22 Then Jesus traveled throughout towns and villages, teaching and making his way toward Jerusalem. 23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” So he said to them, 24 “Exert every effort to enter through the narrow door because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to. 25 Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and start to knock on the door and beg him, ‘Lord, let us in!’ But he will answer you, ‘I don’t know where you come 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 reply, ‘I don’t know where you come from! Go away from me, all you evildoers!’ 28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves thrown out. 29 Then people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and take their places at the banquet table in the kingdom of God. 30 But indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

REFLECTIONS

Written by Stephen Shead

“Are only a few people going to be saved?” That’s such a common question – I’ve been asked it many times before ... and I think I finally have my go-to Bible passage for it!

The main point of Jesus’ answer seems to be: “Don’t get too distracted by the question of whether other people will go to heaven or hell – pay attention to your own spiritual state, and make every effort to stay out of hell yourself!” Of course, we should be deeply concerned that so many people are not saved, and we need to pass on God’s warning that those who reject his Son will face eternal judgment. But it’s not our place to declare who is or isn’t in hell, and being too interested in that may be a sign that you’re being too casual about your own position before God.

There were two other things I found really helpful in Jesus’ teaching on heaven and hell here. The first is that what will make all the difference in the end is not what you’ve done, but who you know. When God (or the owner of the house in Jesus’ parable) explains why those outside cannot enter, he says twice: “I don’t know you or where you come from” (v 25, 27). You might be able to do some good deeds in amongst your sins, but God’s Son Jesus is the only one who can bring you into a relationship with God, where you know God and he knows you (John 17:3). Trusting in Jesus is the beginning, middle and end of salvation.

And secondly ... what’s the answer? Will only a few be saved in the end? At first, the answer sounds like it’s going to be “Yes”, because Jesus talks about how narrow the door is and that many will not be able to enter (v 24). And yet, at the end he paints a picture of people streaming from the four compass points to enter the kingdom – outsiders, people who were “without hope and without God in the world” (Eph. 2:12).

So, will many people be saved? Well, your priority is to make sure that you are, not be so arrogant that you start announcing other people’s eternal destiny. But in the end, you can trust that God’s mercy is wide and deep and rich and powerful. Trust me (or better, trust Jesus): Heaven will be packed!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elyse is a member of our Fairfield Evening congregation.