Luke
13:22–30— The righteous enter the narrow door to the Kingdom
Christ Jesus was born for one purpose: to suffer and
die for the sins of the world. In the Gospel reading for Sunday, we see Him
journeying toward Jerusalem, where His mission will be accomplished. Along the
way, He performed many miracles and also taught the people, as He does here.
A common question, then as now, is, ‘Who will be saved?’ Instead, Jesus
answers the question, ‘How will they be saved?’ The answer is, only through
Christ. He is the narrow door through which the heavenly banquet is entered. He
counsels us to strive and to struggle to enter. Our struggle is against our own
flesh and blood, which wants eternal life on its own terms, and against the
demonic forces of the devil, who wants all men to be damned. We are not to
delay in entering the door, that is, trusting in Christ alone for our
salvation, and turning our backs on the devil, the world, and our sinful
desires. For those who reject Christ, there is only weeping and gnashing of
teeth.
The Sola Gratia
(grace alone) of salvation needs to be emphasized with respect to this
lesson. At first glance Jesus statement;”strive
to enter” might appear to promise works-righteousness. This, of course,
would contradict the rest of Luke’s Gospel. Christ and His work alone saves. He
came to seek and to save the lost.
(Luke 19:10) Sinners are forgiven by
grace alone. (See Luke 15)
A works-righteousness understanding would also
contradict this entire lesson itself. Verse 22 states that Jesus was journeying,
“toward Jerusalem” Luke’s second
statement of the journey’s goal. (Luke 9:51 began the first.) Jesus’ trip to Jerusalem, mentioned repeatedly
between Luke 9:41 and 19:28-29 (See also Luke 12:33; 17:11; 18:31; 19:11) is
for His atoning death. His death is what saves.
Also, those who are saved are those whom Jesus “knows.” (Luke 13:25, 27) This recalls
the same concept in the Old Testament. There God has “known” and chosen by grace alone those who are His. (See Jeremiah
1:5; Hosea 13:5; Amos 3:2)
Finally, the reversal in Luke 13:19 illustrates this
important point. Luke expresses this reversal often and in various says. “Whoever would save his life will lose it;
and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it. “ (Luke 9:24;
17:33)
Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but the
humble will be exalted. (See Luke 14:11; 18:14)
Those who receive the kingdom like a helpless infant will enter it. (See
18:15-17) The point is not to do the good work of humility and therefore earn
salvation. When the “last” become “first” it is by grace alone. Luke
18:13-14 demonstrates this. The publican who cries, “God be merciful to me a sinner!” is “exalted” by God’s mercy, not his works.
By Your Holy Spirit bless the preaching of Your Word
and the administration of Your Sacraments. Preserve these gifts to us and to
all Christians. Guard and protect us from all dangers to body and soul. Grant
that we may with faithful perseverance receive from You our sorrows as well as
our joys, knowing that health and sickness, riches and poverty, and all things
come by permission of Your fatherly hand. Keep us this day under Your
protective care and preserve us, securely trusting in Your everlasting goodness
and love, for the sake of Your Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and
reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. [2]
[1] Face of Christ: © copyright Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2] Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis
[3] Collect for Friday of the week of Pentecost 10, For All the Saints, A Prayer Book For and By the Church, Vol. II © 1995 The American Lutheran Publicity Bureau, Delhi, NY
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