Luke Part 2 Week 25

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 13:22-24 

²² Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he went, always pressing on toward Jerusalem. ²³ Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied, ²⁴ “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.” 

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem. This would be His last trip there because He would give His life there for lost mankind. He was asked if only a few would be saved. Did the person asking the question know that the only way to be saved was by believing in Jesus as the Messiah? Jesus replied that it is a narrow door that opens to God’s kingdom and “many will try to enter but will fail.”  

REFLECT 

Do you realize that the privilege of entering eternity to be with God is a narrow door? Only those who believe in Jesus for salvation will be allowed to enter. 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about those who think all roads lead to God. Do they think all roads lead to your city? Urge others to realize what Jesus said in John 14:6. See also what the apostle Peter wrote about Jesus is Acts 4:12.  

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 13:25-27 

²⁵ “When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’ ²⁶ Then you will say, ‘But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’ ²⁷ And he will reply, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you come from. Get away from me, all you who do evil.’” 

To emphasize the importance of being allowed to enter the kingdom or being shut out, Jesus used the example of a master of the house. This “master” would represent the Lord Jesus Himself. Some will be left outside pleading to get in. They will tell of the many good works they have done, but the Master will say, “Get away from me, all you who do evil.” 

REFLECT 

Do you know of some who think they will be allowed to enter heaven because of their good works? Good works should follow salvation but are not a means of salvation.  

RESPOND 

Think of Judas who betrayed Jesus. When Jesus said someone would betray Him each disciple began asking, “Is it I?” Judas was doing all the things the other disciples were doing but he had not trusted in Jesus for salvation. Judas would be like those mentioned in Matthew 7:21-23. 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 13:28-30 

²⁸ “There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, for you will see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, but you will be thrown out. ²⁹ And people will come from all over the world—from east and west, north and south—to take their places in the Kingdom of God. ³⁰ And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.” 

Many Jewish people thought they were right with God because they were descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. These people looked on the Gentiles as less than the Jewish nation. Jesus points out that some of the Gentiles would be in the kingdom and some Jewish people would not be.  

REFLECT 

Rejoice that everyone regardless of their physical heritage can enter heaven and be delivered from condemnation by believing in Jesus. 

RESPOND 

Visit with a friend about everyone who can avoid condemnation by believing in Jesus. Read John 3:16-18; Romans 5:17-19; and Romans 8:1. Praise the Lord for what salvation in Jesus brings to each believer.  

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 13:31-33 

³¹ At that time some Pharisees said to him, “Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!” ³² Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox that I will keep on casting out demons and healing people today and tomorrow; and the third day I will accomplish my purpose. ³³ Yes, today, tomorrow, and the next day I must proceed on my way. For it wouldn’t do for a prophet of God to be killed except in Jerusalem!” 

The Pharisees did not want to hear any more of what Jesus had to say. They warned that Herod Antipas wanted to kill Him. Jesus was not intimidated by this threat and even called Herod a “fox.” Jesus told them what to tell Herod to show He was not afraid of him. Jesus predicted His death would be in Jerusalem and not before He would give His life on the cross for the sin of the world.  

REFLECT 

Do you marvel at the lack of fear Jesus had even though He knew He would face a horrible death in Jerusalem? He did all of this because of His love for lost mankind. 

RESPOND 

No one should minimize the agony of the death Jesus suffered, nor should they deny His burial and resurrection from the dead. The heart of the gospel is given in 1 Corinthians 15. The apostle Paul there reports it includes Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and eyewitness reports (see 1 Corinthians 15:3-9).  

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 13:34-35 

³⁴ “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me. ³⁵ And now, look, your house is abandoned. And you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!’” 

Jesus was headed to Jerusalem to give His life for sinners. Yet He grieved for this city that had refused to repent and turn to God. He promised the city that it would never see Him again until it heeded what had been promised in Psalm 118:26. The word used for “Lord” was one that referred to Yahweh, often translated and understood as Jehovah.  

REFLECT 

Does this passage help you to understand how Jesus grieves over those who do not repent and turn to God? 

RESPOND 

Jesus wept over Jerusalem, and He also weeps over people. See John 11:35 for how Jesus wept after learning of His friend Lazarus’ death. There is nothing wrong with weeping over the death of a loved one, but believers do not sorrow as those who have no hope (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).