An Always-Present Decision: Luke 13:22-33

As we are at, or just over, the halfway point in our year podcasting through Luke’s gospel, we arrive at a passage where someone asks Jesus a question that many of us would like a clear answer for, and while Jesus answers the question truthfully, in many ways, Jesus’ response might not feel like a very satisfying answer. Also, in this passage, is a unique foreshadowing of Jesus’ upcoming crucifixion framed in a response Jesus gives to some Pharisees warning Him to leave the area.

Let’s dive into our passage and discover what we can learn from what Luke tells us Jesus taught those present. Our passage for this episode is found in Luke’s gospel, chapter 13, and we will read from the New Century Version. Starting in verse 22, Luke tells us that:

²² Jesus was teaching in every town and village as he traveled toward Jerusalem. ²³ Someone said to Jesus, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?”

Jesus said, ²⁴ “Try hard to enter through the narrow door, because many people will try to enter there, but they will not be able. ²⁵ When the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you can stand outside and knock on the door and say, ‘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 the streets of our town.’ ²⁷ But he will say to you, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Go away from me, all you who do evil!’ ²⁸ You will cry and grind your teeth with pain when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s kingdom, but you yourselves thrown outside. ²⁹ People will come from the east, west, north, and south and will sit down at the table in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ There are those who are last now who will be first in the future. And there are those who are first now who will be last in the future.”

Pausing our reading here, I want to point out that I am always a little challenged by Jesus’ response. The question Jesus is asked seems simple enough for a yes or a no answer while Jesus gives a much more broad and challenging response. From Jesus’ response, I suspect that the question is a little vague, and that Jesus was likely answering the question behind this person’s question. If I were to be asked the question, “Will only a few people be saved?” I would first want to know what is meant by the word “few”.

However, from Jesus’ response, we see a powerful challenge and an amazing promise. In Jesus’ response, I get the impression that salvation is more difficult than many people would like to admit. Salvation is described as a narrow door and a door that will ultimately be closed.

The description of those left on the outside of the door is simply “those who do evil”. The owner of the home tells those outside of the door in verse 27, “I don’t know you or where you come from. Go away from me, all you who do evil!”

The powerful challenge in this verse is that doing evil separates us from God, and that means our present choices outweigh our past decisions for God. Nothing in this passage suggests God will force someone into heaven because they made a decision or prayed a prayer early in their life that they have since turned away from. Our present choices matter when we are discussing salvation because being saved is a decision that is always made in the present!

In other words, saying that we were saved in the past is just as valuable as saying we will choose to accept Jesus in the future. While there is a little value in these “non-present” decisions, the only decision that truly matters is a present decision to accept Jesus, repent and move away from doing evil, and accept the gift of salvation.

However, there is a promise that comes immediately following this. Jesus then describes how those who are outside the door look in and see people who have come from all points of the compass sitting and eating in the kingdom of God. Jesus may be talking about you and me in this verse. Unless you are Jewish and currently living in Israel, the description of a foreigner traveling to eat in God’s kingdom could very easily describe all of God’s people living in every other part of the world.

This response to a question, while being challenging, gives us an amazing promise that God will have people of every type, every nationality, every race, and every group you could possibly think of sitting with Him at His table. The only ones excluded are those described as doers of evil. The only people who are excluded chose evil over entering through the narrow door.

However, I wonder if this response prompts what we read next in this passage. Continuing in verse 31, Luke tells us:

³¹ At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away from here! Herod wants to kill you!”

Briefly pausing again, I may be cynical, but whenever I read people described as Pharisees, I always suspect whatever they are about to say. In this seemingly noble act, these Pharisees appear to warn Jesus about Herod plotting against Him.

I have doubts about this plot, because later in Luke, we discover Jesus ultimately meeting Herod, Herod having the chance to kill Jesus, and Herod simply giving this opportunity back to Pilate. Instead, I see these Pharisees giving this threat to try to intimidate Jesus into leaving when they don’t want Him there. I suspect Herod had little to nothing to do with this.

But Jesus does give an interesting response to this threat, and I wonder if Jesus’ response does ultimately make it to Herod.

Continuing in verse 32:

³² Jesus said to them, “Go tell that fox Herod, ‘Today and tomorrow I am forcing demons out and healing people. Then, on the third day, I will reach my goal.’ ³³ Yet I must be on my way today and tomorrow and the next day. Surely it cannot be right for a prophet to be killed anywhere except in Jerusalem.

In Jesus’ response, we see an interesting foreshadowing for Jesus’ upcoming death. Jesus fully knows that Jerusalem is where He would ultimately be crucified, and He even directly suggests this saying that it isn’t right for any prophet to be killed anywhere except Jerusalem. I wonder if this statement reveals one big idea that hurt God. Jerusalem, the city of God, the place where the temple stood, and the capital city of God’s people, is known in history as the city that kills God’s prophets. This single statement is powerful. This statement also shows us just how much God loves us.

God is a God who redeems. God takes the least likely things and He turns them into His greatest triumphs. Before Jesus, the cross represented shame, torture, and death; after Jesus, the cross represents the way humanity can experience salvation through Jesus’ sacrifice. Before Jesus’ resurrection, ascension, and return, Jerusalem is known as the city who killed God’s prophets, Jesus included, but when Jesus ultimately returns, God’s people will get to experience the New Jerusalem, which is the city God built that will ultimately protect His people forever!

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always begin by challenging you, intentionally seek God first in your life. Choose to turn away from sin and towards God, accepting what Jesus has done for us to cover the sins in our past. Remember that salvation is an always-present decision, and even when we make mistakes and slip up, God is willing to forgive us when we genuinely come back to Him asking for forgiveness.

Also, continue to pray and study the Bible for yourself to learn and grow closer to God and to open your heart to the Holy Spirit. When we let the Holy Spirit into our hearts, minds, and lives, He will lead and guide us towards God and away from sin.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or walk away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!