And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
The whole of this passage will be at once abundantly clear, if we consider the very different characters which the Lord Jesus describes under those striking particulars; and whom he had in view. Jesus is here drawing that line of everlasting discrimination, between those who have indeed all the advantages of Gospel privileges, but who never felt their power; and the true seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are in the Covenant of Redemption. If the Reader will only attend to the features the Lord hath marked, he will at once discern them. They strive to enter in; but it is in their own strength. They plead the privileges they have had of ordinances; they have eaten and drunk in Christ's presence; yea, many had heard Christ preaching; and yet there is not one atom of grace in all this. These are all outward things, and may be very punctually attended, and yet never bring the heart to God. Gentiles who never heard of Christ may be brought into a saving acquaintance with Christ; while those Jews, who professed their apprehension of Jehovah, from being favored with the principles of revelation even in the midst of the blaze of the Gospel, should be so wholly unconscious of its power. So that the Gentiles, which were last and afar off, become first; while the Jews, who were first in Gospel privileges, were last, in rejecting the counsel of God, against their own souls.