The Narrow Gate

THE MOST MISUNDERSTOOD (and troubling) TEACHING OF JESUS....

Luke 13:22-30

Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem.
Someone asked him,
"Lord, will only a few people be saved?"

He answered them,
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate...,for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough.

After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door,
then will you stand outside knocking and saying,
'Lord, open the door for us.'

He will say to you in reply,
'I do not know where you are from.

And you will say,
'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.'

Then he will say to you,
'I do not know where you are from.
Depart from me, all you evildoers!'

And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth
when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God - and you yourselves cast out.
And people will come from the east and the west, and from the north and the south, and will recline at table in the kingdom of God.

For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

______________

What is this about? Why did Jesus warn about a narrow gate?

Why do some Christians think salvation is easy, or even guaranteed?

Why do some go through life thinking familiarity with God is enough, only to be surprised at the door?

✝️Let’s find the truth behind this teaching.🤚

When Luke wrote this part of his Journey Narrative, he wasn’t just telling stories. He was giving guidance to Christians living under Roman rule. These were Gentiles, or non-Jews, surrounded by pagan culture, power, and temptation. They faced persecution, social pressure, and moral compromise.

Luke wanted them to see the cost and the beauty of following Jesus,  not just the miracles, not just the teachings.

Into this world of uncertainty, Jesus gave a warning about salvation that shocks people to this day: the teaching of the Narrow Gate.

✝️ THE QUESTION WE ALL ASK

One man asked Him:

“Lord, will only a few be saved?” (Luke 13:23)

Notice, this man is thinking in terms of numbers, in crowd sizes, in human logic.

Jesus flips the question to the heart: It’s not about statistics. It’s about you.

 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.” (Luke 13:24)

This is a personal invitation. The gate to eternal life is narrow.

It will not bend for pride.

It will not stretch for sin.

It will not welcome the smug, internet "arguer." 

You cannot carry selfishness or self-interpeted shortcuts through it.

Only humility fits it. Only surrender passes....only Christs love for your fellow will open it.

✝️THE SHUT DOOR

Jesus paints a vivid picture: a Master who rises and shuts the door at a feast.

Outside, people cry:

“But Lord, we ate with You! We heard You preach!” (Luke 13:26)

The answer is sharp:

“I do not know you. Depart from Me.”

The stark warning is this: It’s possible to be near Jesus,... to hear His words,... to attend church,... to "beat down" others with scripture or meme's,... and so on. And yet, this doesn't mean you let Him really move you in your heart.

Familiarity and, "knowing stuff" is not faith and loving action. Imagined nearness is not salvation.

✝️THE NARROW WAY

So what is the narrow gate?

It’s Jesus Himself.

It’s the path of the Cross....carrying that cross with the same sacrificial love that HE had.

It looks like forgiveness, when revenge, belligerance, and obstinacy feels sweeter.

It looks like purity when temptation screams louder.

It looks like humility, when human pride and wanting to be right - to smack down others - swells bigger.

It looks like dying to self, forgetting self-interpretations..., so Christ can live in you.

It feels hard now, but it opens to joy without end.

✝️THE GREAT REVERSAL

Then Jesus surprises everyone:

“Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.” (Luke 13:30)

Here, Luke refers to the Gentiles, and the Jews. The "first" were the Jews to whom Christ came, initially...and who rejected Him and His message. The, "last," were the Gentiles, aka, non-Jews, those who were given a share of salvation after the Jews.

In other words, the rest of the humanity, aka, you and me.

In this passage, Jesus takes God’s kingdom and flips human expectations about it upside down.

The saints who will share in heavenly eternity may rise from obscurity, may be the ones you might least expect. Meanwhile, the vainglorious and self-assured, who think they know all they need to know, who think they are automatically "saved," well,...they may find themselves outside.

The world measures by power, wealth, and status; even self-assured status.

However, God measures by faith, humility, and sacrificial action, all motivated by LOVE.

✝️THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN

The narrow gate isn’t meant to scare you (although it might, if you see your own reflection in this article). Rather, it’s meant to wake you up. To call you to action

Christ Himself is the gate. He is calling your name today.

One day, the door will close. Then the question will not be:

“Did you hear about Him, talk about Him, wave around your Bible and act like you had it all figured out?"

Because it will be....

“Did you really know Him, and live in the love for others that He had?”

The wide road feels easy now; you may think you have your ticket. But it ends in loss. 

The narrow road feels costly now; it demands change. But it ends in life.

The gate, though narrow, is always open… if you really walk in humility and love through Christ.

Choose today. Enter now. The narrow gate is waiting.



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