Luke 13:22-30 Scripture Study
By Pastor Chris Simmons – Trinity Lutheran Church, Paso Robles CA
A reinforcement/supplement study to our Sunday service meant for “Building up the body of Christ… the manifold Wisdom of God made known” (Ephesians 4+3)
For Sunday, August 24, 2025
I say this a bit begrudgingly as a Chicago Bears fan… but I am a fan of “Lombardi Time”. You see, Vince Lombardi was a famous football coach who won multiple championships, including the first two Super Bowls with the Green Bay Packers. Lombardi’s concept of being on time was to show up at least 15 minutes early. Any later than that and they would be considered late. Personally, I love being early for meetings or events. Ask my friends and family how early I like to arrive at the airport, and they will all give you a disappointed answer of “way too early”. Why show up early as “on time”? It illustrates the importance of this event or meeting. It was so important I planned ahead of time to ensure my arrival was timely… I have been a victim however, of trying to cram too much into a day, putting off some of the truly important pieces till it’s too late. Jesus tells us there comes a time when the door shuts… not to delay and make every effort to “enter through the narrow door”. Many things in life will try to get you off track. You'll have moments of distraction, obstacles in your way, and you’ll even try to “squeeze too much in”. In the spirit of Lombardi time, and the Spirit of God who points us to the promises of Jesus, let us make every effort to be present in the Kingdom of God. Blessings on your study today.
Prayers for a blessed study.
Pastor Chris Simmons.
Discuss: What happened the last time you were locked out of your house or car? How did you get back in?
Luke 13:22-30
22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.
We’ve moved from Chapter 12 into Chapter 13. At the beginning of chapter 13, Jesus reviews a story about sinners who were unrepentant (referring to a historical event with the tower in Siloam) concluding with “I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:5). That tone sets up where we begin in Luke 13:22. Before addressing that text, a quick aside (that relates to the point). Over the last few chapters, notice the urgency in Jesus' tone. In the Parable of the Rich Fool we read “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ (Luke 12:20).
Then the section on anxiety: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:25-26). That is followed by the theme of being faithful, wise, and watchful “The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.” (Luke 12:46).
Discuss: What do you see as the running theme here from Luke 12-13? What does Jesus keep emphasizing? Why do you think it is important to Jesus?
With that running theme, you can see it leads to a question from one of the listeners, likely someone travelling along with Him as a disciple who has heard all His teachings to this point. We discern this immediately by the title with which this person addresses Jesus “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?”
You see why this question is generated based on all the texts that preceded it. Without the full context of Scripture, for anyone in the moments prior to the crucifixion and resurrection, it can seem rather grim.
First, let's consider… Why ask “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” Do you think it is because that person is concerned if the Kingdom of God is going to be overcrowded? Concerned if there will be enough people there? Or perhaps, concerned if they will be saved?
Let’s see how Jesus answers the question.
The immediate answer… “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” Jesus answers first with “Make every effort” which means what? Do everything you can, Do everything possible, to make sure YOU enter through the narrow door. Because many will try to enter… and will not be able to.
Notice Jesus doesn’t give a number. He gives a description. Many will try and not be able to, and then He will explain why.
Discuss: Why do you think Jesus describes entering the Kingdom of Heaven like a “narrow door”? What prevents someone from entering a “narrow doorway”?
Continued Discussion: Practically speaking, with a real actual narrow wooden door and door frame, what would prevent someone from being able to walk through it? What would “make every effort” look like to make it through a real actual narrow wooden door and door frame? What would you have to do?
25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’
We mentioned it already… Lombardi time… fifteen minutes early is on time (music to my ears). Our God is Loving, Merciful, and it is by His Grace (a free gift, not earned) received by Faith (granted by the Holy Spirit) on account of Christ (the work of Jesus Life, Death, and Resurrection) that we are saved. Of that there is no doubt. God has held back His judgment so that His plan for salvation may play out according to His great wisdom, as He earnestly desires all of His children (as He created us all) to be saved. All of that leads up to saying… We are told time and time and time again “The Day of the Lord is at hand”. Jesus illustrates that here as well… there will come a time when “the door closes”. And at that moment… right when the door is shut when everyone will realize “I should have been there 15 minutes early” (which in my world, is on time). You have moments of this too.
Right when you throw something away from the fridge and someone says, “Oh I was going to eat that!”
When someone doesn’t put something away after many warnings of “I'll throw it away if you don’t put it away.” When you finally follow through is when they say, “I was going to put that away TODAY!”
When there’s an item in the house no one uses, so you finally clean up and toss it/sell it (maybe a bike, set of skis, workout equipment) is when they say “Oh I was going to get back to it… I was just going to use it!”
It’s at that moment, Jesus says, when the door is shut, that everyone will say “I was on my way… let me in”. But there comes a time when the door is already shut… and it is too late.
Discuss: What sort of things make you late? What are out of your control? What are in your control?
Continued Discussion: If something was really important, how would you make sure you were on time?
“But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’
27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’
In perspective of Scripture, these are those who have heard about Jesus. They heard of things like church, the opportunity is there, “we’ve heard of you Jesus”. Yet the reply from the one who shut the door “I don’t know you, away from me evildoers.” Consider the circumstance in a practical setting. I have sat in a restaurant or a banquet, had food and drink with people in the building or even at the same table, and never came to know a thing about them. I once served Bill Murray coffee at Starbucks for example, made him a latte by hand… I don’t think he would recognize me today… In the same manner Will Graham, grandson of Billy Graham (famous for his evangelical conference crusades from 1940’s- early 2000’s), led an evangelistic crusade in a similar vein as his grandfather near Pocatello Idaho where I was previously a pastor. Yes, Will Graham “taught in the streets”... but I was not in attendance. I didn’t listen to his teaching, I did not sit at his feet nor get to know him.
You get the idea… just being near doesn’t mean we know… just being near doesn’t mean we are known…
Discuss: What does it mean to be “known” by Jesus? Examining the same idea of ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ What does it mean to be known beyond that?
28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”
Jesus fully answers the question Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” The ones who are near and not known, the ones you “may have expected” will be weeping. Why? Well, in many ways, they should have known better. Yes, many will try and not be able to. Yet Jesus doesn’t give a number or say there will be few. In fact, there will be people from all over the earth. Some you never expected to see those who are last will be first. We get this picture of every tribe and every nation from Revelation 7:
9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”
A “great multitude no one could number” doesn’t sound like a “few”. The door may be narrow, but it leads to a house with many rooms (John 14:2).
We cannot fit through a narrow doorway when we are carrying too much and we refuse to let it go. We place obstacles on our own path, stumbling blocks in the doorway.
Ministry means to clear those stumbling blocks. To see the cross clearly. With the cross we see our judgement and need for a savior. To be known by Christ is to sit at His feet, to acknowledge by His wounds we are healed. To lay everything down, pick up our own crosses, and follow Him…
Discuss: How can a person who is unsure about his salvation gain true assurance? How can we know that we’ve entered through the narrow door?
Prayer
What obstacles are on your journey of faith? Do any of these statements come to mind “I would never follow a God who would… I can’t follow a God who would allow…”? Admit them before God now and ask for His help.
In your list of importance, where does your relationship with God stand? Do you feel invested in it? Why or why not?
Are you chronically late to things and it feels out of control or overwhelming? Ask God for help!
Lord Jesus, we thank you for your strong words. Like a splash of cold water, you bring to us an awareness of what is important. You wake us up to what it means to make great effort to enter the narrow door. You have provided for us a path to salvation. Help empty our hands and hearts, that we may seek to know and be known by you. We pray this all in your name Jesus. Amen.