thither again? . . . Then
said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also
go, that we may die with him.
Luke
13:23b-24 And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for
many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Susie: Matthew’s
gospel describes the gate as both strait and narrow. Hence our expression,
“stay on the strait and narrow.”
Matthew
7:13-14 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 there-at:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and
few there be that find it.
Susan: Does
the word “strive” indicate that our salvation is somehow based on works? Not at
all, but John MacArthur explains it better than Susie or I can:
MacArthur
Study Bible
13:24
Strive. This signifies a great struggle against conflict. Christ was not
suggesting that anyone could merit heaven by striving for it. No matter how
rigorously they labored, sinners could never save themselves. Salvation is
solely by grace, not by works (Eph. 2:8, 9). But entering the narrow gate is
nonetheless difficult because of its cost in terms of human pride, because of
the sinner’s natural love for sin, and because of the world’s and Satan’s
opposition to the truth. See notes on 16:16; Matt. 11:12. many…will seek to
enter. I.e., at the judgment, when many will protest that they deserve entrance
into heaven (cf. Matt. 7:21–23).
Susie: One
translation indicates the urgency of entering in the strait gate, using the
word “now:”
Luke
13:24 (VOICE) Jesus: Strive to enter through the narrow door now, because many
people—hear Me on this—will try to enter later on and will not be able to.
2
Corinthians 6:2 (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the
day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time;
behold, now is the day of salvation.)
Isaiah
55:6-7 Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is
near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and
let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God,
for he will abundantly pardon.
Susie: The
point Jesus seems to be making is there will come a time when it is “too late.”
Susan: One
person at a time enters the narrow gate. There are no “group passes” to heaven.
Each individual must have a personal relationship with the owner of the house,
i.e. Jesus.
Luke
13:25 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:
Susan: Once
the door is closed, time to be admitted is over.
Susie: The
door will remain open until all of those who have trusted Jesus are safe within
His house.
Luke
13:26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and
thou hast taught in our streets.
Susan: There
will be people who the price of admittance. They will think they fulfilled
requirements because they have heard Jesus’s teachings and been present in His
meetings. However, they were passing acquaintances. Only those adopted into the
family of God have reservations for the marriage banquet.
Susie: Many
of the Jews thought they would be welcomed into Heaven simply because they were
“children of Abraham.” This is not the same as being children of God, those
bought with the blood of His Son, Jesus.
Matthew
3:8-9 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say
within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God
is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Luke
13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from
me, all ye workers of iniquity.
Susan: There
are many who claim the name “Christian” but in reality, have never surrendered
their lives to Jesus. The Savior recognizes them for what they are—posers!
Susie: We do
not always have the discernment to recognize them, but when Christ returns, He
will expose the phonies among us. This reminded us of the parable of the tares
sown among the wheat. At the harvest time, the tares (imposters) were thrown
into the fire, and the wheat (true believers) were harvested.
Matthew
13:30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I
will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in
bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
Susan: The
reapers are God’s angels, and the barn is His house where Jesus has promised to
prepare a place for those who trust in Him.
John
14:2-3 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye
may be also.
Susan: If you
do not belong to Jesus, if you are not with Him, then you are against Him. You
do not have to vehemently reject the Lord to be locked out, just refuse or
neglect to accept His gift of Salvation and be forever changed by His Holy
Spirit.
Matthew
12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me
scattereth abroad.
Luke
13:28 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.
Susie: Jesus
tells His Jewish audience that they will be inconsolably sobbing when they see
the patriarchs of their faith inside God’s house, while they are standing on
the outside getting a glimpse as through a window. These people who took pride
in being Abraham’s children but did not live up to the promise God gave Him to
be a blessing to all nations, will find themselves tossed out of God’s house
like leftovers destined to become slop for the pigs.
Susan: They
made themselves refuse by refusing to recognize the Messiah standing before
them.
Luke
13:29 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.
Susie: By
naming the four corners of the earth, Jesus is saying that Gentiles (non-Jews)
would be welcomed into God’s house while many Jews would be turned away. This
was in keeping with Old Testament prophecy:
Isaiah
66:18 For I know their works and their thoughts: it shall come, that I will
gather all nations and tongues; and they shall come, and see my glory.
Malachi
1:11 For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same my
name shall be great among the Gentiles; and in every place incense shall be
offered unto my name, and a pure offering: for my name shall be great among the
heathen, saith the Lord of hosts.
Luke
13:30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first
which shall be last.
Susie: In
this instance, the Jews would consider themselves first as God’s chosen people
and the Gentiles last. However, Jesus states that many who think themselves to
be the most important and most likely to have a spot in the kingdom may
actually be at the bottom of the heap.
Susan: Despite
what the Jewish leaders thought, entrance into Heaven is not determined by
nationality but by intimate reality. One must have a personal relationship with
Jesus, devoted to and transparent before the Lord.
Ponder
this and Apply it: In Jesus’s reply, He focuses not so much on how
many will enter, but that once the door is shut, no one else can get in. The
point is to be sure you meet the qualifications for entrance before that point.
What puts a person’s name on the guest list? Admittance is only given to those
who have surrendered their lives to Jesus, trusting Him alone for salvation. Is
your name on the list?
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