The Narrow Door

In Luke 13:22-30, Jesus continues preaching and teaching in the towns across the region. Someone asked Jesus, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" The scripture doesn't say why this question was asked, but Jesus offers his answer.

Jesus said, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to."

I've always pictured in my head that the narrow door that leads is talked about is this small opening off to the side and there are masses of people rushing towards a wide opening of a door and look past the small opening.

However, Jesus goes on to say that the owner of the house will get up and lock the small door. People will plead with the owner to let them in but the owner will say that he never knew them. The people will counter with, "We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets."

The owner replied saying he didn't "know" the people and they were to be away from him because they are evildoers. These are harsh words from the owner but at the same time, the people are trying to get in to the owner's house on account of their association to the owner, not truly caring about the owner and securing their entrance through the door by knowing the owner. And this is a harsher reality for them.

I am pretty certain that the owner in this parable is God and knowing the owner is having a relationship with Jesus Christ. If we know Jesus and by knowing it means fully putting our faith in him to save us, we get into the God's house to spend eternity with him. When we trust and believe in Jesus that he will take away our sins, the owner at the door will admit us.

Jesus in verse 30 sums up the parable by saying, "Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."

How do we be last?