Luke 13 24

Luke 13:24 kjv

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Luke 13:24 nkjv

"Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Luke 13:24 niv

"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

Luke 13:24 esv

"Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Luke 13:24 nlt

"Work hard to enter the narrow door to God's Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.

Luke 13 verses

(h2) MeaningThis verse issues a stern call to diligent and intense effort, likening the path to God's Kingdom to a "narrow gate" that requires great exertion to enter. Jesus warns that while many will desire to enter, a casual or half-hearted pursuit will prove insufficient, leading to exclusion. It underscores the challenging nature of true discipleship and salvation, which demands radical commitment rather than mere aspiration or presumption.

(h2) Cross References

VerseTextReference
Matt 7:13-14Enter through the narrow gate... the way is hard, that leads to life.Direct parallel, path to life is difficult.
Phil 2:12Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling...Active effort in Christian life.
1 Cor 9:24-27...run in such a way that you may obtain it... train your body...Analogy of striving like an athlete.
Col 1:29...striving with all his energy...Paul's intense effort in ministry.
Heb 12:1Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us...Enduring struggle in the Christian race.
2 Pet 1:5-7Make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue...Diligent addition of Christlike qualities.
Lk 13:25-27...when once the master of the house has risen and shut the door...Consequence of delay and not entering.
Matt 25:10-12...the door was shut... 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.'Parable of the wise and foolish virgins.
Prov 1:28Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer...Consequences of ignoring wisdom.
Hos 5:6With their flocks and herds they shall go to seek the LORD, but find him not.Seeking God in vain without repentance.
Matt 7:21Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom...Professions without genuine obedience.
Deut 30:19choose life, that you and your offspring may live...Choice between life and death.
Jer 21:8Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.Clear choice presented for the path ahead.
Matt 11:12The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.Intense spiritual pursuit of the Kingdom.
John 10:9I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved...Jesus as the sole way/door to salvation.
Acts 14:22...through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.Entering the Kingdom involves hardship.
Rom 2:6-7He will render to each one according to his works... seek glory...Persistence in good works leads to life.
Lk 9:23If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself...Demands of true discipleship and self-denial.
Heb 3:19So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.Unbelief prevents entry into God's rest.
Heb 4:11Let us therefore strive to enter that rest...Urgency and effort to enter God's rest.

(h2) ContextLuke chapter 13 begins with Jesus addressing tragic events, emphasizing the need for repentance to avoid perishing (v. 1-5). He follows this with the parable of the barren fig tree (v. 6-9), a warning to those who fail to bear fruit and face judgment. After healing a crippled woman on the Sabbath (v. 10-17) and illustrating the growth of the Kingdom through parables of the mustard seed and leaven (v. 18-21), Jesus proceeds on His journey toward Jerusalem, teaching in towns and villages (v. 22).The direct context for verse 24 is a question posed to Jesus in verse 23: "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" Jesus does not directly answer the number but shifts the focus to the effort and condition required for entry, personalizing the warning. He implies that salvation is not a given for a chosen few but requires earnest commitment from each individual. Historically, some Jewish people held a presumption of guaranteed entry into the Messiah's Kingdom due to their lineage; Jesus directly challenges this by emphasizing the personal striving required, applicable to all who seek salvation.

(h2) Word analysis

  • (ul) Strive (ἀγωνίζομαι - agōnizomai): This Greek word implies an intense, all-out effort, like that of an athlete in a grueling competition (a wrestling match or race) or a soldier in combat. It signifies agony, struggle, and diligent perseverance. It's not passive wanting or casual seeking but active, concentrated endeavor against opposition. Its significance is the opposite of complacency.

  • (ul) to enter (εἰσελθεῖν - eiselthein): To go in, to come into. It denotes gaining admission into a place, specifically the Kingdom of God.

  • (ul) through (διὰ - dia): Indicates the means or passage. It's not around or over but through the gate, signifying that the gate itself is the necessary path.

  • (ul) the narrow (στενῆς - stenēs): Constricted, difficult, cramped, limited in space. This word suggests restriction and perhaps hardship or challenge. It contrasts with a broad or easy path.

  • (ul) gate (πύλης - pulēs): A literal entrance or doorway. In this context, it represents the specific, prescribed way to salvation and God's Kingdom.

  • (ul) for (γὰρ - gar): A conjunction introducing the reason or explanation for the previous statement. It explains why one must strive.

  • (ul) many (πολλοί - polloi): A large number. This highlights the widespread but often insufficient nature of human seeking.

  • (ul) I tell you (λέγω ὑμῖν - legō hymin): A phrase used by Jesus to add emphasis, urgency, and authority to His statement.

  • (ul) will seek (ζητήσουσιν - zētēsousin): To look for, to inquire, to desire. This implies a general wish or superficial attempt, distinct from the intense agōnizomai. It's a "wanting to enter" without the radical commitment needed.

  • (ul) to enter (εἰσελθεῖν - eiselthein): (Same as above) To go in.

  • (ul) and (καὶ - kai): Connects the two parts of the warning.

  • (ul) will not be able (οὐκ ἰσχύσουσιν - ouk ischysousin): Will not have the strength, power, or ability. This signifies an absolute inability resulting from their inadequate efforts or unwillingness to embrace the narrow path.

  • (ul) "Strive to enter": This is an imperative command, conveying extreme urgency and effort. It demands radical personal commitment and is central to the call for discipleship. It suggests that entry into the Kingdom is not automatic but requires intense engagement and dedication.

  • (ul) "the narrow gate": This phrase functions metaphorically as the demanding conditions for entering God's Kingdom. It symbolizes repentance, self-denial, surrender to Christ's Lordship, obedience to His teachings, and enduring tribulation. It contrasts sharply with the world's broad ways of comfort and self-indulgence.

  • (ul) "many... will seek to enter": This highlights a common human tendency: wanting the benefits of salvation (peace, heaven) without accepting the cost of discipleship (radical submission, crucifying the flesh). Their seeking is casual or self-serving, lacking the transformative and demanding nature of true faith.

  • (ul) "will not be able": This stark consequence warns that mere desire or superficial effort is insufficient for entry. The inability stems not from God's unwillingness but from the seeker's failure to meet the requirements of the narrow gate – failing to strive with the necessary intensity and commitment.

(h2) CommentaryLuke 13:24 serves as a crucial teaching by Jesus about the nature of salvation and true discipleship. Responding to a question about the number of the saved, Jesus reframes the inquiry, directing attention from a theoretical census to a personal, urgent call to action. The imperative "Strive" (ἀγωνίζομαι) paints a vivid picture of strenuous exertion, an all-consuming effort comparable to an athlete fighting to win or a soldier in battle. This effort is not about earning salvation through works, but about the wholehearted, persistent, and difficult commitment required to follow Christ, deny oneself, and forsake all hindrances to genuine repentance and faith.

The "narrow gate" represents Christ Himself (John 10:9) and the demanding path of self-denial and costly obedience that He calls His followers to (Lk 9:23). It implies a separation from worldly values and a rejection of popular, easy paths. It is narrow because it requires sacrificing self-interest, embracing humility, enduring tribulation (Acts 14:22), and aligning one's life fully with God's will. Many will "seek" to enter, but this "seeking" is contrasted with "striving." Their efforts are casual, motivated by self-interest or a desire for easy blessings, rather than a surrender to the Lordship of Christ and His transformative work. They desire the outcome without committing to the means. As a result, when the door is shut (Lk 13:25), they will find themselves unable to enter, because their "seeking" was not truly dedicated effort to follow the path Christ established. This warning calls for introspection, radical discipleship, and fervent devotion before the appointed time passes.

(h2) Bonus sectionThe concept of the "narrow gate" and "broad way" is a recurring theme in Jesus's teachings, signifying two fundamentally different paths for humanity. The broad way, leading to destruction, is easily traversed because it aligns with fallen human nature and popular culture, requiring little self-denial or struggle. Conversely, the narrow gate, leading to life, necessitates constant spiritual vigilance and active engagement against the impulses of the flesh and the pressures of the world. It emphasizes that salvation is not a passive reception but involves an active, ongoing process of commitment and obedience to Christ. This striving is powered by the Holy Spirit (Col 1:29) and motivated by genuine faith in the One who IS the Gate (John 10:7, 9). The "unable to enter" highlights the reality of missed opportunity and the futility of insincere efforts when God's grace and invitation are taken for granted or responded to too late.