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The Narrow Door and Jerusalem's Lament
As Jesus travels toward Jerusalem, someone asks whether only a few will be saved. Jesus answers with a warning about a narrow door, then speaks about rejection, God’s kingdom, Herod, and Jerusalem’s refusal.
Understanding the passage
Understanding the passage
This passage follows Jesus as he teaches through cities and villages on the way to Jerusalem. It begins with a question about who will be saved, then moves to Jesus’ urgent call to enter by the narrow door. The same passage also records a warning about Herod and Jesus’ lament over Jerusalem.
Luke 13:22–35Main takeaway
Jesus calls people to respond to him urgently, because outward familiarity is not enough and refusal has serious consequences.
Explore the teaching
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01A serious answer to a saving questionWhile travelling and teaching on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus is asked whether only a few are saved.
Explanation
While travelling and teaching on the way to Jerusalem, Jesus is asked whether only a few are saved. He does not give a number. Instead, he tells them to strive to enter by the narrow door. The emphasis falls on personal response, because many will try to enter and will not be able.
02Too late to stand outsideJesus pictures a house with a shut door. People outside call for it to be opened and point out that they ate, drank, and heard teaching in their streets.
Explanation
Jesus pictures a house with a shut door. People outside call for it to be opened and point out that they ate, drank, and heard teaching in their streets. Yet the master says he does not know them and calls them workers of iniquity. Nearness to Jesus in place or contact is not the same as being received.
03Inside and outside the kingdomJesus describes sorrow for those thrown outside while Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the prophets are in God’s kingdom.
Explanation
Jesus describes sorrow for those thrown outside while Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and the prophets are in God’s kingdom. He also says people will come from every direction and sit down there. Then he states a reversal: some who seem last will be first, and some who seem first will be last.
04Jesus continues his missionSome Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod wants to kill him. Jesus replies firmly, calling Herod “that fox” and saying he continues casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day completes his mission.
Explanation
Some Pharisees warn Jesus that Herod wants to kill him. Jesus replies firmly, calling Herod “that fox” and saying he continues casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day completes his mission. He must go on, and he connects a prophet’s death with Jerusalem.
05Jerusalem’s refusal and desolationJesus speaks with grief to Jerusalem, the city that kills prophets and stones those sent to her.
Explanation
Jesus speaks with grief to Jerusalem, the city that kills prophets and stones those sent to her. He says he wanted to gather her children like a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but they refused. Because of that refusal, their house is left desolate until they say, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01Why does Jesus answer the question about “few” by speaking about striving to enter the narrow door?
Notice that Jesus shifts from counting people to urging a response, and he says many will seek to enter and will not be able.
02What do the people outside the shut door rely on, and why is that not enough?
Look at their claim about eating, drinking, and hearing Jesus teach, and compare it with the master’s reply.
03What two feelings do you hear in Jesus’ words about Jerusalem?
Read both his desire to gather Jerusalem’s children and his words about refusal and desolation.
Read the Bible passage
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
Luke 13:22–35
22He went on his way through cities and villages, teaching, and traveling on to Jerusalem.
23One said to him, “Lord, are they few who are saved?” He said to them,
24“Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in and will not be able.
25When once the master of the house has risen up and has shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us!’ then he will answer and tell you, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
26Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’
27He will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity.’
28There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s Kingdom, and yourselves being thrown outside.
29They will come from the east, west, north, and south, and will sit down in God’s Kingdom.
30Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last.”
31On that same day, some Pharisees came, saying to him, “Get out of here and go away, for Herod wants to kill you.”
32He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I complete my mission.
33Nevertheless I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the next day, for it can’t be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.’
34“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, like a hen gathers her own brood under her wings, and you refused!
35Behold, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”