Proper 16 C
Isaiah 66:18–23
Hebrews 12:4–24 (25–29)
Luke 13:22–30
The Cross of Christ Is the Way into the Kingdom of God
With the cross of Christ, the time has come “to gather all nations and tongues” (Is. 66:18). The sign of the cross is set forth in the preaching of the Gospel, the declaration of the Lord’s glory “among the nations” (Is. 66:19). Many “will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God” (Luke 13:29), but only by the narrow way of the cross. Those who refuse to follow Christ crucified will ultimately find only “weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Luke 13:28), whereas Christ’s disciples, called from all the nations, will eat and drink with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God. They will come into “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem” (Heb. 12:22).
Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege
To those pleading to enter through the closed door of Christ’s eternal kingdom the Lord answers: “I do not know where you come from.” (Luke 12:25). When they give what they think constitutes eligibility to enter, the Lord repeats: “I tell you, I do not know where you come from.” (v. 27). Certainly this gives us pause to ask ourselves, “Where do I come from?”
From Scripture we learn that we come from Adam, and in Adam all die. We learn that we are conceived and born sinners, having come forth and descended from sinners. We learn that we come forth spiritually dead, unable in our flesh to please God at all. We learn that when we try to approach God we come from the domain of the ruler of this world, and thus we stand as God’s enemies. Based on where we come from, it looks like we will never be able to enter through the narrow door.
Of course Jesus knows each of these “sources” of our evil existence. Why then does He state, “I do not know where you come from.”? Perhaps we can compare it to presenting a passport in order to enter a given country. An official looks carefully at it to see where the owner of the passport came from and whether the passport information is correct. If it is a fake passport, or if it is a passport identifying citizenship in an enemy state, the official could say something like, “With this passport we do not recognize where you are from, you may not enter.” Recognizing where a person is from is key to allowing entrance into an earthly nation. It is even more important in allowing entrance into the heavenly realms. Indeed our “passport” must prove where we are from, that our citizenship is in heaven.
The Jews, boasting that they were from Abraham, thought that this gave them valid passports. Some, according to the parable, boasted that they had rubbed shoulders with Jesus as they ate in His presence and He taught in their streets. Likewise this did not make them eligible to enter the narrow door.
Jesus—conceived by the Holy Spirit, born sinless, not coming from Satan’s domain—came into this world to give mankind a new passport, a new passport that identifies us as citizens of a sweet and blessed country. To create such a passport Christ Jesus had to first conquer all the enemy “states” from which we came. By His death He conquers the “states” of sin and sinfulness. By His resurrection He shows His victory over the “domains” of Satan and death. Having freed us from our old “states” Jesus wants to give to all a new passport, giving to each of us a new citizenship.
There is only one valid passport allowing entrance into God’s kingdom where those possessing such a passport may recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the prophets. That is the passport that has the picture of Jesus, identifying Him as coming from God and going back to Him. Now, in our Baptism, He gives to each of us this passport. In Baptism we are born again, we are made a new creation in Christ. In Baptism we are so thoroughly covered with Christ that when the Father looks at each of us, He sees His beloved Son—the only one who could be pictured on the passport identifying where we are from and where we are headed. In Christ alone we may enter the narrow door, for in Him we come from heaven, and in Him we return.
Rev. Dr. Daniel J Brege
To those pleading to enter through the closed door of Christ’s eternal kingdom the Lord answers: “I do not know where you come from.” (Luke 12:25). When they give what they think constitutes eligibility to enter, the Lord repeats: “I tell you, I do not know where you come from.” (v. 27). Certainly this gives us pause to ask ourselves, “Where do I come from?”
From Scripture we learn that we come from Adam, and in Adam all die. We learn that we are conceived and born sinners, having come forth and descended from sinners. We learn that we come forth spiritually dead, unable in our flesh to please God at all. We learn that when we try to approach God we come from the domain of the ruler of this world, and thus we stand as God’s enemies. Based on where we come from, it looks like we will never be able to enter through the narrow door.
Of course Jesus knows each of these “sources” of our evil existence. Why then does He state, “I do not know where you come from.”? Perhaps we can compare it to presenting a passport in order to enter a given country. An official looks carefully at it to see where the owner of the passport came from and whether the passport information is correct. If it is a fake passport, or if it is a passport identifying citizenship in an enemy state, the official could say something like, “With this passport we do not recognize where you are from, you may not enter.” Recognizing where a person is from is key to allowing entrance into an earthly nation. It is even more important in allowing entrance into the heavenly realms. Indeed our “passport” must prove where we are from, that our citizenship is in heaven.
The Jews, boasting that they were from Abraham, thought that this gave them valid passports. Some, according to the parable, boasted that they had rubbed shoulders with Jesus as they ate in His presence and He taught in their streets. Likewise this did not make them eligible to enter the narrow door.
Jesus—conceived by the Holy Spirit, born sinless, not coming from Satan’s domain—came into this world to give mankind a new passport, a new passport that identifies us as citizens of a sweet and blessed country. To create such a passport Christ Jesus had to first conquer all the enemy “states” from which we came. By His death He conquers the “states” of sin and sinfulness. By His resurrection He shows His victory over the “domains” of Satan and death. Having freed us from our old “states” Jesus wants to give to all a new passport, giving to each of us a new citizenship.
There is only one valid passport allowing entrance into God’s kingdom where those possessing such a passport may recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the prophets. That is the passport that has the picture of Jesus, identifying Him as coming from God and going back to Him. Now, in our Baptism, He gives to each of us this passport. In Baptism we are born again, we are made a new creation in Christ. In Baptism we are so thoroughly covered with Christ that when the Father looks at each of us, He sees His beloved Son—the only one who could be pictured on the passport identifying where we are from and where we are headed. In Christ alone we may enter the narrow door, for in Him we come from heaven, and in Him we return.
Luke 13:22-30
The Narrow Door
Luke 13.22
Καὶ διεπορεύετο κατὰ πόλεις καὶ κώμας διδάσκων καὶ πορείαν ποιούμενος εἰς εροσόλυμα.
He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.
:22 - are these the same villages as the sending of the 72? Note, He is on His way to Jerusalem. Recall all of Jesus' teaching this far. Within the context of verse 23 these are difficult teachings.
Luke 13.23
εἶπεν δέ τις αὐτῷ• Κύριε, εἰ ὀλίγοι οἱ σῳζόμενοι; ὁ δὲ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτούς•
And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them,
:23-24 - some will not have the strength. Can any be saved? Jesus will speak in the second person - He speaks to you. He is patient but redirects the conversation. How do you translate the "hauti" clause in verse 24?
It is not law but calling them to repentance and faith. "Many seek" no one is strong enough. This is all Law. The fact is you are out. All are out, He is the door. Only through Him can you enter. NOT do more try harder. You can not force yourself through.
Luke 13.24
Ἀγωνίζεσθε εἰσελθεῖν διὰ τῆς στενῆς [b]θύρας, ὅτι πολλοί, λέγω ὑμῖν, ζητήσουσιν εἰσελθεῖν καὶ οὐκ ἰσχύσουσιν,
“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Luke 13.25
ἀφ’ οὗ ἂν ἐγερθῇ ὁ οἰκοδεσπότης καὶ ἀποκλείσῃ τὴν θύραν, καὶ ἄρξησθε ἔξω ἑστάναι καὶ κρούειν τὴν θύραν λέγοντες• Κύριε, ἄνοιξον ἡμῖν• καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς ἐρεῖ ὑμῖν• Οὐκ οἶδα ὑμᾶς πόθεν ἐστέ.
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.’
:25 - he will answer I do not know you from where you are. A question of origin. They come from the wrong place and have the wrong Father. There are no more frightening words in Scripture. You come from the wrong family. They call you Lord. See - Matthew 7:22 they prophecy in His name. Salvation is dependent on His knowing. God's faithfulness is stronger than your faith.
Luke 13.26
τότε ἄρξεσθε λέγειν• Ἐφάγομεν ἐνώπιόν σου καὶ ἐπίομεν, καὶ ἐν ταῖς πλατείαις ἡμῶν ἐδίδαξας•
Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’
:26 - we are in your face and you taught in our open spaces. A juxtaposition against Jesus being one of many gods. A difference between knowing about Jesus and a faith which saves. There is a difference. {Fides humana - faith accomplished by man's power alone - See Jeremiah 9:23-24} {A faith which saves. - fides divina - a faith accomplished by the word, the Holy Spirit, and God - See Jeremiah 31:33-34}
There is a difference between historical knowledge and saving faith.
There is a difference between historical knowledge and saving faith.
Luke 13.27
καὶ ἐρεῖ λέγων ὑμῖν• Οὐκ οἶδα πόθεν ἐστέ• ἀπόστητε ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ, πάντες ἐργάται ἀδικίας.
But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’
:27 - Step off, you are apostate! He highlights their works but they are unrighteous.
Luke 13.28
ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλαυθμὸς καὶ ὁ βρυγμὸς τῶν ὀδόντων, ὅταν ὄψησθε Ἀβραὰμ καὶ Ἰσαὰκ καὶ Ἰακὼβ καὶ πάντας τοὺς προφήτας ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ, ὑμᾶς δὲ ἐκβαλλομένους ἔξω.
In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out.
:28 - there will be THE weeping and THE gnashing of teeth. They claim to have Abraham as father. But faith is directed away from these.
Luke 13.29
καὶ ἥξουσιν ἀπὸ ἀνατολῶν καὶ δυσμῶν καὶ ἀπὸ βορρᾶ καὶ νότου καὶ ἀνακλιθήσονται ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ.
And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God.
:29 - a reference to the Gentiles. A reversal. Those who think they are close are out. Those afar are included.
Luke 13.30
καὶ ἰδοὺ εἰσὶν ἔσχατοι οἳ ἔσονται πρῶτοι, καὶ εἰσὶν πρῶτοι οἳ ἔσονται ἔσχατοι.
And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.
And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.
:30 - "Right here and now in time and space in front of your face" - there are those who are last who will be first and first who will be last. He is forsaken so you can be chosen. See Epistle lesson for the day.
Sources:
ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition. Copyright © 2010 by Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software
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