Luke 13:24

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

Strive {G75} to enter in {G1525} at {G1223} the strait {G4728} gate {G4439}: for {G3754} many {G4183}, I say {G3004} unto you {G5213}, will seek {G2212} to enter in {G1525}, and {G2532} shall {G2480} not {G3756} be able {G2480}.

He answered, “Struggle to get in through the narrow door, because — I’m telling you! — many will be demanding to get in and won’t be able to,

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

Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Luke 13:24 presents a profound and challenging teaching from Jesus, urging His listeners to intense spiritual effort. The verse states, "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." This powerful admonition emphasizes the demanding nature of true discipleship and the urgency of responding to God's call for salvation.

Context

This verse is part of Jesus' response to a question about how many people will be saved. Rather than giving a numerical answer, Jesus redirects the focus to the individual's responsibility and the nature of the path to salvation. He often taught using parables and direct statements about the Kingdom of God, frequently challenging popular assumptions about easy entry. This particular teaching highlights the seriousness of commitment required for eternal life and contrasts with a passive or merely intellectual assent to faith.

Key Themes

  • Earnest Effort and Commitment: The command to "strive" signifies a call to intense spiritual exertion. It's not a suggestion but an imperative, emphasizing that entering God's Kingdom requires dedicated effort, perseverance, and a wholehearted surrender to God's will.
  • The Narrow Path: The "strait gate" refers to a narrow, constricted entrance. This imagery suggests that the way to true salvation and discipleship is not broad, popular, or accommodating to all worldly desires. It demands a willingness to forsake sinful practices and embrace a life of obedience to Christ.
  • Warning Against Complacency: Jesus warns that "many... will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." This is a stark caution against a superficial faith, a casual approach to spiritual matters, or relying on mere good intentions without genuine transformation. It implies that simply wishing or intellectual acknowledgment is insufficient.
  • Urgency of Decision: The teaching carries an inherent urgency, suggesting that there is a limited time or opportunity to enter this narrow gate. It underscores the critical importance of making a decisive and committed choice for Christ before it is too late.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word translated "strive" is agonizomai (ἀγωνίζομαι), from which we derive English words like "agonize" or "agony." It conveys the idea of an intense struggle, a fervent contest, or a strenuous effort, much like an athlete competing fiercely for a prize or a soldier fighting in battle. This is not a passive seeking but an active, wholehearted engagement. The term "strait" comes from stenēs (στενῆς), meaning "narrow" or "restricted," emphasizing the demanding and exclusive nature of the path. This concept is famously paralleled in Matthew 7:13-14, which further contrasts the narrow gate with the wide gate leading to destruction.

Practical Application

This verse calls believers to a profound self-examination of their faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. It reminds us that while salvation is a free gift of God's grace, it demands a radical response of devotion, obedience, and perseverance. It's not about earning salvation through works, but about demonstrating the authenticity of one's faith through diligent pursuit of God's will and a transformed life. We are called to actively "strive" against sin, resist temptations, and live a life that reflects our allegiance to Christ, understanding that this active faith is essential for entering into eternal life.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Matthew 7:13

    Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

  • Matthew 7:14

    Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

  • 2 Peter 1:10

    Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

  • Hebrews 4:11

    ¶ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:24

    ¶ Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

  • 1 Corinthians 9:27

    But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

  • Luke 21:36

    Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

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