Luke 13:23-30
Not Many
Jesus introduced the topic of the Kingdom of God in \\#18-22\\. The
topic was not selected because an individual had questions about
God’s kingdom but because Jesus Himself desired to reveal truths
about it. As we looked at those verses, I pointed out that the
kingdom of God Jesus was referring to in those verses was not the
physical, earthly kingdom of God, but one offered to all individuals.
Luke 17:21 Neither shall they say, Lo here! or,
lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is
within you.
However, in these verses, Jesus’ teaching turned again to the Jews
and their opportunity to be part of a physical, earthly, literal
kingdom where Jesus will reign in Israel over the earth.
I. \\#23\\ An Important Question - Will many be saved?
A. Time has passed since Jesus taught in \\#18-21\\.
1. How do we know?
2. Because \\#22\\ pointed out that Jesus continued His
traveling on His journey to Jerusalem.
Luke 13:22 And he went through the cities and
villages, teaching, and journeying toward
Jerusalem.
3. This section of Scripture is not linked with the last by
time but by topic matter.
4. Jesus was again speaking about the kingdom of God.
Luke 13:29 And they shall come from the east,
and from the west, and from the north, and from
the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of
God.
B. It was an individual that asked the question to start this
conversation.
1. This gives us an opportunity to remember the context.
a. We remember that Jesus was in the Jewish nation,
walking on Jewish streets, traveling between Jewish
cities on His way to the Jewish capital while
speaking to Jewish people.
b. Jesus Himself was a Jew who had come to offer Himself
as the Jewish Messiah to establish a Jewish kingdom.
c. The man who asked the question is most likely a Jew
who was not thinking about salvation in the
church age but salvation in the Jewish age.
d. And with that in mind, Jesus’ answer was probably
one dealing with the Jewish age and the Jewish
Kingdom of God.
2. The question is very pertinent no matter what the age.
a. Will many be saved?
b. Jesus gave an unexpected answer.
II. \\#24\\ An Unexpected Answer
A. I call the answer UNEXPECTED not because we would be surprised
to find out that many people will die lost, but because we
might be surprised to find out who Jesus emphasizes as lost!
1. Religious people, those seeking to enter into salvation.
2. The emphasis here is not that lost people are lost but
that religious people are lost and I think the message
on that day was that many Jews—most Jews—will be lost.
B. \\#25-27\\ Jesus illustrated this with a sad parable.
1. This is another of several recent parables that emphasize
the time for the Jews to be saved is limited.
a. \\#Luke 12:36\\ The parable of the Lord returning
with His bride
b. \\#Luke 13:6-9\\ The parable of barren fig tree
2. We can call this the parable of the Unknown Acquaintances.
a. This is a parable about people who knew Jesus.
(1) They said they had eaten and drunk with Him.
(2) They say that He had taught in their streets.
(3) All of which was true of the Jews at that time.
b. But Jesus’ reply was that He did not know THEM.
Luke 13:27 …I know you not whence ye are….
c. This parable teaches that it is not enough to know
Jesus. Jesus must also know you.
d. Because of the shared experiences they had with
Jesus, we can call them religious but Jesus called
them LOST.
3. Don’t miss the main point of this passage.
a. We already know that most religious people are lost.
b. But since the parable mentioned that Jesus had walked
in their streets, it seems obvious that Jesus was
talking to the Jews about THEIR condition.
c. Jesus was teaching that most Jews would be lost.
(1) Jews believed that being sons of Abraham, they
would be automatically granted salvation.
(2) The question this man asked gave Jesus an
opportunity to teach again that NOT MANY of
any people group would be saved and sadly,
especially not many of the Jews.
C. \\#24\\ In relation to that, Christ’s admonition is,
STRIVE to enter at the straight gate.
1. Is this an admonition to work hard in order to get
salvation?
a. NO.
b. Salvation is not by works.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of
God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more
of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But
if it be of works, then is it no more grace:
otherwise work is no more work.
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we
have done, but according to his mercy he saved
us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing
of the Holy Ghost;
2. Is this an indication that being saved is a difficult
task?
1. NO.
2. Salvation is so easy a child can do it and an adults
must be childlike in their understanding and trust.
Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you,
Except ye be converted, and become as little
children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of
heaven.
3. However, it is an indication that salvation is fraught
with man’s misinformation and misdirection.
a. Striving indicates some diligent work.
b. It is the Greek word that we get our word agony from.
c. It means to fight and to labor fervently.
d. We strive not to BE saved but to be sure of the
genuineness of our salvation.
4. Scriptures place the responsibility of salvation on US.
2Peter 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give
diligence to make your calling and election sure:
for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
Hebrews 4:11 Let us labour therefore to enter
into that rest, lest any man fall after the same
example of unbelief.
2Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye
be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye
not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in
you, except ye be reprobates?
Hebrews 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a
promise being left us of entering into his rest,
any of you should seem to come short of it.
5. Does this mean that I must live a life of doubt?
a. Absolutely not!
b. The saved do not need to doubt their salvation!
1John 5:13 These things have I written unto you
that believe on the name of the Son of God; that
ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that
ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
c. Those who doubt their salvation are those who feel
they must be worthy of it! (In other words, WORK for
it.)
d. In an article published by The Telegraph, dated Nov
29, 2002, the author, Bruce Johnston wrote:
Mother Teresa, who was put on the fast track to
sainthood by the Pope after her death five years
ago, was tormented by a crisis of belief for 50
years, her writings reveal.
Her letters and diaries present a completely
different picture of the nun and Nobel peace
prize winner from her public image as a woman
confident of her faith.
Then the author quoted from her a 1958 entry in her
dairy:
My smile is a great cloak that hides a
multitude of pains.
Because she was "forever smiling", people thought
"my faith, my hope and my love are overflowing
and that my intimacy with God and union with his
will fill my heart. If only they knew..."
In another entry, she wrote:
In my own soul, I feel the terrible pain of this
loss. I feel that God does not want me, that God
is not God and that he does not really exist.
A popular Roman newspaper wrote:
The real Mother Teresa was one who for one year
had visions and who for the next 50 had doubts -
up until her death.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/1414752/
Mother-Teresas-diary-reveals-her-crisis-of-faith.html
e. Why did this woman have no assurance of her salvation?
(1) Because she did not understand that salvation is
not based on our goodness or works.
(2) It is based on what Jesus Christ did for us on
the cross and on nothing else.
III. \\#28-30\\ A Threefold Prophecy - Some would call this a
parable, but I believe it is a prophesy of what will literally
happen in the future.
A. \\#28\\ There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth by those
(the Jews) thrust out.
1. Hell will be just as hot for the religious lost as the
wicked lost.
2. Indeed, perhaps hotter for the religious lost had more
access to the truth.
3. Notice that those being trust out are being associated
with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and prophets.
a. Why?
b. Because Jesus was talking about the Jewish Kingdom of
God.
B. \\#29\\ The saved shall come from all corners of the world to
be part of God's kingdom.
1. When?
2. When Jesus establishes His kingdom on earth.
3. This is not a promise to the church but to the Jews.
C. \\#30\\ The last shall be first and the first shall be last.
1. This is a phrase used by Jesus several times through
His ministry: \\#Matt 19:30, 20:16, Mk 10:31\\
2. What does it mean?
3. Perhaps several things but I think one might be that
the Jews will not accept Jesus until last.
a. It appears that they will accept Jesus during the
last half of the tribulation.
b. Even so, God will but them first in His kingdom
for they will have the most wisdom, demonstrate
the most faith, and be the most persecuted.
As the last can be first so the first can be last. Many who have
been reared in America being taken to church since their first days
will find out--like the religious Jews--that not many are going to
heaven. The fault will not be God's. It will theirs. Be certain
today that you are not a fatal statistic.
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