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In this lesson:
Jesus continues on His way to Jerusalem and crucifixion. The danger of rejecting salvation. Study Tip: Consulting two Bibles is helpful. Whenever you encounter a difficult passage, scroll back and forth between the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation" below. |
By an unknown artist
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The Gospel According to St. Luke
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Luke 13:22-35
The narrow gate 22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 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: 26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 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. 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. 30 And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. 31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. 32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected. 33 Nevertheless I must walk today, and tomorrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not! 35 Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. |
Margin notes:
"Strive to enter." (13:24) - To strive means to struggle, to do all you can. It implies that small efforts aren't enough. We can't save ourselves through good works, so we need to continually "strive" to know and to follow Jesus. "The strait gate." (12:24) - "The narrow gate." Jesus is repeating this teaching from Matthew 7:13-14. "Stand without." (13:25) - "Stand outside." "We have eaten and drunk in thy presence." (13:26) - "We have eaten and drank with you." "I know you not whence ye are." (13:27) - "I don't know where you come from." A warning from Jesus not to be locked out of heaven. He reinforces this warning in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:21-23) and again in the parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:10-11). "They shall come from the east, and from the west." (13:29) - Jesus is telling us that anyone who believes, regardless of where they are from or whether they are Jew or Gentile, will be welcome in the kingdom of God. See also Isaiah 66:18; Malachi 1:11; Romans 4:16-25 and Galatians 3:6-9. "Tell that fox." (13:32) - Herod Antipas was disliked. In Jewish culture, a fox was considered sordid, cunning, and cowardly. "The third day I shall be perfected." (13:32) - "On the third day, I will complete my work." "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets." (13:34) - Israel had a history of killing God's prophets (1 Kings 19:10; Jeremiah 2:30; Matthew 23:37). "How often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood." (13:34) - Jesus is saying that he loves and wants to save us. "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." (13:35) - A quote from Psalm 118:26. |
New Living Translation
Luke 13:22-35
The Narrow Door
22 Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem.
23 Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?"
He replied,
24 "Work hard to enter the narrow door to God's Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.
25 When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Lord, open the door for us!' But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'
26 Then you will say, 'But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'
27 And he will reply, 'I tell you, I don't know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.'
28 "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out.
29 And people will come from all over the world-from east and west, north and south-to take their places in the Kingdom of God.
30 And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then."
Jesus Grieves over Jerusalem
31 At that time some Pharisees said to him, "Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!"
32 Jesus replied, "Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose.
33 Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn't do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!
34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me.
35 And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see me again until you say, 'Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
The Narrow Door
22 Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem.
23 Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?"
He replied,
24 "Work hard to enter the narrow door to God's Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.
25 When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Lord, open the door for us!' But he will reply, 'I don't know you or where you come from.'
26 Then you will say, 'But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'
27 And he will reply, 'I tell you, I don't know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.'
28 "There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out.
29 And people will come from all over the world-from east and west, north and south-to take their places in the Kingdom of God.
30 And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then."
Jesus Grieves over Jerusalem
31 At that time some Pharisees said to him, "Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!"
32 Jesus replied, "Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose.
33 Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn't do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!
34 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me.
35 And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see me again until you say, 'Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!'
This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
Key verses from this passage
"Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." (13:24)
"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." (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." (13:29)
Today's Question:
1. Why would God send people away? (13:27)
Study your Bible each day. These lessons shouldn't be your only contact with God.
1. Why would God send people away? (13:27)
Study your Bible each day. These lessons shouldn't be your only contact with God.
Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. Because, as Jesus tells us in verse 13:25, the door to heaven won't stay open forever. Once it closes, it's too late. It takes more than just believing there is a God; it takes confessing our sins and accepting His forgiveness to reach heaven.
Application thought for the day:
The Pharisees warned Jesus that King Herod wanted to kill Him (13:31). But it wasn't Herod that killed Jesus. It was the Pharisees.
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Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible". All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2026 evolke
© 2026 evolke