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 do not 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.”

³¹ At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod wants to kill you.”

What is a door? It is a way to communicate differences and boundaries. Go this far and no further unless you have permission. 

Jesus was on his final journey toward Jerusalem for crucifixion and resurrection. By this time in his ministry people had started falling away because of his rigorous ethical teachings, self-declaration of Messiahship, and lack of adherence to strident religious structures. So, someone asked if everyone was going to be saved. 

The reply he gave was even more disturbing than some of the conflicts he had engaged in previously. There was a door—a barrier—to the kingdom of God. There were admissions and no admissions. And even more earth-shattering, those admitted could be from anywhere! This door, though narrow, was wide open…for a time. 

When Jesus says, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door,” he is also saying that it is possible to enter it right now. We know from the breadth of his teachings that grace is offered to anyone who strives to get through that door until he returns. 

Author: M. ReeAnn Hyde

Other Lenten readings for today:

• Psalm 105:1-42
• 2 Chronicles 20:1-22