Enter through the narrow door. Luke 13:22-30 　

Enter through the narrow door.  Luke 13:22-30

　

Let us pray.

 

God the Father of Jesus Christ, until we are seated at the table of the kingdom of God, let the angels and prophets and those who serve you in heaven praise and worship you. I praise and worship you as you are.

As the will of the Lord is done in heaven and also done on earth.  Let us listen to your words and let us walk faithfully in accordance to your words.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

 

There are many wordings which originate from the bible, such as "Love Thy Enemy" and "Lost Sheep".

The term "Trinity" is used in various ways.

 

Some biblical wordings are used incorrectly, sometimes having with the opposite meaning.

“Narrow door” is also comes from the Bible and is often misused.  It is used to break through difficult obstacles such as university entrance exams and employment.

 

Now, what does the narrow door mentioned in the bible mean? 

 

The New Version of the Bible that we use is translated as "try to enter through the narrow door" (13:24) and the New Revised Bible translates it as the "gate". Both translations are fine.

 

Let's take a look when Jesus told his story.  When Jesus was going around towns and villages preaching the teaching of the kingdom of God, someone asked, " Lord are only a few people going to be saved?"

Jesus replied, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.”  What does it mean to "make an effort"?  Also, what kind of people are “those who try but can’t get in”?

 

There were two gates, one big and one small, at the entrance of the ancient city of Judea.

The large gate in the center was wide, easy to pass through, and beautifully decorated, so people flocked to enter through it.  The small gate was hidden in a corner and was hard to see. It seems that many people passed by without even noticing that there was a gate there.

 

In the novel "Sen no Rikyu and His Wives" by Ayako Miura, the story of this "narrow door" of the bible appears.  Sen no Rikyu, also known simply as Rikyū, is considered the historical figure with the most profound influence on chanoyu, the Japanese "Way of Tea".

 

I would like to read a scene from the novel….

 

Sen no Rikyu saying as follows . . .

There was one thing that I couldn't decide. It was the size of the entrance. The entrance of a six-tatami mat (straw mat) tea room and a four-and-a-half tatami mat tea room should be the same size. However, the entrance of 4.5 tatami mats and 2 tatami mats should not be the same, the balance is broken. Also, you can't narrow it down either.

 

While I was pondering, Oriki (his wife) came into the room to light the candlestick. Before I knew it, the room had grown dark.  Oriki gave her usual gentle smile to Rikyu, who was silent as he leaned back at his desk.

 

Oriki said, "It's really late. I'm back now." Also, Rikyu learned that Oriki went to Sancho's Catholic church. 

"Oh, are you back?" (Rikyu)

The candle light flickered, and it seemed as if the room had suddenly turned into night.

"Yes. It's really late." Oriki bowed again.

"Did you hear anything interesting? (Rikyu)

When Oriki returns from the church, Rikyu always listens to what she heard there. But today, his priority was to think about the entrance to be installed in the two-mat tea room. Rikyu was at a loss.

Talking with Oriki, made his heart at peace and Rikyu wanted to rest for a while.

 

“Today’s story at the church was very meaningful.”  (Oriki)

“Hmm, what was it about?” (Rikyu)

“Yes, to enter through the narrow door.” (Oriki)

"What! Enter through the narrow gate." (Rikyu)

Oriki began to tell which was unexpectedly interesting.  "I heard that in order to enter Heaven, one must enter through the narrow door and to enter, you must give up all your possessions. That is to give up your status, property, arrogance, or education.   Possessing them will hinder you from entering.” 

"I see. So?"  (Rikyu)

"In order to enter Heaven, one must enter by faith and be yourself.  And with humble thought, bow your head low, and say that I have nothing to be proud of.  It has been said that only those who do that will enter heaven."

"Hmm"  (Rikyu)

Rikyu imagined a man who had nothing, bowing his head as he passed through the gate.

"I see!"　(Rikyu)

Suddenly, his face was filled with joy.

"I see. Chanoyu (Japanese "Way of Tea") is a religious world. Those who are arrogant are not allowed to enter the tea room."  Rikyu hit his knee and Oriki realized that her own story had given her husband the hint.  Oriki! I got it! 

 

As he said this, Rikyu drew a sharp line on a piece of new paper and drew a diagram of a two-tatami mat tea room and said, "Oriki! It's your achievement. Those who enter the tea room, whether they are feudal lords or people of high rank must be humble. It's the same as entering heaven.  Before you enter, sit in front of the tea room and prepare to enter.  Everyone will enter on their knees.  Without this spirit, the true tea ceremony cannot exist."  The entrance to the tea room devised by Rikyu requires you to bow your head and knees to enter.

Those who try but can't get in are those who are not humble, who can't bow their heads and knees before God.

 

Jesus goes on to say:

Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’  “But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’  “Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’  “But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.  Away from me, all you evildoers!’  “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.  Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

(Verse 25-30)

 

You might say, "I have no problems right now, so I am living without God's help”. 

The door might be closed when you are ready to ask God for help, believing in Jesus.  By the time the door is closed, it will be too late. Don't rest assured that the door is always opened.

 

God will say, “I don’t know you” if you have lived apart from Jesus for months and years after your baptism.

 

Today's sermon began with someone asked, " Lord are only a few people going to be saved?"

The response was “Try to enter through the narrow door.”

 

None of us deserve to be saved and Jesus says that few will be saved. God's salvation is always there but,

only a few people opt for it.  I wonder if we should examine ourselves . . . are we arrogant, are we humble and follow the will of God.

 

"That's why Paul says this."

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.　(Philippians 3:12-14).

 

Let us pray.

 

 

God the Father of Jesus Christ, to make every effort to enter through the narrow door, we thank God for His mercy.  May we be among those who sit at the table of the kingdom of God.  Please guide and help us to follow you with humility instead of arrogance.  I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen