Bible lesson for July 21

"People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God."

— Luke 13:29

As Jesus traveled to Jerusalem to die on the cross, someone asked Him if only a few would be saved. To be saved meant different things to different people. Many thought it meant to be rescued from their Roman invaders. Others thought it meant to go to Heaven instead of Hades after death. Jesus taught some additional meanings. To be saved means to enter the kingdom of God, which a believer in Jesus can do now. To be saved means to be rescued from slavery to sin, from fear of death, and from spiritual enemies. Salvation includes eating someday at a great banquet with the Messiah in the kingdom of God. In answering the question if only a few would be saved, Jesus spoke directly: People should strive to enter the kingdom of God through the narrow door; which is Jesus himself. The narrow door is a crucified and risen Messiah; which was contrary to all expectations of the day. The narrow door is faith and trust in Jesus and obedience to His commands because a person loves Him. That door seems too narrow to many people, so they do not “strive” (Greek New Testament text: “agonize”) to understand Jesus and the many reasons the door to the kingdom of God is narrow. On the other hand, Jesus proclaimed that through faith in Him people would come from around the world and take their places at the great feast in the kingdom of God. Jesus made this prophecy almost 2,000 years ago, and it has come true with the planting of Christian churches around the world.

— L.G. Parkhurst Jr.

Send email to lgp@prayersteps.org