Opening Prayer
Loving King, rule in my thoughts and in my actions throughout today.
Read LUKE 13:18-30
The Parables of the Mustard Seed and the Yeast
18 Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”
20 Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? 21 It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
The Narrow Door
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.”
Footnotes
- Luke 13:21 Or about 27 kilograms
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
‘There was no other good enough / to pay the price of sin. / He only could unlock the gate / of heaven and let us in.’1
Think Further
Like yeast in a batch of bread dough or the small seed that grows into a tree, the kingdom of God grows from small beginnings, but Jesus’ band of followers, walking the dusty backroads of Samaria, could not see it yet. It was becoming less clear to them that following Jesus would lead to anything significant.
They had eagerly left all to follow him, but doubts were arising in their minds. They were small and vulnerable. There were even rumors that Jesus’ life was in danger. Was this it? Was this dusty and travel-weary group all that the Jesus movement would achieve? Jesus had promised them eternal life. Were only a few people going to make it? The question prompted a very stern answer, one which we must take to heart: the door to eternal life is narrow, entry is restricted and one day it will be closed.
Jesus does not explain why the door is open to some but not others. Over the centuries, numberless preachers have thumped their pulpits, thundering their pronouncements of what will keep us out of heaven, but Jesus does not say here. What does Jesus say elsewhere about who might be excluded? Those who do evil?2 Those who don’t feed the hungry or clothe the naked?3 Those who enjoy their comfort and ignore their needy neighbor?4 Those who don’t believe in the Son of God?5 Perhaps it is best if, like Luke, we let Jesus’ words retain their mystery and ambiguity. What we know for certain is that entry through the door is difficult, up to God, and that there will be surprising reversals. We must never presume upon God’s grace. We live always in response to God’s grace, hearing the invitation and seeking to ever move closer to Him in faith.
Apply
We have fallen short. We do not merit heaven. We relinquish ourselves entirely into God’s hands. We can pray to the Lord of the narrow door to let us in.
Closing prayer
Using the Lord’s Prayer, ask for God’s kingdom to come on earth today—in your life, in your church family, and in the world.
Last Updated on November 29, 2023 by kingstar
