Few questions cut closer to the heart of faith than the one posed in Luke 13:23: “Lord, are there few that be saved?” In an age filled with talk of inclusion and belief without cost, Jesus’ response—calling His hearers to “strive to enter in at the strait gate”—feels both unsettling and deeply necessary. This passage invites us to set aside curiosity about others and instead examine our own readiness to enter the Kingdom.
“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate…” — Luke 13:23–24, KJV
When an unnamed listener asked Jesus about the number of the saved, He did not quantify; He intensified. His response reframed curiosity into conviction, warning that while many may seek, few will truly strive. The parable of the narrow door, recorded in Luke 13:23–30, probes the heart of salvation—its urgency, exclusivity, and inclusivity.
1. The Road Toward Jerusalem
Luke locates this teaching as Jesus “journeyed toward Jerusalem” (Luke 13:22)—a path symbolizing His mission’s culmination in crucifixion and resurrection.
The question, “Are there few that be saved?”, reflects the assumption that belonging to Israel secured divine favor. Jesus’ answer dismantles that comfort, insisting that entry into the Kingdom is not inherited but embraced.
“The question about others becomes a question about ourselves.” — N.T. Wright
Origen, writing in the 3rd century, interpreted the “strait gate” as the discipline of virtue: the moral narrowing that conforms believers to truth before the final day closes the door.
2. “Strive to Enter” — The Effort of Faith
“Strive to enter in at the strait gate.” — Luke 13:24, KJV
The verb “strive” translates the Greek agonizomai, meaning to contend or struggle like an athlete. Jesus calls for earnest perseverance, not mechanical works. Faith, in this sense, is not passive assent but active endurance.
John Chrysostom taught that to strive meant “tearing away from worldly ease,” embracing the hardships of obedience. Salvation is not earned by striving—but neither is it found without sincerity and perseverance.
Parallel teachings:
- Matthew 7:13–14 — The narrow gate leads to life; the broad path leads to destruction.
- Philippians 2:12 — “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
- 1 Timothy 6:12 — “Fight the good fight of faith.”
To “strive,” then, is to cooperate with grace—yielding to God’s transforming Spirit with intentionality.
3. The Closed Door — The Danger of Presumption
Verses 25–27 depict the inevitable turning point: once the master “hath shut to the door,” those outside plead to be let in.
Their argument—“We have eaten and drunk in thy presence” (Luke 13:26)—reveals misplaced trust in association rather than relationship.
Augustine noted that God’s declaration, “I know you not,” refers not to mental ignorance but moral rejection: those who never sought transformation are unrecognizable as His own.
Joel Green observes that Luke uses the image of the shutting door as an eschatological warning—a symbol of divine finality when spiritual procrastination meets closure.
Familiarity with Christ is not fellowship with Christ.
The tragedy lies in delay: opportunity once available becomes permanently sealed.
4. The Great Reversal — The Scope of the Kingdom
In verses 28–30, Jesus broadens the picture. Those who assumed security—heirs of promise—find themselves outside, while “they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south” (Luke 13:29) to recline with the patriarchs in God’s kingdom.
This scene fulfills Isaiah 25:6–8’s prophetic banquet, where nations gather on God’s holy mountain.
Luke’s Gospel anticipates this inclusion—from Simeon’s prophecy (Luke 2:32) to the mission of the seventy-two (Luke 10:1).
“The last shall be first, and the first last.” — Luke 13:30, KJV
In God’s economy, privilege and presumption yield to repentance and faith. Grace upends human order.
5. Theological Insights
This passage reveals a multilayered theology of salvation:
- Exclusive in access — The “strait gate” is Christ Himself (cf. John 10:9).
- Inclusive in invitation — All nations are called to enter by faith.
- Personal in responsibility — Each must respond individually.
- Eschatological in urgency — Delay leads to final exclusion.
Cyril of Alexandria summarized the message: “One door leads unto life, and that door is Christ Himself.”
Luke thus demonstrates that salvation is both a present calling and a final reality—open today, closed tomorrow.
6. Application for Modern Disciples
For today’s church, this teaching challenges cultural complacency. “Strive” implies vigilance against spiritual apathy. Religion without relationship will not endure when the door closes.
Faith must not only start but continue, refined through obedience, humility, and endurance.
N.T. Wright aptly concludes:
“The door is narrow not because God made it hard to find, but because it cannot be entered without leaving baggage behind.”
The call remains timeless: examine not how many will be saved—but whether you are truly entering through the narrow door. The narrow door is not God’s barrier—it is our invitation. Its narrowness lies not in divine exclusivity but in the nature of genuine surrender; only those willing to lay aside pride, presumption, and passivity can enter. Jesus’ words in Luke 13:23–30 remind every generation that salvation cannot be inherited or assumed—it must be personally embraced, daily lived, and fervently pursued while the door remains open.
Continue in your study of the Parables of Jesus:
Delve deeper into theology and salvation:
Discovering the Path of Salvation series by Stephen Luckett
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