“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus uses the word "strive" not just for effort, but for intense struggle, like an athlete competing for a prize. This isn't about a casual desire; it implies a fierce, all-consuming contest to push through a narrow entrance that many will neglect until it's too late.
“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
English Standard Version (ESV)
A question about whether few people will be saved leads Jesus to shift from parables about the kingdom's growth to a direct exhortation. He uses the imagery of a narrow door, emphasizing the intense effort required, to address the underlying assumption that salvation is easily attained. This contrasts with the idea that many will try and fail, implying their efforts will be insufficient or too late.
Ever feel like you're just going through the motions? Jesus' words here are a wake-up call, urging us to give our all.
The word Jesus uses for 'strive' isn't just about trying hard; it's a powerful term originally used for athletes competing in intense games, needing to pour every ounce of energy into winning the prize. Think of it as a life-and-death struggle for something incredibly valuable.
Why the Intensity?
This isn't about earning salvation through effort, but about the seriousness and dedication required to truly enter into God's kingdom. It’s a passionate pursuit, a fierce contention against anything that would pull us away from Him. It demands our all – our focus, our energy, our deepest commitment.
Jesus warns that 'many' will seek to enter but won't be able. What does this 'seeking' look like, and why isn't it enough?
It's easy to hear this and think, 'Oh, but I want to be saved! I seek God!' But Jesus is highlighting a crucial difference between a genuine, all-out striving and a mere wish or a superficial attempt.
Wishful Thinking vs. Earnest Effort
Many people will 'seek' in a way that is passive, self-deceptive, or too late. They might desire salvation but aren't willing to commit the intense effort required. This could look like:
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Jesus' point is that a mere desire, a casual glance toward the door, or a last-minute plea when it's too late, will not suffice. The door is narrow, and only those who earnestly strive to enter will find their way through.
Understand the original words
agōnizomai · Greek Verb
To struggle, fight, or exert intense effort; metaphorically used for the earnest, sacrificial commitment required to follow Christ.
pylē · Greek Noun
A symbol of the exclusive and challenging path of faith in Jesus, emphasizing that entry into God's kingdom requires a decisive, focused commitment rather than a broad, easy path.
The instruction to 'strive' for the narrow door highlights the intense effort and dedication required for salvation, contrasting with a casual or superficial seeking that will ultimately fail.
c. 27-30 AD— this verse
Jesus' Ministry and Teaching
Jesus travels throughout Galilee and Judea, teaching about the Kingdom of God, calling disciples, and performing miracles.
c. 30-33 AD
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus is crucified in Jerusalem and rises from the dead, marking the pivotal event of Christian faith.
c. 30-33 AD
Early Church Formation
Following Jesus' ascension, the Holy Spirit empowers the apostles, leading to the rapid growth of the early church in Jerusalem and surrounding regions.
c. 40s-50s AD
Apostolic Missionary Journeys
Apostles like Paul undertake extensive journeys, establishing churches among both Jewish and Gentile communities across the Roman Empire.
c. 62 AD
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Roman-Jewish War culminates in the destruction of Jerusalem and its Temple, a catastrophic event for Jewish society and a sign of the changing religious landscape.
This passage echoes Jesus' teaching on the narrow door and difficult path to life, directly correlating with the 'strive' and 'narrow door' imagery in Luke 13:24 and emphasizing the exclusivity of the way to salvation.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25This verse uses the metaphor of athletic contests, similar to the 'strive' in Luke 13:24, to describe the intense effort and discipline required of believers to gain an eternal reward.
Romans 9:31-32This passage highlights the contrast between seeking salvation through law (which failed) and seeking it through faith, mirroring the idea in Luke 13:24 that merely 'seeking' salvation without the right effort or way will not succeed.
Hebrews 4:11This verse calls believers to 'strive' to enter God's rest, using similar language to Luke 13:24 to convey the idea that a determined effort is necessary to achieve the divine promises and avoid falling short.
Luke 13:23This verse immediately precedes Luke 13:24, setting up the context for Jesus' teaching by framing the question about the number of those being saved, which Jesus then answers with the call to strive for the narrow door.
vincentLuke 13:24: "Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."
StriveUsed only by Luke and Paul, except John 18:36. Originally to contend for a prize in the public games; and thus conveying a sense of struggle. The kindred noun, ἀγωνία, agony, is used of Christ's struggle in Gethsemane (Luke 22:44). Compare 1 Timothy 6:12; 2 Timothy 4:7.Strait gate (στενῆς θύρας)Rev., narrow door. See on Matthew 7:13. The door of a house, and not…
calvinLuke 13:23-24: "Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,"
- And one saith to him, Lord, are there few who obtain salvation? And he said to them, 24. Strive to enter by the narrow gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter, and shall not be able.
Luke 13:23. And one saith to him Although Matthew relates this answer, as if it were immediately connected with other sentences taken out of our Lord's sermons, yet I rather think that the occasion of it…
Jesus uses the word "strive" not just for effort, but for intense struggle, like an athlete competing for a prize. This isn't about a casual desire; it implies a fierce, all-consuming contest to push through a narrow entrance that many will neglect until it's too late.
A question about whether few people will be saved leads Jesus to shift from parables about the kingdom's growth to a direct exhortation. He uses the imagery of a narrow door, emphasizing the intense effort required, to address the underlying assumption that salvation is easily attained. This contrasts with the idea that many will try and fail, implying their efforts will be insufficient or too late.
A question about whether few people will be saved leads Jesus to shift from parables about the kingdom's growth to a direct exhortation. He uses the imagery of a narrow door, emphasizing the intense effort required, to address the underlying assumption that salvation is easily attained. This contrasts with the idea that many will try and fail, implying their efforts will be insufficient or too late.
"“Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." — Jesus uses the word "strive" not just for effort, but for intense struggle, like an athlete competing for a prize. This isn't about a casual desire; it implies a fierce, all-consuming contest to push…
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Last reviewed October 2026