Luke 13:22-30 — Knock knock...

READ THIS: Luke 13:22-30

22 Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?” He said to them, 24 “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ 26 “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ 27 “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’ 

28 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. 29 People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. 30 Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

People all over, everywhere will join the feast in the kingdom of God. Feasts/banquets were kind of the symbol of the best thing ever because that was one of the most exciting things to happen. So, if that's what the kingdom of God is like, then everybody wants to be there. But, for most banquets/feasts/parties, you need an invite to get in. For the kingdom of God, you need to be saved to join the feast. So, someone asks if there will be a lot of people who are saved or not. In other words, how crowded is the party going to be?

Jesus' answer is a little confusing. He explains it in terms of a house and an owner. There's a narrow door that is open, but it is eventually closed and those who didn't take it before are left outside. So, the kingdom of God is open to all, but there's a specific way in, and it's not based on each person's perception of their relationship to God (v26-27). So, what's the specific way to get in which is also not based on personal merit?

YEP! Jesus!!!!

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. The devo gives this away a bit, but it's still important to note. What is the narrow door? By whose merit do we get to go through the narrow door?

2. What does verse 30 mean and how does it tie into whose merit we depend on to be in the Kingdom of God/heaven?

TRY THIS:

Imagine a scenario where you're standing at the door of heaven and you have to explain why you should be let in. Imagine what you'd say and how that conversation would go. 

Location: Texas, USA

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