Luke 13:24 encourages us to have focus: you have the message of Jesus and his kingdom in front of you. Take responsibility, and don’t get pulled in this direction or that, getting distracted, led astray. No, stay focused: make every effort to enter through the narrow door. Take Jesus seriously. This is that important.

²² He went through one town and village after another, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. ²³ “Lord,” someone asked him, “are only a few people going to be saved?”

He said to them, ²⁴ “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because I tell you, many will try to enter and won’t be able ²⁵ once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door. Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up for us!’ He will answer you, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from.’”

Recently during a Q and A the question was asked: doesn’t verse 24 imply salvation by works? Namely, if we are to ‘make every effort’, isn’t that putting the emphasis on what we must do?

Two brief points in response:

1. Luke, in general, and even this passage, reminds us that our salvation is determined by Christ’s work, and our relation to him.

It’s set up for us in verse 22 with Jesus making his way to Jerusalem. Remember 9:51 and the turning point—Jesus must go to Jerusalem to die (and rise again), in order to secure our salvation.

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