Luke 13:23

Luke 13:23 says, Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,  Someone asked Jesus if there were but a few who would be saved.  He answered them.  Verse twenty-four adds, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.  Jesus answered by telling the man to strive to enter by the strait gate, which many would strive to do but would be unable to do.  Faith in Jesus Christ is rhe only way to enter the strait gate.  Verse twenty-five continues, When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:  The Master, the heavenly Father, will at some time close the door to salvation, which may be at death, and when He does knocking will no longer do us any good.  That is why it is so important that we answer when Jesus calls us.  Verse twenty-six states, Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.  Jesus said people would begin to tell the heavenly Father all that they had done in His presence, but we are not saved by our works.  We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ alone.  Verse twenty-seven adds, But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.  Jesus said that those who expected to gain entrance into the house of the heavenly Father by virtue of their works or their own goodness, and not through the strait gate of Jesus Christ, would be told to depart, because the heavenly Father never knew them.  Works will never get us into heaven.  Verse twenty-eight  continues, There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.  Jesus said those who did not gain entrance into heaven because they failed to put their faith in Him would see God's people in heaven, causing them to weep and gnash their teeth because they could not gain entrance.  We certainly do not want to be a part of those on the outside looking in.  Verse twenty-nine concludes, And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God.  Jesus said people from all over the wsorld, not just the people of Israel, would be saved if they put their faith in Him, and that is still true.  Verse thirty concludes, And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.  Jesus told them that those who would be first would be last, and visa-versa.  Verse thirty-one says, The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.  Some of the Pharisees came to Jesus telling Him to get out of the area, because Herod was planning to kill Him.  They were not concerned with the safety of Jesus, but just wanted to scare Him into going away.  No matter how much we may try, we can never keep Jesus from offering salvation to anyone who will accept Him as their Savior and Lord.  Verse thirty-two adds, And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.  Jesus told them to go tell Herod what He had been doing, and also on the third day He would be perfected.  Jesus wasn't trying to escape His mission, but was heading steadfastly for its completion.  Verse thirty-three continues, Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.  Jesus said He must continue onward, because Jerusalem was where He would fulfill His mission of salvation.  Verse thirty-four states, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!  Jesus said that in Jerusalem the prophets had been killed, but He would still gather the people of Jerusalem, and all of God's people, to Him if they would accept Him, but they would not.  Jesus has made salvation available to all who will accept Him, but still many will not do so.  Verse thirty-five adds, Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until the time come when ye shall say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.  Jesus said that His house would be desolate until people came to Him by faith.  There is no way to heaven except by faith in Jesus Christ as ones personal Savior and Lord.