Luke 13:24
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“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
Strive--The word signifies to "contend" as for the mastery, to "struggle," expressive of the difficulty of being saved, as if one would have to force his way in. strait gate--another figure of the same. (See on Mat 7:13-14). for many . . . will seek--"desire," that is, with a mere wish or slothful endeavor. and shall not be able--because it must be made a life-and-death struggle.
Open source ↗In this chapter we have, I. The good improvement Christ made of a piece of news that was brought him concerning some Galileans, that were lately massacred by Pilate, as they were sacrificing in the temple at Jerusalem (Luk 13:1-5). II. The parable of the fruitless fig-tree, by which we are warned to bring forth fruits meet for that repentance to which he had in the foregoing passage called us (Luk 13:6-9). III. Christ's healing a poor infirm woman on the sabbath day, and justifying himself in it (Luk 13:11-17). IV. A repetition of the parables of the grain of mustard-seed and the leaven (Luk 13:18-22). V. His answer to the question concerning the number of the saved (Luk 13:23-30). VI. The slight he put upon Herod's malice and menaces, and the doom of Jerusalem read (Luk 13:31-35).
Open source ↗Cross-references
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Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following the same pattern of disobedience.
So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.
The craving of the slacker kills him because his hands refuse to work.
Because they were ignorant of God’s righteousness and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.
To this end I also labor, striving with all His energy working powerfully within me.
Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”
You will look for Me, but you will not find Me; and where I am, you cannot come.”
The toil of a fool wearies him, for he does not know the way to the city.