Daily Bible Reading 13th October 2026 // Luke 13:22-35
22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying towards Jerusalem. 23 And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. 25 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.’ 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 where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ 28 In that place 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 but you yourselves cast out. 29 And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. 30 And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
31 At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” 32 And he said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. 33 Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’ 34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! 35 Behold, your house is forsaken. And I tell you, you will not see me until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’”
The remainder of the chapter consists of a warning exhortation (22-30), a word about Herod (31-33), and a lament over Jerusalem (34, 35). We look first at the warning exhortation. The solemn words were spoken by Jesus in answer to a question asked by someone who had listened to His teaching (23). Perhaps the man had really begun to think that, in view of the challenge of Jesus' words, no one could be saved; perhaps he was concealing and disguising anxiety about his own salvation by the general terms in which his question was couched; perhaps it was simply a speculative question such as is dear to the hearts of all theorisers. Whatever the motive, it is important to see how Jesus answered it. If it was a doubt as to whether anyone could be saved, so high was the standard, Jesus speedily makes it clear that it is our responsibility to become disciples, however hard it may be to do so. If it was a disguised personal enquiry, it is immediately drawn out into the open. If it was simply a speculative quibble, it is exposed for what it is, and turned into a personal challenge and confrontation. This last is important. There is no room in the Christian Faith for theoretical discussion and disquisition. It is not possible to 'play' at religion. One is not allowed to 'discuss' Christ and His salvation, as if it were a subject for debate or philosophical argument. It is as if Jesus had said to him, 'Do not waste time debating the question 'Are there few that be saved?' Look to yourself. Are you saved? That is the question you should be asking, the question all should be asking.