Luke 13:23-24 (ESV) And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
Jesus did not answer the question “will those who are save be few?” in this passage. But He did answer the same question in Matthew 7:13 where He said.
Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV) “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
So, yes compared to those who will not be saved, those saved will be few. Jesus tells us here that the way to enter the kingdom of God is through a narrow door. He tells us that we need to strive to enter the narrow door. The Greek word for strive here means to struggle, to engage in an athletic contest or to fight. Contrary to popular belief, it is not easy to enter the narrow door and be saved. In fact, Jesus tells us that many will try to enter the narrow door, but not get through it.
Luke 13:25 (ESV) 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.’
The master of the house with the narrow door in this story is Jesus. When Jesus returns or when a person dies, every unbeliever will know who Jesus is. They will, as it were, knock on the narrow door and try to get it, but the door will be permanently shut. Jesus will answer from within the house, I don’t know you.
Luke 13:27-28 (ESV) But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 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.
Again, Jesus repeats that He doesn’t know the people who have not believed in Him in this life. He calls them workers of evil. They are sent to hell, the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth in eternal torment. In Jesus’ day, He was speaking to the religious Jews who did not accept Him as the Messiah.
Luke 13:29-30 (ESV) And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
Jesus is referring to the Gentiles who believe in Jesus will be in the kingdom of God. Some people who seem to be last in this world, not having status or wealth, will be first in the kingdom. While others who seem to be first in this world, in status or wealth will not even be part of the kingdom, they will be last. You enter the kingdom by struggling through the narrow door.
I think the church and myself included makes it seem so easy, so simple to become a believer. In one sense it is, easy, you simply must repent and believe in Jesus. Yet, many people pray that simple prayer but do not understand nor submit their lives to begin a relationship with Jesus where He knows them.
Let’s think for a minute about a traveler walking down a dusty road in life. He has a large backpack on and is carrying other things on his belt and in his hands. As he approaches the beautiful house of God’s kingdom, he sees a narrow door with a sign that says welcome. He thinks, well that looks pleasant, I’d really like to enter in and enjoy that house. As he approaches the door opens and he can see wonderful things inside the house.
But as he tries to go through the door, he recognizes that it is very narrow. Try as he might, he cannot push his way through with everything that he is carrying. His possessions represent his money, his relationships, his career, his goals and his sins.
The man lays some of the things down, but he still can’t fit through the door. Finally, he realizes that in in order to go through the narrow door, he has to give up everything that he has. Sadly, he walks away. For he is not willing to give up everything to enter the narrow door.
Yet, this man will think that he is a believer, for he has laid some things down and even goes to church once and awhile. Yet he is not a citizen of God’s kingdom, he has not made it through the narrow door. To enter the narrow door of the kingdom requires laying everything down.