Sermon text: Luke 13:22–30
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.
Our Gospel reading this morning is from Luke chapter 13: “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.”
Someone asked Jesus, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And Jesus did not answer with a number. He answered with an exhortation: “Strive to enter through the narrow door.”
The narrow door is Christ Himself. “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.” There is no other way. “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Many will seek to enter and will not be able. Why? Because they seek to enter by another door — by their own works, their own righteousness, their own goodness. They come to the door with their resumes in hand: “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” And He will say to them, “I never knew you; depart from me.”
The narrow door is narrow because it admits only sinners who know they are sinners — sinners who come empty-handed, trusting not in themselves but in Christ alone.
“Strive” — the Greek is agonizomai, from which we get “agonize.” It is a word of struggle, of earnest effort. Not the effort of earning salvation — for salvation is by grace alone — but the earnestness of faith that clings to Christ and will not let go.
Strive to enter. For the door is open now, but it will not always be open. “When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.'”
Now is the time. Today is the day of salvation. Do not presume upon tomorrow. Do not say, “I will repent later.” The door is narrow, and the time is short.
But the narrow door is also wide open to all who come in repentance and faith. “People will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.” The invitation goes out to all nations, all peoples, all sinners.
And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last. The proud, the self-righteous, the confident — they will find themselves outside. The humble, the repentant, the believing — they will recline at table in the kingdom.
So strive. Strive to enter through the narrow door. Cling to Christ. Hear His word. Receive His sacraments. Repent of your sins. Trust in His mercy.
For the door is Christ, and He is open to you. Enter in, and you will be saved.
May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.