Do You Know How to Get There?

The Gospel According to Luke
Do You Know How to Get There?
Luke 13:22-30
Sunday, May 24, 2026

Introduction
Do you know how to get there? If we are asking that question before adrive across town, the stakes are pretty low. But what if we are asking that question in relationship to eternity? If the question is about heaven, the
stakes are much higher. Do you know how to get there?

In Luke 13:22-30 Jesus is addressing a crowd of people, many of whom
assumed they knew how to enter the kingdom of God. They thought they
knew the way, in fact, they assumed their entrance into the kingdom of God
was settled. But in this passage, Jesus challenges their assumptions, and
perhaps He is challenging ours as well.

While the passage begins with a question about how many people will be
saved, Jesus quickly turns the focus to what we need to know about how
we are saved. The reality is, the message of salvation is often
misunderstood, so we should listen carefully to what Jesus says about it,
lest we miss the kingdom ourselves and lead other to miss it as well.

The Setting – The Journey Toward Jerusalem (13:22)
• Throughout the Gospel of Luke Jesus is described as being on His way
to Jerusalem. Of course, Jerusalem represents more than a destination.
As Jesus walks toward Jerusalem, He is walking toward the cross.
When Luke tells us that Jesus is journeying toward Jerusalem, He is
reminding us that Jesus is committed to accomplishing the work of
salvation.
A Question – Will Those Who are Saved Be Few? (13:23)
• What is salvation? – Along His journey Jesus is asked a question about
how many people will be saved. In this context, being saved refers to
our need to be rescued from the wrath of God that we deserve because
of our sin. While we all deserve punishment for our sin, God, in His
mercy, sent Christ so that through Him sinners can be saved from the
punishment we deserve (Romans 5:11-16).
• The context of the question – For generations the people of God had
waited and watched for the Messiah, the one who would come and
establish God’s kingdom on earth. When Jesus came, He came
announcing the arrival of the kingdom, but what He brought looked
different than what the people expected. With this context in view, the
question that is asked makes sense, will those who are saved be few?
Will the kingdom of God be smaller than previously expected?

The Response – What You Should Know About Salvation (13:24-30)
• Changing the focus – While the question had to do with how many people
will be saved, Jesus changes the focus, addressing what it takes to be
saved. In doing so he confronts several misconceptions about what it
means to be saved and about who will enter the kingdom of God.

• The door is narrow – Strive to enter (v. 24)

o The narrow door – Jesus begins with the image of a narrow door.
While many may assume that the entrance to the kingdom is wide and
that many will enter, Jesus says that the entrance is narrow, and that
many will not be able to enter (Matthew 7:13-14).
o The call to strive – While salvation is a gift that is received by faith,
Jesus makes it clear that faith is not easy. To believe in Jesus is to come
to Him in repentance and with a willingness to deny oneself and look
to Him as Lord (Luke 9:23-25).

• The time is limited – Enter now (v. 25)

o The door will be shut – Not only is the door narrow, but a time will
come when the door will be shut. Through a parable Jesus makes the
point that the door will be shut, and once it is closed no one else will
be allowed to enter.
o We should enter before it closes – Because the door will be shut, we
must not wait to enter – the time to enter is now (2 Cor. 6:2).

• Familiarity is not enough – The heart matters (vv. 26-27)

o The danger of familiarity – Through the parable Jesus describes
some who stand outside the closed door and make this appeal, that
they had eaten with Jesus and heard Him preach. But the warning is
that familiarity with Jesus is not enough, faith in Him is essential.
o The tragedy of being sent away – In verse 27 Jesus describes a tragic
reality, that those who failed to come to Jesus through faith will be
sent away – separated forever from the kingdom of God (Mt. 7:21-23).

• The kingdom challenges expectations – Consider your assumptions
(vv. 28-30)

o Many who were assumed in, will be out – As Jesus talks to an
audience of Jews He describes a sobering scene – there will be many
who are physical descendants of Abraham who will not join Him and
the rest of the patriarchs in the kingdom of God. Instead, they will be
outside the kingdom full of grief and anger. (Galatians 3:7-9)
o Many who were assumed out, will be in – While many who were
born of Israel will be excluded, many who were born outside of Israel
will be included. Through faith in Christ people from all nations will be
saved and will be welcomed in to feast in the kingdom of God.