Luke 13:26 kjv

Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets.

Luke 13:26 nkjv

then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.'

Luke 13:26 niv

"Then you will say, 'We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'

Luke 13:26 esv

Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.'

Luke 13:26 nlt

Then you will say, 'But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.'

Luke 13 verses

Luke 13 26 Meaning

This verse portrays the desperate protest of individuals who stand outside the closed door of the Kingdom of God, despite having previously had superficial interactions with Jesus during His earthly ministry. They attempt to appeal to their past physical proximity and casual acquaintance, claiming to have eaten with Him and heard His public teaching. This highlights a critical distinction: mere exposure to Christ or His message, and even brief, physical fellowship, does not equate to a saving, transformative relationship with Him or guaranteed entrance into His eternal Kingdom.

Luke 13 26 Context

Luke 13:26 is part of Jesus' response to a question posed by someone, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" (Lk 13:23). Instead of giving a numerical answer, Jesus pivots to emphasize the necessity and difficulty of entering the Kingdom, likening it to a "narrow door" (Lk 13:24). He warns against complacency, indicating that many will seek to enter but will be unable once the door is shut. The verses immediately following (Lk 13:25) describe the master of the house shutting the door and refusing entry to those knocking outside. Verse 26, then, is the specific plea or justification these excluded individuals offer, based on their perceived acquaintance with Jesus during His public ministry. Historically, many in Israel felt assured of their place in God's Kingdom by birthright or religious association, but Jesus radically challenged this assumption, indicating that personal, transformative relationship and obedient action are the true requirements for salvation. This discourse served as a stark polemic against a superficial understanding of Messiahship and the nature of the Kingdom.

Luke 13 26 Word analysis

• Then (Τότε - Tote): This Greek adverb of time signifies "at that time" or "then." In this context, it marks the precise moment of future judgment and exclusion, highlighting the belated and urgent nature of their protest.
• you will begin (ἄρξησθε - arxēsthe): Second person plural, future middle indicative of archomai. It implies an initiation, or "you will begin to protest/excuse yourselves." This suggests their realization comes after the door is shut, indicating surprise and desperation when faced with unexpected exclusion.
• to say (λέγειν - legein): The present active infinitive of legō, "to say, speak, tell." It points to their verbal plea or argument they will present.
• We ate (Ἐφάγομεν - Ephagomen): First person plural, aorist active indicative of phagō, "to eat." This is a definitive past action, highlighting specific shared meals or general table fellowship. In the ancient world, sharing meals often symbolized fellowship, camaraderie, and acceptance.
• and drank (καὶ ἐπίoμεν - kai epiomen): First person plural, aorist active indicative of pinō, "to drink." Similar to "ate," this reinforces the claim of communal activity with Jesus.
• in your presence (ἐνώπιόν σου - enōpion sou): Literally "before your face/sight." This prepositional phrase indicates direct physical proximity and visible interaction with Jesus. It's an appeal to personal acquaintance.
• and (καὶ - kai): A simple conjunction connecting the two main claims of interaction.
• you taught (ἐδίδαξας - edidaxas): Second person singular, aorist active indicative of didaskō, "to teach." It emphasizes Jesus' public ministry and their exposure to His instruction.
• in our streets (ἐν ταῖς πλατείαις ἡμῶν - en tais plateiais hēmōn): "In our broad ways/streets." This phrase signifies public, open spaces accessible to everyone. It underlines that Jesus’ teaching was not secretive but readily available to them, reinforcing their claim of having been directly exposed to His message.

Words-group analysis:

• "Then you will begin to say": This phrase sets the scene for a moment of desperate, last-ditch pleading. It implies a sense of shock and bewilderment at their exclusion, as they believed their superficial connection was sufficient. Their appeal is reactive, not proactive, suggesting they hadn't earnestly sought entry before the door was closed.
• "We ate and drank in your presence": This speaks to the level of their claimed relationship. It's a statement of casual fellowship, physical proximity, and shared human experience, but lacks any mention of spiritual transformation, repentance, or true discipleship. The emphasis is on their past experience with Him externally.
• "and you taught in our streets": This claim highlights their exposure to Jesus' public ministry. They heard His words, but there's no implication that they truly listened, understood, believed, or obeyed. It merely points to intellectual awareness of His presence and teachings, rather than heart-level acceptance or adherence. Together, these two clauses demonstrate a reliance on external, superficial contact with Jesus rather than a genuine, life-altering commitment.

Luke 13 26 Bonus section

The claims in Luke 13:26 reveal a deep misunderstanding of the Kingdom of God, reflecting a common first-century Jewish expectation that national identity or mere lineage would guarantee entry. Jesus refutes this, emphasizing that the criteria for salvation are personal, transformative, and centered on true submission and obedience. The "eating and drinking" could also allude to the expectation of feasting in the Kingdom (Is 25:6, Lk 14:15), creating a bitter irony as those who thought they were entitled to the feast are now barred from it. The urgency of "striving to enter" through the narrow door (Lk 13:24) directly contrasts with the casual attitude implied by their belated protests in this verse. This scene also implies a "moment of reckoning," a definite point when the door is shut, highlighting the eschatological reality of final judgment.

Luke 13 26 Commentary

Luke 13:26 serves as a profound warning against spiritual complacency and a false sense of security derived from external association rather than internal transformation. The individuals here are not denying Christ; in fact, they address Him as "Lord" in the preceding verse (Lk 13:25). Their fatal flaw is the presumption that physical proximity, participation in common activities (eating and drinking), or mere intellectual exposure to His teachings (hearing Him teach in the streets) were sufficient for entry into His Kingdom. Jesus' rejection underscores that familiarity with His person or public message is not equivalent to a true, saving relationship built on obedience and genuine faith. The core issue is that Christ responds, "I do not know where you come from" (Lk 13:27). Their knowing about Him or being physically with Him does not mean He knew them as His true disciples, marked by transformed lives. This passage reminds us that the pathway to God's Kingdom is through the "narrow door," which requires strenuous effort, repentance, and obedience, not just casual acquaintance.