Jane, “Do a lot of people like what they hear here on Sunday?” That is kind of a self serving question isn’t it? But it is one that is not too uncomfortable to ask or answer. For instance I am not asking Jane her sole opinion rather I am asking her impression of the larger group’s opinion. And I am not asking Jane if she likes my preaching, nor if the congregation likes my preaching, I am just asking in general do they like what they hear which may be music, scripture, preaching etc... However this question is not really what I am asking Jane is it? The question behind what I am really asking Jane is, “Do you like me?” Now that question is not as safe. It asks for a specific answer about a specific person. The answer to the real question being asked can either uplift and give hope or tear down and bring about despair. In our society we don’t always ask the questions that we intend to ask. This happens today in our gospel reading.
“Lord will those who are saved be few?” On the surface this seems like a great question. It is the desperate question; nay the desperate cry of a sinner looking for reassurance that there will be many called and saved thereby upping their chances of being included in that number.
Nevertheless, as with many questions asked in our society today, this question isn’t the real question. There is a question that is behind this one. The true question that the unidentified person is asking here is, “Will I be among those who are saved?” This question is the crux or the core of the matter. But this question is a scary one. “Will I be among the saved?” Wow, the answer to that question can only go one of two ways, and one of those ways I’m not for sure I would want to hear; What if the answer to this question was no! Talk about taking the wind out of your sails. No, no that question is too tough of one to ask, it may take away all hope. So instead the person asks Christ if it will be many who are saved. The answer to this question is not so definite and doesn’t put one’s personal eternity on the line.
Jesus answers, knowing the real question behind the smoke screen, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.” That doesn’t quite get at it but it leaves hope and yet still leaves room for doubt. I think Zanny took lessons from Jesus. I will ask her, “Are you mad at me?” And she will answer, “Not really.” Well which is it?!!!!
“Strive to enter through the narrow door.” What is the narrow door? I asked myself this and assumed all week that it was Jesus. But now I am not for sure. If there is a narrow door this logically leaves the possibility of a wide door. Otherwise Jesus would have said strive to enter through the only door. Jesus says to strive to enter through the narrow door. I believe that Jesus is telling us to strive to enter through the door of the law. He is commanding works of the law from those who seek to follow Him. We are free from the law yes, but that is not a license to be a jerk. Jesus is saying you are now free from the law but you are also now free to abide by it. The freedom of a Christian is not freedom from something as much as it is freedom to do something. You see good works or works of the law come from a saved person not the other way around. Therefore if you are striving to enter through the door of the law then you are among the chosen because your works are coming from a heart of faith.
“When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.” When the master has risen; “eg i ro” in Greek; literally meaning: 1) to arouse, cause to rise 1a) to arouse from sleep, to awake 1b) to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life. “egiro” is the same Greek word use in Luke 24:6, “He is not here, but has risen.” Jesus is not the narrow door Jesus is the Master who when he rises from the dead will close the door. Jesus, when He rose from the dead, shut the narrow door of the law. And when you knock on the door of the law He will say to you, “I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!” As I said last week the judgment has been rendered we are all guilty of breaking God’s law and have been sentenced to death for our sins. And through the door of the law no one gets in. “And for those there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth;” Luther said that a true theologian of the cross calls a thing what it is, so let’s call this what it is HELL!
Yes Virginia there is a Hell for those who believe they can enter the Kingdom of Heaven through the door of the law and not through faith in Christ. It is not an imaginary place made up by early Christians who were too into Greek mythology. Hell is real and it exists for those who are cast out of the Kingdom for their unbelief.
“And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” Who is first on earth? Those who are accepting of all beliefs? Those who live and let live? Those who say well there are many ways to God, Jesus is just one of them? These are the ones that Jesus tells us will come and say, “We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.” Universalism and antinomianism have become a plague in the main line denominations for too long. Universalism is the attitude that whatever you believe you will be saved. Diane Eck popular Methodist author of the book, “Encountering God” is quoted as saying, “Jesus Christ is no more important than any Hindu avatar.” Antinomianism represents an extreme idea, wherein adherence to the Mosaic Law is considered inessential in the Christian lifestyle. Did you hear that? Allow me to repeat, antinomianism is the idea that as a Christian you do not have to and are not expected to adhere to the law. Does this sound familiar? It should its one of the heresies that Luther railed against. Oh wait you all are no Lutheran historians are you? So how does it sound familiar to you? Are you telling me that today in this day and age there are Christians who believe that the law has passed for those of us on earth and we are now free to go “willy nilly” into sin because we are saved regardless? But I say Jesus told you that you are still to strive to enter through the narrow door even if it is not possible. And St. Paul said in Romans that the gospel is not a license to sin. I think you are in agreement with me that homosexual marriage, homosexual ordination, and sex between two committed unmarried people is a product of this heresy. But you see those who follow this heresy will tell you that history is nothing and the authority of scripture is nothing because we are now “enlightened” and more educated than those silly Bible people. So we need to read the bible and history through the lens of our own conscience because we now know more. You mean through the lens of a fallen, broken rebellious to God conscience? Well I will have none of that thank you very much! And the very fact that you folks are sitting before me right now is proof that you won’t either.
We should and will continue to love and pray for our antinomianism neighbor, our Muslim neighbor, our homosexual neighbor, and yes even our Universalists neighbor. But we are absolutely not to condone their behavior and give them a pass as if their view is just as faithful.
Gabby is my three year old and I love her dearly. But if I saw her playing with razors I would take them away from her, even if it meant that she might be unhappy with me, even if it meant her saying and she has, “Daddy you hate me, your mean and I hate you.” Even then out of love, true love I would openly forbid her to continue in her harmful practices. Who is more loving to their neighbor; one who will let them persist in their sin on to their own damnation or the one who will, even at the risk of persecution, say, “No! I love you but what you’re doing is wrong and I will not condone it nor allow it.” Who is the one who truly love their neighbor?
I say the one who truly loves their neighbor is the one who will be viewed by society as last; as unenlightened, as an adherent to an ancient book in an ancient tradition that no longer applies today.
Jesus says that the last on earth will be first and will recline with Him at the table of the feast of the Kingdom of heaven. This is our gospel promise today. Even if your convictions make you last one earth you will still dine with the King in heaven. Because of your faith and trust in Christ.
Don’t miss hear me, Jesus is the only way to heaven and only through faith in him might one be saved. But in today’s reading the narrow door is the door of the law which we are now free to and asked by Christ to strive to enter for the good of our neighbor. And in today’s reading Jesus is not the narrow gate rather he is the master who will shut the door on those who seek to do good in the eyes of the world, and let in those who have faith in Christ and stand on their convictions for the sake of the gospel and as a example for their neighbor.
Fear not little flock , it isn’t easy but its faithful.
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