Lucas 13

J.C. Ryle · Citado em PreceptAustin

Lucas 13

Ryle puts it, “Hell is nothing but truth known too late” (Expository Thoughts on the Gospels [Baker], 3:134). Salvation is an urgent matter! (Luke 13:22-30 The Narrow Door) Luke 13:27 AND HE WILL SAY, "I TELL YOU, I DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU ARE FROM; DEPART FROM ME ALL YOU EVILDOERS": I tell you I do not know where you are from: Lk 13:25 Ps 1:6 Mt 7:22,23 25:12,41 1Co 8:3 Gal 4:9 2Ti 2:19 Depart from me all you evildoers: Ps 5:6 6:8 28:3 101:8 119:115 125:5 Ho 9:12 Mt 25:41 Luke 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 13:22-30 The Narrow Door - Steven Cole Luke 13:22-30 Are Just a Few Being Saved? Part 1 Luke 13:22-30 Are Just a Few Being Saved? Part 2 CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE WILL DISOWN & DISCARD PROFESSORS And He will say "I tell you (literally = "He will say, I tell you") I do (absolutely) not know (eido) where you are from. Depart (aphistemi in aorist imperative = Do this now! Do not delay!) from me all you evildoers (literally workers [ergates] of iniquity [adikia]) - This is a prophecy of a painful pronouncement! The verb "I tell you" is in the present tense implying Jesus was continually warning them of their painful future for they had refused to repent and believe. The master disavows any relation to these individuals. He will not know them because instead of practicing godliness and righteousness, these individuals who professed to know Him (or who now wanted to call Him "Lord" when the reality of Hell sank in) practiced unrighteousness and lawlessness. They may have even looke "moral" to others, but on the inside they were "full of dead men's bones" and were corrupt to their core! THOUGHT- Beloved ambassador of Christ (2Co 5:20+), may our Father cause the Spirit of Christ to take this study on our Lord's command to strive to enter the narrow door and break our hearts, empowering us by His Spirit to go forth boldly (Acts 1:8+, perhaps we need to ask others to pray for us as Paul did in Eph 6:19-20+) with the message of justification "as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus." (Ro 3:24+). Take a moment and listen to Fanny Crosby's heart piercing words Rescue The Perishing and then go forth with the Gospel seeking to rescue the perishing from the wide gate and broad road that leads to eternal destruction. The late comers are shut out because of the evil deeds (manifesting their unregenerate hearts) not because the are "late". Their character is unfit for the mansion of purity.

Lucas 13

Ryle adds that "THE parable we have now read is peculiarly humbling and heart-searching. The Christian who can hear it and not feel sorrow and shame as he looks at the state of Christendom, must be in a very unhealthy state of soul." Now comes a parable that brings out two things: the need for repentance and God’s slowness to punish. -- Leon Morris

Lucas 13

Ryle summarizes the main points of this parable. For elaboration of each point see Luke 13 Commentary We learn first from this passage that where God gives spiritual privileges He expects proportionate returns..... We learn, secondly, from this passage, that it is a most dangerous thing to be unfruitful under great religious privileges..... We learn, lastly, from this parable, what an infinite debt we all owe to God’s mercy and Christ’s intercession.... Steven

Lucas 13

Ryle - This expression certainly appears to me to make it highly probable that this woman whom our Lord healed was a true believer. When Zacchaeus was converted, our Lord said the man was “a son of Abraham” (Luke 19:9). To think of this expression as only meaning a “daughter of Abraham according to natural descent—a Jewess” seems to me a tame and unsatisfactory interpretation Jon Courson agrees writing " Jesus’ referring to her as a daughter of Abraham (verse 16) means this woman was a woman of faith. And yet for eighteen years, the work of the Enemy bound her physically. Nonetheless, here she was in the synagogue. She would have missed the moment of the miraculous had she stayed home the day Jesus “just happened” to walk in." I can recall specific times in my own pilgrimage when I didn’t want to go to a Bible study or a church service but went anyway—to experience Jesus ministering to me in a way I’m convinced He wouldn’t have otherwise. Therefore, I have learned this secret: The more I don’t feel like meeting with the congregation, the more I need to be there. I am convinced that people walk around needlessly crippled because they’re not in the company of believers, not in the place where Jesus is (Hebrews 2:12). Steven Cole proposes that "the woman was a sincere believer in the Lord (Ed: MacArthur does not necessarily agree with this statement and other than this statement, it is difficult to state with certainty whether she was a genuine believer, but it cannot be excluded). Jesus calls her a daughter of Abraham. He later calls Zaccheus a son of Abraham after he believes (Lk 19:9). There is no indication that her problem was directly related to any sin. If so, surely Jesus would have given a word of rebuke or correction, but He gives none. The woman’s decided faith is probably indicated by the fact of her presence. Think of the many excuses that she could have come up with to stay away! Her youthful beauty was now disfigured by her hunched back, so she probably was self-conscious about how she looked. She probably experienced constant pain, which distracted her from concentrating on the service. It was difficult to walk the distance to the synagogue. She couldn’t look up toward the front to see what was going on. But in spite of these and many other potential excuses, she was there to worship God. (Religion Versus Reality Luke 13:10-17) Whom Satan (satanas) has bound (Lo - idou) for eighteen long years - While the visible battle was with the synagogue official, the invisible war was between God and Satan (cf Lk 11:17-23+). Did you notice this little detail which Jesus mentioned? As

Lucas 13

Ryle - The parable of the mustard seed The parable of the mustard seed is intended to show the progress of the Gospel in the world. The beginnings of the Gospel were exceedingly small. It was like “a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden” (verse 19). It was a religion which seemed at first so feeble and helpless and powerless that it could not live. Its founder was a poor man who ended his life by dying a criminal’s death on the cross. Its first adherents were a small group of people who probably numbered less than a thousand when our Lord left the world. Its first preachers were a few fishermen and tax collectors who were for the most part uneducated and ignorant men. Its first starting-point was a despised corner of the earth called Judea, a petty province in the vast Roman Empire. Its first doctrines were calculated to provoke enmity from the natural heart; Christ crucified was a stumbling block to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks (1 Corinthians 1:23). Its first followers were persecuted on all sides. Pharisees and Sadducees, Jews and Gentiles, ignorant idolaters and self-conceited philosophers all united in hating and opposing Christianity. This sect was spoken against everywhere. These are not empty assertions. They are simple historical facts no one can deny. If ever there was a religion which was a little grain of seed at its beginning, that religion was the Gospel. But the progress of the Gospel after the seed had been planted in the earth was great, steady, and continuous. The grain of mustard seed “grew, became a tree” (verse 19). In spite of persecution, opposition, and violence, Christianity gradually spread and increased. Year after year its adherents became more numerous; year after year idolatry withered away before it. City after city, country after country received the new faith. Church after church was formed in almost every part of the known world. Preacher after preacher rose up, and missionary after missionary came forward to fill the place of those who died. Roman emperors and heathen philosophers, sometimes by force and sometimes by argument, tried in vain to check the progress of Christianity. They may as well have tried to stop the tide from rising or the sun from rising. In a few hundred years the religion of the despised Nazarene—the religion which began in the upper room at Jerusalem—had spread out throughout the civilized world. The grain of mustard seed “grew, became a tree, and the birds of the air perched in its branches” (verse 19). The Lord Jesus said it would be so. And so it came to pass. ILLUSTRATION - We heard a presentation on Thursday by Dr. Henry Cloud where he told a story from his own life. He was facing having to write his doctoral thesis, something that seemed totally overwhelming to him. He couldn’t fathom being able to put together a project so huge. But he felt God speaking to him through the scripture that says, “Consider the ant”. He wasn’t sure what that was all about, but he went out and bought an ant farm. After setting it up, he watched the ants. They actually didn’t do much at all. An ant would take a grain of sand and walk it over to the side of the ant farm, then go take another grain and move it to the other side of the farm. It seemed pretty pointless. He went away for a couple of days and when he came back he was amazed. The ant farm had been transformed into tunnels, mounds, and cities. He realized that all the ants had done was to move one grain of sand at a time. When it came to writing his doctoral thesis, he realized that all he needed to do was just do one little thing at a time, a grain at a time. Be faithful in the little things. Move that grain. Plant seeds. Water seeds. You don’t know what might happen as a result. (Rich Cathers) ILLUSTRATION - When Matthew Henry was a child he received much impression from a sermon on the parable of the “mustard-seed.” On returning home, he said to his child sister, “I think I have received a grain of grace.” It was the seed of the Commentary “cast upon the waters.” ILLUSTRATION - Small Beginnings - When Laura Price, a roaring twenties flapper, converted to Christianity one summer, she had no idea what she was getting herself into. She simply gave herself to Jesus, and her lifestyle turned around. A few years later she was married to Carl Woll and en route to Kenya as one of the first Gospel Furthering Fellowship missionaries. She spent the bulk of her adult life living in Kenya, singing, ministering, and sharing the love of Jesus for African people in Swahili. Big things have small beginnings. The parable of the mustard seed is a parable of big things with small beginnings. What the seed is and what it becomes do not resemble each other. The seed is buried, hidden, and apparently inconsequential; but it grows into a tree. As in the parallel parable of the yeast, nothing appears to be happening, but in hidden places roots delve and bread expands. These parables illustrate the spiritual principle of slow and hidden growth. ILLUSTRATION OF SMALL THINGS WITH LARGE RESULTS - Western music is commonly composed of only twelve notes—the seven basic notes and their five sharps/flats. Every symphony, hymn, love song, oratorio, and other piece of music is made up of various combinations and octaves of those same few notes. Similarly, every poem, essay, novel, letter, and other piece of English literature is composed of combinations of the same twenty-six letters. Lord Kelvin once suspended a large piece of metal from a cord in his laboratory. He then proceeded to wad up small pieces of paper into balls about the size of a pea and systematically throw them at the metal weight. At first the almost imperceptible impact of paper hitting metal seemed to have no effect. But eventually the steel weight was swaying rhythmically back and forth due to the cumulative force patiently applied against it. In an immeasurably more dramatic and important way, God would demonstrate through the church how a handful of believers, totally weak and inept in themselves, would in His power turn the world upside down. The kingdom of heaven would grow and prosper in spite of Satan’s opposition and would ultimately permeate and influence the whole world in Jesus’ name. (MacArthur) ILLUSTRATION - Within forty years of the Resurrection, there were churches in every major city of the Roman Empire. Within two and a half centuries, the entire Roman Empire was Christianized, not by a sword like Islam did it, but by the grace of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Today we see the last remaining 6000 people groups on earth which have been unengaged with gospel contact being prayed for, strategically chosen, and engaged with the Good News. (Gene Brooks) Luke 13:20 And again He said, "To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? Luke 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 13:18-21 Why You Want To Be On Jesus’ Side - Steven Cole Luke 13:18-21 The Increasing Influence of the Kingdom - John MacArthur Luke 13:18-19 Mustard Seed for Sunday-School Teacher - C H Spurgeon ANOTHER COMPARISON OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD And again He said - The adjective palin in this context obviously means repetition. The truth in this next parable is similar to the preceding. Surely His disciples must have been encouraged by this repetition, which is divine "shorthand" for "We win!" because "God wins!" As alluded to above Jesus encouraged them in some of His last words before He ascended "speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God." (Acts 1:3+) We too need to keep this "future focus" (cf "Vertical Vision") so that we do "not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary." (Gal 6:9+). Peter exhorted the afflicted saints (1 Pe 1:6-7+, 1 Pe 4:12+) to keep a "future focus" (enabled by the Spirit and the Word)... Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope (aorist imperative - see our need to depend on Holy Spirit to obey) completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:13+). Comment: And remember that BIBLICAL HOPE is not "hope so" but "hope sure," an absolute assurance that God will do good to us in the future and in the context of these 2 parables, it is the absolute assurance that God's Kingdom will come just as we have been praying for for the past 2000 years ("Your Kingdom come" - Mt 6:10+)! To what shall I compare the kingdom of God? - Essentially the same as the rhetorical question in Lk 13:18 to introduce the second "growth parable." See kingdom of God above. Luke 13:21 "It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened." KJV Luke 13:21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour Mt 13:33; until it was all leavened Job 17:9; Ps 92:13,14; Pr 4:18; Ho 6:3; Jn 4:14; 15:2; 1 Cor 5:6; Phil 1:6,9-11; 1 Th 5:23,24; James 1:21 Luke 13 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Luke 13:18-21 Why You Want To Be On Jesus’ Side - Steven Cole Luke 13:18-21 The Increasing Influence of the Kingdom - John MacArthur Parallel Passage: Matthew 13:33+ He spoke another parable to them, “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.” PARABLE OF LEAVEN It is like leaven (zume), which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour - While leaven is often used in a negative sense (Lk 12:1, 1 Cor 5:6), in the present context leaven is used in a positive to convey the fact that the Kingdom of God would spread even as leaven spreads in dough until the entire loaf is leavened. The verb hid conveys no special significance except to emphasize the idea that even though it is out of sight, it is still very much at work. So too the is the Kingdom of God. This "prophetic" parable of the Kingdom will not come to complete fruition until the King returns and establishes His 1000 year earthly Kingdom. In the meantime, the Kingdom expands in all whose hearts are transformed by the King's Gospel. Steven Cole on leaven...hid in three pecks of flour - The size of the task proportionate to the smallness of the force is not a hindrance to Jesus’ ultimate triumph. The woman’s three measures of flour were equal to about 39 liters or 50 pounds of flour, a large amount. The point is that just a small amount of leaven was all that was needed to permeate this large mass of dough....Since leaven is often used in the Bible as a symbol for sin, some commentators understand this parable to be referring to the spread of false doctrine in the church. But this is to overturn the obvious contextual flow of thought. Sometimes in the Bible, leaven is not a symbol for evil (Lev 7:13+; Lev 23:15-18+), and it can be argued that Jesus is using a somewhat different meaning to grab His hearers attention and to give the parable a provocative twist. So the meaning here is parallel to the meaning of the small mustard seed. The smallness of the pinch of leaven is not a problem even though the lump is large. The smallness of Jesus and His ragtag band of followers is no problem with regard to the worldwide spread of the gospel. The power does not depend on Jesus’ followers, but on the power of God through the Gospel (Ro 1:16+). The leaven must come in contact with the dough for the power to be unleashed. We’ve already seen the same point with regard to the seed. Here there may be the nuance that once the contact is made, the power works from the inside out. That is how the gospel works as God transforms the hearts of sinners. (Luke 13:18-21 Why You Want To Be On Jesus’ Side) Until - expression of time - This is the preposition heos (2193) which is used here as a temporal conjunction "to link the event marking the end of a time period to another element in the sentence." (Friberg) The English dictionary says until means "happening or done up to a particular point in time, and then stopping; Up to the time that (a condition becomes true." So what? The implication of UNTIL is that the condition will come true! God's Kingdom will prevail over man's kingdom! In fact the Bible gives a prophecy which parallels Jesus' two "prophetic parables" For the earth will be filled With the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. (Hab 2:14-note) Comment: This great prophecy is given five times in the OT: Nu 14:21, Ps 72:19 Isa 6:3 Isa 11:9 Hab 2:14. A little leaven can leaven a very large lump of dough. Until it was all leavened - This is a "load" of flour which is about 50 pounds and would make enough bread to feed over 100 people. Why Jesus used such a large amount of flour is not absolutely clear. A reasonable interpretation is that even though the amount of flour is very large, given enough time the leaven will permeate it entirely. The world is large and there are still over 6000 unreached people groups, but the Gospel will eventually spread (like leaven) even to those who are now unreached. The book of the Revelation underscores this truth writing that in the future kingdom there will be men from "every tribe and every tongue and every people and every nation. “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth." (Rev 5:9-10+) Steven

Lucas 13

Ryle - True Christianity! Let us mind that word "true." There is a vast quantity of religion current in the world which is not true, genuine Christianity. It passes muster, it satisfies sleepy consciences; but it is not good money. It is not the authentic reality that called itself Christianity in the beginning. There are thousands of men and women who go to churches and chapels every Sunday and call themselves Christians. They make a "profession" of faith in Christ. Their names are in the baptismal register. They are reckoned Christians while they live. They are married with a Christian marriage service. They mean to be buried as Christians when they die. But you never see any "fight" about their religion! Of spiritual strife and exertion and conflict and self–denial and watching and warring they know literally nothing at all. Such Christianity may satisfy man, and those who say anything against it may be thought very hard and uncharitable; but it certainly is not the Christianity of the Bible. It is not the religion which the Lord Jesus founded and His apostles preached. It is not the religion which produces real holiness. True Christianity is "a fight."...The principal fight of the Christian is with the world, the flesh and the devil. These are his never–dying foes. These are the three chief enemies against whom he must wage war. Unless he gets the victory over these three, all other victories are useless and vain. If he had a nature like an angel, and were not a fallen creature, the warfare would not be so essential. But with a corrupt heart, a busy devil and an ensnaring world, he must either "fight" or be lost. (See the entire article - Are You Fighting The Fight?) John Bunyan (author of Pilgrim's Progress) has an entire book on The Strait Gate (!!!). - Strive supposes that great idleness is natural to professors; they think to get to heaven by lying, as it were, on their elbows. It also suggests that many will be the difficulties that professors will meet with, before they get to heaven. It also concludes that only the laboring Christian, man or woman, will get here...What does strive import? When Jesus says Strive, it is as much as to say, Bend yourselves to the work with all your might. "Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going." (Eccl 9:10) Thus Samson did when he set himself to destroy the Philistines ‘He bent with all his might.’ (Jdg 16:30) Thus David did also declaring "Now with all my ability I have provided for the house of my God." (1Chr 29:2) And thus you must do, if you would enter into heaven. When Jesus says Strive, he calls for the mind and will, that they should be on His side, and on the side of the things of His kingdom; for no one strives indeed, except those who have given the Son of God their heart, (Ed: Note Bunyan's emphasizes heart change before one even begins to strive!) of which the mind and will are a principal part; for saving conversion lies more in the turning of the mind and will to Christ, and to the love of his heavenly things, than in all knowledge and judgment. And this the apostle confirms when he says stand "firm in one spirit, with one mind striving (sunathleo) together for the faith of the gospel." (Phil 1:27+) (Here is the link to his book entitled The Strait Gate or Great Difficulty of Going to Heaven - here is Bunyan's "Preface" = Plainly proving, by the Scriptures, that not only the rude and profane, but many great professors, will come short of that kingdom: with directions how and why every one should strive to enter in.) It is notable that other NT writers present a similar picture of "striving" in the context of salvation. Peter charges his readers... Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent (spoudazo in the aorist imperative = command to do this now! Don't delay!) to make (present tense) certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice (present tense - not speaking of perfection but direction!) these things (2Pe 1:5+ 2Pe 1:6 7+), you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. (2 Pe 1:10, 11+) In Hebrews in the context of reminders that many in Israel failed to enter God's rest by faith the writer exhorts his readers... Therefore (Because of the danger of "false faith" Heb 3:18, 19+), let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. (Hebrews 4:1+) Therefore (because of the risk of not entering God's rest and the rewards of entering that rest) let us be diligent (same verb used in Peter's exhortation above = spoudazo) to enter that rest, so that (term of purpose) no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:11+) Comment: The picture of spoudazo is that of giving careful attention to some goal or objective. The idea is give maximum effort, do your best, spare no effort, hurry on, be eager! Hasten to do a thing, exert yourself, endeavour to do it. In short it is a call to give your utmost for His highest! Is this not a picture of striving? In the context of Hebrews 3 and Hebrews 4 the exhortation is to be diligent to concentrate your energy on achieving the goal of entering God's promised Rest in Christ. Diligence in this sense is similar to the idea of strive in Lk 13:24 in that it speaks of an intensity of purpose followed by intensity of effort toward the realization of that purpose, of entrance through the narrow Door of Jesus by grace through faith. Jesus warned His disciples And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved (sozo). (Mt 10:22, cp Mt 24:13+) Comment: Does this admonition not speak of "striving" (Lk 13:24) to enter the narrow gate. Note however that Jesus is not saying that it is by one's endurance (self effort or works) that they will be saved. His point is that one is enabled to endure because of the fact that they are saved - the indwelling Spirit gives them the desire and the power (Php 2:13NLT+). In other words their endurance in spite of persecutions (cf Mt 13:21, Mk 4:17), ridicule, rejection, etc, is sure proof that they have entered the narrow door of genuine salvation (cf Lk 8:15+). Jesus also alluded to the "striving" (Lk 13:24) necessary to enter the narrow door of genuine salvation when He declared that... it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God (i.e., "salvation")." (See My Personal Testimony) And when the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved (sozo)? (Mt 19:24, 25, Comment: Be sure to check the context Mt 19:16-17 18 19-20 21 22 23. [See parallel in Mk 10:17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24-25 26-28 29 30 31 Luke 18:18-25, 26-28 29-30, see also Lk 12:33 34 Mt 6:19 20 21-note] What did Jesus tell the rich young ruler that would require "striving" ["agonizing"]? Remember that Jesus was not teaching that giving up his possessions [which equates with a self effort] would earn or merit salvation. John

Lucas 13

Ryle comments... Whatever others may do in religion the Lord Jesus would have us know that our duty is clear. The gate is strait. The work is great. The enemies of our souls are many. We must be up and doing. We are to wait for nobody. We are not to inquire what other people are doing, and whether many of our neighbors, and relatives, and friends are serving Christ. The unbelief and indecision of others will be no excuse at the last day. We must never follow a multitude to do evil. If we go to heaven alone, we must resolve that by God's grace we will go. Whether we have many with us or a few, the command before us is plain--"Strive to enter in." (Luke chapter 13) ( Ryle commenting on John 10:9 adds) Let us take heed that we use this door, and do not merely stand outside looking at it. It is a door free and open to the chief of sinners--"If any man enter in by it, he shall be saved." (Jn 10:9) It is a door within which we shall find a full and constant supply for every need of our souls. We shall find that we can "go in and out," and enjoy liberty and peace. The day comes when this door will be shut forever, and men shall strive to enter in, but not be able. Then let us make sure work of our own salvation (cp 2Pe 1:10 11-note). Let us not stand tarrying outside, and halting between two opinions. Let us enter in and be saved. (John 10) Frederic Godet writes that agonizomai "refers...to the difficulty of passing through the narrow opening (and) in the application, to the humiliations of penitence, the struggles of conversion. (Luke 13:22 Commentary) Matthew Henry (Luke 13 Commentary) comments on strive to enter... (1.) All that will be saved must enter in at the strait gate, must undergo a change of the whole man, such as amounts to no less than being born again, and must submit to a strict discipline. (2.) Those that would enter in at the strait gate must strive to enter. It is a hard matter to get to heaven, and a point that will not be gained without a great deal of care and pains, of difficulty and diligence. (Ed: How does this compare with the "invitation" presented in many churches today? Just a thought to ponder in light of Jesus' words.) We must strive with God in prayer, wrestle as Jacob, strive against Sin and Satan. We must strive in every duty of religion; strive with our own hearts, agonizesthe— "Be in an agony. Strive as those that run for a prize. Excite and exert ourselves to the utmost." Matthew

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Ryle comments that "our Lord gives us a general caution against the way of the many in religion. It is not enough to think as others think and do as others do. It must not satisfy us to follow the fashion, and swim with the stream of those among whom we live. He tells us that the way that leads to everlasting life is narrow, and few travel in it. He tells us that the way that leads to everlasting destruction is broad, and full of travelers. Many are those who enter in by it. These are fearful truths! They ought to raise great searchings of heart in the minds of all who hear them. "Which way am I going? By what road am I traveling?" In one or other of the two ways here described, every one of us may be found. May God give us an honest, self-inquiring spirit, and show us what we are! We may well tremble and be afraid, if our religion is that of the multitude. If we can say no more than this, that "we go where others go, and worship where others worship, and hope we shall do as well as others at last," we are literally pronouncing our own condemnation. What is this but being in the broad way? (Mt 7:13-14+) What is this but being in the road whose end is destruction? Our religion at present is not saving religion. We have no reason to be discouraged and cast down, if the religion we profess is not popular, and few agree with us. We must remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in this passage: The gate is narrow. (Luke 13) Repentance and faith in Christ, and holiness of life, have never been fashionable. Editorial Note on the importance of Repentance: Repentance is not considered by many today as a component of salvation - Let the Scriptures speak for themselves -- John the Baptist called for repentance "validated" by fruit [Mt 3:2, 8, Lk 3:3, 8, Mk 1:4, Acts 19:4, cp Ac 13:24] Jesus began His ministry preaching repent [Mt 4:17, 11:20, 21, 12:41, Mk 1:15, cp Mk 6:12, Lk 5:32 , 5, 10:13, 11:32, 13:2,3, 5, 15:7, 8, 9, 10, 16:30, 24:47]. Peter preached repentance [Acts 2:38, 3:19, 5:31] as did Paul [Acts 20:21, 26:20, cp Acts 11:18, cp Ro 2:4+] and as did John [Rev 2:21+]. God desires for all to repent [Ac 17:30 2Pe 3:9+] See Multiple articles on Repentance or well done article in Baker Evangelical Dictionary - Repentance. J C Ryle reminds us that "The true flock of Christ has always been small (cf Lk 12:32+). It must not move us to find that we are reckoned singular, and peculiar, and bigoted, and narrow-minded. This is "the narrow way." Surely it is better to enter into life eternal with a few, than to go to "destruction" with a great company (Expository Thoughts) Robert Frost wrote a secular poem that closely parallels Jesus' words: "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."

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Ryle - True Christianity! Let us mind that word "true." There is a vast quantity of religion current in the world which is not true, genuine Christianity. It passes muster, it satisfies sleepy consciences; but it is not good money. It is not the authentic reality that called itself Christianity in the beginning. There are thousands of men and women who go to churches and chapels every Sunday and call themselves Christians. They make a "profession" of faith in Christ. Their names are in the baptismal register. They are reckoned Christians while they live. They are married with a Christian marriage service. They mean to be buried as Christians when they die. But you never see any "fight" about their religion! Of spiritual strife and exertion and conflict and self–denial and watching and warring they know literally nothing at all. Such Christianity may satisfy man, and those who say anything against it may be thought very hard and uncharitable; but it certainly is not the Christianity of the Bible. It is not the religion which the Lord Jesus founded and His apostles preached. It is not the religion which produces real holiness. True Christianity is "a fight."...The principal fight of the Christian is with the world, the flesh and the devil. These are his never–dying foes. These are the three chief enemies against whom he must wage war. Unless he gets the victory over these three, all other victories are useless and vain. If he had a nature like an angel, and were not a fallen creature, the warfare would not be so essential. But with a corrupt heart, a busy devil and an ensnaring world, he must either "fight" or be lost. (See the entire article - Are You Fighting The Fight?) John Bunyan (author of Pilgrim's Progress) has an entire book on the Strait Gate (!!!). Strive supposes that great idleness is natural to professors; they think to get to heaven by lying, as it were, on their elbows. It also suggests that many will be the difficulties that professors will meet with, before they get to heaven. It also concludes that only the laboring Christian, man or woman, will get here... What does strive import? When Jesus says Strive, it is as much as to say, Bend yourselves to the work with all your might. "Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going." (Eccl 9:10) Thus Samson did when he set himself to destroy the Philistines ‘He bent with all his might.’ (Jdg 16:30) Thus David did also declaring "Now with all my ability I have provided for the house of my God." (1Chr 29:2) And thus you must do, if you would enter into heaven. When Jesus says Strive, he calls for the mind and will, that they should be on his side, and on the side of the things of His kingdom; for no one strives indeed, except those who have given the Son of God their heart, of which the mind and will are a principal part; for saving conversion lies more in the turning of the mind and will to Christ, and to the love of his heavenly things, than in all knowledge and judgment. And this the apostle confirms when he says stand "firm in one spirit, with one mind striving (sunathleo) together for the faith of the gospel." (Phil 1:27-note) (Luke 13:24 The Strait Gate) It is notable that other NT writers present a similar picture of "striving" in the context of salvation. Peter charges his readers... Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent (aorist imperative = command to do this now! Don't delay!) to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things (2Pe 1:5-note 2Pe 1:6 7-note), you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. (cp 2Pe 1:10, 11-note) In Hebrews in the context of reminders that many in Israel failed to enter God's rest by faith the writer exhorts his readers... Therefore (Because of the danger of "false faith" Heb 3:18, 19-note), let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. (Hebrews 4:1-note) Therefore (because of the risk of not entering and the rewards of entering God's rest) let us be diligent (same verb used in Peter's exhortation above = spoudazo) to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:11-note) Comment: The picture of spoudazo is that of giving careful attention to some goal or objective. The idea is give maximum effort, do your best, spare no effort, hurry on, be eager! Hasten to do a thing, exert yourself, endeavour to do it. In short it is a call to give your utmost for His highest! In the context of Hebrews 3 and Hebrews 4 the exhortation is to be diligent to concentrate your energy on achieving the goal of entering God's promised Rest in Christ. Diligence in this sense is similar to the idea of strive in Lk 13:24 in that it speaks of an intensity of purpose followed by intensity of effort toward the realization of that purpose, of entrance through the narrow Door of Jesus by grace through faith. Jesus warned His disciples And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved (sozo). (Mt 10:22, cp Mt 24:13) Comment: Does this admonition not speak of "striving" (Lk 13:24) to enter the narrow gate. Note however that Jesus is not saying that it is by one's endurance (self effort or works) that they will be saved. His point is that one is enabled to endure because of the fact that they are saved. In other words their endurance in spite of persecutions, ridicule, rejection, etc, is sure proof that they have entered the narrow door of genuine salvation. Jesus also alluded to the "striving" (Lk 13:24) necessary to enter the narrow door of genuine salvation when He declared that... it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (See My Personal Testimony) And when the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved (sozo)? (Mt 19:24, 25, Comment: Be sure to check the context Mt 19:16-17 18 19-20 21 22 23. [See parallel in Mk 10:17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24-25 26-28 29 30 31 Luke 18:18-25, 26-28 29-30, see also Lk 12:33 34 Mt 6:19 20 21-note] What did Jesus tell the rich young ruler that would require "striving" ["agonizing"]? Remember that Jesus was not teaching that giving up his possessions [which equates with a self work] would earn or merit salvation. John

Lucas 13:22-30

Ryle puts it, “Hell is nothing but truth known too late” (Expository Thoughts on the Gospels [Baker], 3:134). Salvation is an urgent matter! (Luke 13:22-30 - The Narrow Door) Luke 13:27 AND HE WILL SAY, "I TELL YOU, I DO NOT KNOW WHERE YOU ARE FROM; DEPART FROM ME ALL YOU EVILDOERS": kai erei (3SFAI) legon (PAPMSN) humin, ouk oida (2SRAI) [humas] pothen este; (2PPAI) apostete (2PAAM) ap' hemou, pantes ergatai adikias: I tell you: Lk 13:25 Ps 1:6 Mt 7:22,23 25:12,41 1Co 8:3 Gal 4:9 2Ti 2:19 Depart: Ps 5:6 6:8 28:3 101:8 119:115 125:5 Ho 9:12 Mt 25:41 CHRIST THE RIGHTEOUS JUDGE WILL DISOWN & DISCARD PROFESSORS And He will say (literally = "He will say, I tell you") - This is a prophecy of a painful pronouncement! The verb "I tell you" is in the present tense implying Jesus was continually warning them of their painful future if they refused to repent and believe. Do not (absolute negation) know where you are from - The master disavows any relation to these individuals. This passage parallels Jesus' declaration in the Sermon on the Mount... Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven (Equates with genuine salvation); but he who does (present tense = their habitual practice, the general direction of their life. Note: Direction not perfection!) the will of My Father Who is in heaven (i.e., their holy [supernatural not natural!] behavior proves that they have a holy [supernatural] Source of power, the Holy Spirit - Their works show their faith to be genuine, saving faith. Be careful, Do Not Misinterpret! = their doing of the will of the Father does not save them, for by works no man can be saved [justified - declared righteous] Ro 3:20-note, Ro 3:28-note. Their supernaturally enabled works simply show they are saved!). 22 Many (This ought to make us weep, beloved! And even more so when we consider the "many" who will go to destruction in Mt 7:13-note) will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' (Notice Jesus does not dispute or discount their claims of the "miraculous"! So what? Beware of following any "miracle" worker whose lifestyle does not produce the good fruit of godliness!) 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never (absolute denial that at any time I ever) knew (ginosko - in context this speaks of utmost intimacy ~ union, oneness, in Christ and Christ in us) you; DEPART (present imperative = command calling for continuous action!) FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE (worked at it with active zeal and the present tense indicates this was their habitual practice, their general lifestyle) LAWLESSNESS.' (Mt 7:21-note, Mt 7:22, 23-note) Depart (868) (aphistemi [word study] from apo = separation of one thing from another + histemi = stand) literally means to stand off from (English = apostasy) means to withdraw, forsake, depart from or remove oneself from. Compare two other occurrences of Jesus issuing this same command to unbelievers to "Depart" = Mt 7:23-note (depart = apochoreo) and Mt 25:41 (depart - poreuomai = to transport oneself from one place to another = "the eternal fire", referring not to Hades [Sheol] but to Gehenna!) Matthew

Lucas 13:22-30

Ryle comments that... our Lord gives us a general caution against the way of the many in religion. It is not enough to think as others think and do as others do. It must not satisfy us to follow the fashion, and swim with the stream of those among whom we live. He tells us that the way that leads to everlasting life is narrow, and few travel in it. He tells us that the way that leads to everlasting destruction is broad, and full of travelers. Many are those who enter in by it. These are fearful truths! They ought to raise great searchings of heart in the minds of all who hear them. "Which way am I going? By what road am I traveling?" In one or other of the two ways here described, every one of us may be found. May God give us an honest, self-inquiring spirit, and show us what we are! We may well tremble and be afraid, if our religion is that of the multitude. If we can say no more than this, that "we go where others go, and worship where others worship, and hope we shall do as well as others at last," we are literally pronouncing our own condemnation. What is this but being in the broad way? What is this but being in the road whose end is destruction? Our religion at present is not saving religion. We have no reason to be discouraged and cast down, if the religion we profess is not popular, and few agree with us. We must remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ in this passage: The gate is narrow. Repentance and faith in Christ, and holiness of life, have never been fashionable. Editorial Note on the importance of Repentance: Repentance is not considered by many today as a component of salvation - Let the Scriptures speak for themselves -- John the Baptist called for repentance "validated" by fruit [Mt 3:2, 8, Lk 3:3, 8, Mk 1:4, Acts 19:4, cp Ac 13:24] Jesus began His ministry preaching repent [Mt 4:17, 11:20, 21, 12:41, Mk 1:15, cp Mk 6:12, Lk 5:32 , 5, 10:13, 11:32, 13:2,3, 5, 15:7, 8, 9, 10, 16:30, 24:47]. Peter preached repentance [Acts 2:38, 3:19, 5:31] as did Paul [Acts 20:21, 26:20, cp Acts 11:18, cp Ro 2:4-note] and as did John [Rev 2:21-note]. God desires for all to repent [Ac 17:30 2Pe 3:9-note] Multiple articles on Repentance or well done article in Baker Evangelical Dictionary - Repentance. The true flock of Christ has always been small. It must not move us to find that we are reckoned singular, and peculiar, and bigoted, and narrow-minded. This is "the narrow way." Surely it is better to enter into life eternal with a few, than to go to "destruction" with a great company (J. C. Ryle. Expository Thoughts) Robert Frost wrote a secular poem that closely parallels Jesus' words: "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--- I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference."

Lucas 13:24

Ryle - True Christianity! Let us mind that word "true." There is a vast quantity of religion current in the world which is not true, genuine Christianity. It passes muster, it satisfies sleepy consciences; but it is not good money. It is not the authentic reality that called itself Christianity in the beginning. There are thousands of men and women who go to churches and chapels every Sunday and call themselves Christians. They make a "profession" of faith in Christ. Their names are in the baptismal register. They are reckoned Christians while they live. They are married with a Christian marriage service. They mean to be buried as Christians when they die. But you never see any "fight" about their religion! Of spiritual strife and exertion and conflict and self–denial and watching and warring they know literally nothing at all. Such Christianity may satisfy man, and those who say anything against it may be thought very hard and uncharitable; but it certainly is not the Christianity of the Bible. It is not the religion which the Lord Jesus founded and His apostles preached. It is not the religion which produces real holiness. True Christianity is "a fight."...The principal fight of the Christian is with the world, the flesh and the devil. These are his never–dying foes. These are the three chief enemies against whom he must wage war. Unless he gets the victory over these three, all other victories are useless and vain. If he had a nature like an angel, and were not a fallen creature, the warfare would not be so essential. But with a corrupt heart, a busy devil and an ensnaring world, he must either "fight" or be lost. (See the entire article - Are You Fighting The Fight?) John Bunyan (author of Pilgrim's Progress) has an entire book on the Strait Gate (!!!). Strive supposes that great idleness is natural to professors; they think to get to heaven by lying, as it were, on their elbows. It also suggests that many will be the difficulties that professors will meet with, before they get to heaven. It also concludes that only the laboring Christian, man or woman, will get here... What does strive import? When Jesus says Strive, it is as much as to say, Bend yourselves to the work with all your might. "Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going." (Eccl 9:10) Thus Samson did when he set himself to destroy the Philistines ‘He bent with all his might.’ (Jdg 16:30) Thus David did also declaring "Now with all my ability I have provided for the house of my God." (1Chr 29:2) And thus you must do, if you would enter into heaven. When Jesus says Strive, he calls for the mind and will, that they should be on his side, and on the side of the things of His kingdom; for no one strives indeed, except those who have given the Son of God their heart, of which the mind and will are a principal part; for saving conversion lies more in the turning of the mind and will to Christ, and to the love of his heavenly things, than in all knowledge and judgment. And this the apostle confirms when he says stand "firm in one spirit, with one mind striving (sunathleo) together for the faith of the gospel." (Phil 1:27-note) (Luke 13:24 The Strait Gate) It is notable that other NT writers present a similar picture of "striving" in the context of salvation. Peter charges his readers... Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent (aorist imperative = command to do this now! Don't delay!) to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things (2Pe 1:5-note 2Pe 1:6 7-note), you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. (cp 2Pe 1:10, 11-note) In Hebrews in the context of reminders that many in Israel failed to enter God's rest by faith the writer exhorts his readers... Therefore (Because of the danger of "false faith" Heb 3:18, 19-note), let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. (Hebrews 4:1-note) Therefore (because of the risk of not entering and the rewards of entering God's rest) let us be diligent (same verb used in Peter's exhortation above = spoudazo) to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. (Hebrews 4:11-note) Comment: The picture of spoudazo is that of giving careful attention to some goal or objective. The idea is give maximum effort, do your best, spare no effort, hurry on, be eager! Hasten to do a thing, exert yourself, endeavour to do it. In short it is a call to give your utmost for His highest! In the context of Hebrews 3 and Hebrews 4 the exhortation is to be diligent to concentrate your energy on achieving the goal of entering God's promised Rest in Christ. Diligence in this sense is similar to the idea of strive in Lk 13:24 in that it speaks of an intensity of purpose followed by intensity of effort toward the realization of that purpose, of entrance through the narrow Door of Jesus by grace through faith. Jesus warned His disciples And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved (sozo). (Mt 10:22, cp Mt 24:13) Comment: Does this admonition not speak of "striving" (Lk 13:24) to enter the narrow gate. Note however that Jesus is not saying that it is by one's endurance (self effort or works) that they will be saved. His point is that one is enabled to endure because of the fact that they are saved. In other words their endurance in spite of persecutions, ridicule, rejection, etc, is sure proof that they have entered the narrow door of genuine salvation. Jesus also alluded to the "striving" (Lk 13:24) necessary to enter the narrow door of genuine salvation when He declared that... it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (See My Personal Testimony) And when the disciples heard this, they were very astonished and said, "Then who can be saved (sozo)? (Mt 19:24, 25, Comment: Be sure to check the context Mt 19:16-17 18 19-20 21 22 23. [See parallel in Mk 10:17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24-25 26-28 29 30 31 Luke 18:18-25, 26-28 29-30, see also Lk 12:33 34 Mt 6:19 20 21-note] What did Jesus tell the rich young ruler that would require "striving" ["agonizing"]? Remember that Jesus was not teaching that giving up his possessions [which equates with a self work] would earn or merit salvation. John