The Strand Study Bible

LUKE 13:22

LUKE 13:31

1663

Question asked concering how many are saved 22 And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, 24 Strive to enter in at the 1 STRAIT GATE : for many, I say unto you, 2 will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, 3 Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26 Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; 4 depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. 28 There shall be 5 weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see 6 Abraham, and 7 Isaac, and 8 Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. 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. 30 And, behold, 9 there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last . CHRIST answers Herod’s threat 31 The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

1. or “Christ” - Mt 7:13-14 2. Jn 7:34-36 & 8:21 & 13:33 3. Mt 7:21-23 4. Quoted from the OT - Psa 6:8 5. Mt 8:12 & 13:41, 42 & 24:51 6. Gen 15:5-6 & Jn 8:56 & Rom 4:1-3 & Gal 3:6-9 & Jms 2:21-23 7. Gen 26:23-25 8. Gen 28:1-4 9. Mt 19:30 & 20:16 & Mk 10:31

13:24 This word ( strive ) is the Greek word DJZQL]HσθH ( agonizesthe ), fromwhich we derive our English word “agonize.” Agonizesthe is used only 8 times in the entire NT and means, “ to labor fervently ; to contend to do whatever it takes to accomplish a task .” Since Christ was speaking to unsaved men here, the task being emphasized is salvation. Question - Is there anything more important than knowing you’re on your way to Heaven? And yet there are multitudes of religious people out there who are just “hoping” they get there. You don’t have to hope; you can know (I Jn 5:13). Now while it is true that Christ was speaking specifically to the unsaved here, it is also true that every Christian should strive to focus on his/her own salvation as well. Salvation isn’t just about entering Heaven; it’s about enjoying Heaven as well (Heb 2:1-3). The author of Hebrews reminds us that, as believers, we are to “ give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard (things that accompany salvation), for how shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation ?” As Christians, we are to agonize over eight different areas of the Christian life: 1. We are to “agonize” over our salvation (Heb 2:1-3 and Jere 2:1-8) According to the Bible, we are accountable for what we do with our salvation. 2. We are to “agonize” in prayer (Lk 22:44) When is the last time you can remember laboring in prayer? 3. We are to “agonize” ( fight ) over the eternal perspective (Christ’s kingdom) (Jn 18:36) We are to take up our spiritual sword (the Word of God), and lay down our physical one (Mt 26:47-53 and Eph 6:12-17) 4. We are to “agonize” ( strive ) to earn future rewards (I Cor 9:25) You hear Christians say it all the time, “I wouldn’t think of striving for eternal rewards. Heaven is reward enough for me.” However, these kinds of Christians are the same Christians who have no problem striving for temporal rewards (promotions at work, money market investments, etc.). Christians need to get their priorities right and start striving for the eternal, not the temporal. 5. We are to “agonize” ( strive ) to see other Christians grow in grace (Colo 1:25-29) Its time Christians start feeding others instead of always having to be fed (Heb 5:12-14) 6. We are to “agonize” ( labor fervently ) in prayer for others (Colo 4:12) 7. As pastors, we are to “agonize” ( fight ) to stay focused on our calling (I Tim 6:11-12) Of the five rewards (crowns – Rev 4:10 ) that a believer can earn, “the Crown of Glory” is given exclusively to ministers who stay focused on their calling ( I Pet 5:4 ). 8. We are to “agonize” ( fight ) to finish our race (II Tim 4:7) Is finishing your race important to you? It is to God (Ezk 3:20). NOTE - This Greek word translated “ strive ” in Luke 13:24 is not the same Greek word translated “ strived ” i n Romans 15:20 ( I Thess 4:11 ). Whereas MLOοτLPH ( philotime - Rom 15:20) is based on the “future” (being honored someday for accomplishing certain tasks), DJZQL]HσθH ( agonizesthe - Lk 13:24) is based on the “present” (the Greek word agon ” meaning “contest”). Whereas it takes a lifetime ( philotime - Rom 15:20) to learn to be quiet (I Thess 4:11), to please God, not men (II Cor 5:9), and to be a good witness for Christ (Rom 15:20), it only takes a day ( agonizesthe ) to win a contest –the contest being the one we are presently engaged in on that day. 13:30 The Gentiles, who trusted Christ, will be the first to go to Heaven ( there are last which shall be first ), although they were the last to get in on salvation’s plan (Rom 9:30-33 & 11:13-25). On the other hand, the Jews who rejected Christ, although they were the first to get in on salvation’s plan (Mt 27:25), will be the last to go to Heaven ( and there are first which shall be last ), i.e., they will be lost. 5)& "%"(& *4 536& +VTU CFDBVTF ZPV TUBSUFE XFMM EPFTOhU NFBO ZPVhMM FOE XFMM