Luke 13.22-30

There is a lot of talk out in the world about Jesus and the Bible.

To be more specific, there is a lot of negative talk out in the world about Jesus and the Bible.

The negative talk about Jesus and the Bible goes something like this:

• The God of the Bible is mean.

• The God of the Bible is unfair.

• The God of the Bible is vindictive.

• The God of the Bible is evil.

• The God of the Bible is sadistic.  

• The God of the Bible is arrogant.

• The God of the Bible is narcissistic.
• The God of the Bible is oppressive.

However, when we actually open the Bible and read it and when we come face-to-face with a text like this morning’s Biblical text, we can see that every one of those negative statements is false.  

All of those negative views and negative opinions about God the Father, God the Son—Jesus, and the Holy Scriptures (that we colloquially call The Bible), stem from pure ignorance and Biblical illiteracy.

In this morning’s Biblical text, that comes from The Gospel of Luke, or, in other words, Luke’s biography of Jesus, we see a Savior God who overflows with grace, mercy, and compassion by clearly showing you the way to faith, hope, and love.

Let’s hear from our Biblical text chosen for us by the lecitonary now.

Luke 13:22–30 tell us this:

[22] [Jesus] went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. [23] And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, [24] “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. [25] 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.’ [26] Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ [27] But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ [28] 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. [29] And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. [30] And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” (ESV)

Jesus’ compassion for you is present in these words because He tells you the He desires for you to enter God’s Kingdom of Heaven. 

Jesus’ grace toward you is present in these words because He shows you the exact way to enter God’s Kingdom of Heaven.

And, Jesus’ mercy toward you is present in these words because He forgives your Sin with His own death on the cross and makes the opening of the door to Heaven possible for you through His defeating of death in His resurrection. 

We live in a time and place that is defined by pluralism.

Pluralism is the idea that there can be many ultimate sources of authority in the world.

The problem with that theory is that two contradicting beliefs can both be called “right,” or, “correct.”  Pluralism creates logical fallacy. 

However, pluralism has led to the idea that there are many paths to God and many different roads to Heaven.

But, as we hear Jesus tell us today, the theology of pluralism is incorrect.  The road that leads to God is narrow and the door that leads to Heaven is narrow.

To say that in a way that has cultural significance for us today, is to say, 

All roads DO NOT lead to God the Father in Heaven.

And, all doors DO NOT lead you into the eternal presence of your Maker and Creator.

And, there ARE NOT many ways into God’s presence.  

Finding forgiveness for your Sin and receiving eternal life IS NOT a choose-your-own-adventure game. 

But, in our Sin, our selfishness, our self-centeredness, and our self-righteousness, we want to believe that we can do and believe whatever we want and as long as we try our best, God has to accept us.

Let me ask you a question…

When you get home today, how will you get through the front door of your house?

You will use a key.

Will every key on your keychain open the front door to your house?

No!

Only the key specifically designed for the lock on that specific door will provide you a way into your home.

The same is true for the door to God’s Kingdom.

Not everything you try will get you through the door into Heaven.

Only the key specifically designed for the door will provide you a way into your Heavenly eternal home.

Jesus tells you this morning that:

Self-help and self-improvement techniques will not get you through the door into Heaven.

Pop-psychology’s pithy advice will not get you through the door into Heaven.

Waving flags and advocating for your rights or the rights of others will not get you through the door into Heaven.

Charitable giving will not get you through the door into Heaven.

Volunteer service will not get you through the door into Heaven.

Mixing and matching beliefs from the Bible and/or other sources until you feel good about yourself and your system of virtue will not get you through the door into Heaven.

Having a “God of Your Own Understanding” does not get you through the door into Heaven.

Voting for a specific political party will not get you through the door into Heaven.

John’s biography of Jesus, we hear this:

[7] So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. [8] All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. [9] I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. [10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. [11] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:7-11, ESV).

A little later in The Gospel of John, we hear explicitly clear directions to the door that leads to eternal life when Jesus says:

[1] “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. [2] In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. [4] And you know the way to where I am going.” [5] Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” [6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14.1-6, ESV)

And, in the Apostle’s Paul letter to the Christians in the city of Rome during the first Century A.D., he preached to them the ONLY way to the door that leads to God the Father in Heaven when he said:

[9] if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. [10] For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. [11] For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:9–11, ESV)

If you are standing at the door today and relying on anything but Jesus to get you through that door into God’s presence, I ask you, in fact, I beg you, to lay down what you are holding onto, that is not Jesus, because you will not fit through the narrow door with anything in your hands except faith in the life, death, and resurrection of your Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Put down your laundry list of good deeds.  

Put down your bank statements and charitable giving receipts.

Put down your log sheet of volunteer service hours.

Put down calendar with markings on all of the days you went to church instead of sleeping late.

Put down your flags and flag poles. 

Put down your voting ballots.

Put down your self-help books and therapeutic techniques.

You cannot work yourself through the door to Heaven.

However, God has opened the door for you and come out to get you and bring you in with Him in the person and work of Jesus Christ.  

In God’s great love for you, He has clearly shown you the door to Heaven and the way that the door is unlocked.

Yes, the door is narrow.

But, the door is not hidden!

God has clearly marked the door with the blood of His Son Jesus Christ that cleans you from every unGodly thought, word, and action, yesterday, today, and tomorrow.  

This morning, in the Sacrament of Baptism, God has shown not only Martin, but all of us, the way through the narrow door into God’s eternal presence in His Kingdom of Heaven.

We baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, because it is only through the grace and love of God in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ applied to us by the Holy Spirit that we can enter through the narrow door that leads to eternal life.  

The band Stillwell, made up of members of P.O.D. and Korn, sing,

I’m fallen, so broken

Having a come to Jesus moment

This morning, if you are fallen and broken because nothing you have or do brings hope into your life, hear Jesus calling to you and inviting you home into God’s eternal kingdom.

Confess and repent of your Sin that has you trying to unlock the door to the Kingdom of Heaven with everything and anything but Jesus. 

This morning, the work of unlocking and opening the door to God’s Kingdom of Heaven has been completed for you.  The door to God’s Kingdom of Heave is unlocked and opened for you who simply believe in Jesus’ life of perfection, death on the cross, and resurrection from the dead, all completed on this earth in this historical timeline, for the forgiveness of your Sin and the gifting to you eternal life.

This is the Word of God for you today.

This is the Grace of God for you today.

Amen.

Reverend Fred Scragg V.

August 24, 2025.