Eternal Life not to be Won without Toil.
I. Our Lord says, "Strive;" and He vouchsafes to add one reason why we should strive. A gate is appointed for us to enter into the gate which leads to our true home, the only place where we can be happy, and this gate is strait, i.e.,very narrow. So strait, so narrow, is this gate and way, that it cannot be found for mere seeking. Many, many there are who know more or less of it, have a true notion where it is to be found, and really wish they had entered in and were moving along that way; but they have not the courage to take the true and only method of entering; they will not make themselves low, little, and humble; they will not stoop, so the lowly door keeps them out; they load themselves with earthly riches, cares, and pleasures, so that they and their burdens take up too much room to crowd in through the narrow gate; they will not be converted and become as little children, so they cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.
II. Men hold easily on, hardly seeking, not at all striving, until their path in life is run out, and they find themselves all on a sudden close to the other narrow gate, the very doorway of heaven itself, which is also called strait and narrow, because none may go through it who has not the mind of Christ, the lowly, meek, humble, self-denying mind, which He so earnestly invited, and charged all who would come to Him to learn of Him. But these have not learned it; and what is the consequence? When once the Master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, i.e.,when the day of trial is over, and the night of judgment is come, and when the work of this world, according to the counsel of God, is ended, it will be as in orderly and strict households, when darkness and the hour of rest is come, and the family has retired, and the doors are made fast for the night; at such a time, if strangers, who have no claim to such a favour, much more of incorrigible servants who have forfeited their claim, come knocking and demanding admittance, the Master will say, "I know you not whence ye are." Who can describe the horror and despair which will come upon them in that moment, when they shall hear Him who is love saying to them, "Depart from Me"?
J. Keble, Sermons for Sundays after Trinity,part i., p. 128.
References: Luke 13:24. Christian World Pulpit,vol. x., p. 161; A. Scott, Ibid.,vol. xiv., p. 97; Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. viii., No. 475; J. H. Wilson, The Gospel and its Truths,p. 51; H. W. Beecher, Sermons.vol. i., p. 119. Luke 13:24-27. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. iii., p. 281, Luke 13:30. Homiletic Magazine,vol. viii., p. 193.Luke 13:31-33. Ibid.,vol. xi., p. 213.Luke 13:31; Luke 13:32. D. Fraser, Metaphors of the Gospels,p. 202.Luke 13:32. Preacher's Monthly,vol. ii., p. 97. Luke 13:34. Ibid.,p. 246; D. Fraser, Metaphors of the Gospels,p. 209. Luke 13 F. D. Maurice, The Gospel of the Kingdom of Heaven,p. 204; Parker, Christian Commonwealth,vol. vi., p. 563.Luke 14:1. Ibid., Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxv., p. 241.Luke 14:1-4. G. Macdonald, Miracles of Our Lord,p. 69. Luke 14:1-6. W. Hanna, Our Lord's Life on Earth,p. 144; A. B. Bruce, The Training of the Twelve,p. 68. Luke 14:1-11. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. i., p. 351; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. iii., p. 155.Luke 14:1-35. E. Johnson, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxvi., p. 141.Luke 14:3. R. D. B. Rawnsley, Village Sermons,2nd series, p. 217. Luke 14:3-5. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. v., p. 32.Luke 14:3-6. Ibid.,vol. xii., p. 183.Luke 14:7. C. C. Bartholomew, Sermons Chiefly Practical,p. 195.Luke 14:7; Luke 14:8. Preacher's Monthly,vol. ii., p. 251.Luke 14:7-11. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. iv., p. 477; A. B. Bruce, The Parabolic Teaching of Christ,p. 309; C. Kingsley, National Sermons,p. 322; H. Goodwin, Church of England Pulpit,vol. ix., p. 13.