Luke 13:18–35 (NKJV)
18 Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? 19 It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and put in his garden; and it grew and became a large tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.” 20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God? 21 It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” 22 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. 23 Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’ 26 then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’ 27 But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out. 29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God. 30 And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.” 31 On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.” 32 And He said to them, “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.’ 33 Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem. 34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! 35 See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ”
Many people mistakenly believe that whenever Jesus says “The kingdom of God,” that He is speaking about heaven. He is not. Rather, He is speaking about the workings of His holy (catholic, or universal) Church on earth.
As it is sung (and, thus, confessed) in the hymn “The Church’s One Foundation,” the Church is built on the work of Jesus Christ. Faith in Jesus Christ places one into Christ’s Church. The early Church Fathers called this being brought into the Ark of the Church (saved from the flood of the world’s demise). When you look for assurance of salvation in places other than in the work of Christ’s salvation (such as, in yourself and your works, or even in the triumphalism of a denomination), you are building another kingdom, which will be “left to you desolate” as Jesus proclaims (v. 35). Even statistical analysis of the probability of salvation based on the number saved, will not give assurance. There is only one comforting answer, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate…” (v.24). In the books of Acts, chapter 10, (and in many other areas) it also proclaims: “All the prophets testify about Him…” (v.43). Christ is the comforting answer! Christ is the narrow gate!
The Pharisees, however, rejected Jesus—and, thus, they also rejected the kingdom of God. So it is with all who reject Him. God’s inspired Word makes it clear: “He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” When your faith is being shaken, come to God holding on to Jesus Christ, because, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”
Let us pray: Lord, grant to Your faithful people pardon and peace that they may be cleansed from all their sins and serve You with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
