The Red-Letter Words of Yeshua ~ Part 107
In our last post, we followed Yeshua back to Yerushalayim for Hanukkah. In this post, He leaves Yerushalayim to go to Perea.
40 He went off again beyond the Yarden, where Yochanan had been immersing at first, and stayed there. 41 Many people came to Him and said, “Yochanan performed no miracles, but everything Yochanan said about this man was true.” 42 And many people there put their trust in him. [1]
Introduction
Yeshua enters the Perean providence east of the Yarden. The providence was ruled by the tetrarch Herod Antipas (the one who beheaded Yochanan the Immerser), who also ruled Galilee. During this period of His ministry, Yeshua once again teaches through numerous parables.
The Narrow Door
22 Yeshua continued traveling through town after town and village after village, teaching and making His way toward Yerushalayim. 23 Someone asked Him, “Are only a few people being saved?” 24 He answered, “Struggle to get in through the narrow door because – I’m telling you! -many will be demanding to get in and won’t be able to,
Yeshua’s response to the question – Are only a few people being saved? – does not speculate on God’s plans and actions but states what individuals should do to be saved. To be saved, one should strive to enter through the narrow door. This involves repentance and faith. Many will be demanding to get in and won’t be able to. There will eventually be a time when the opportunity to trust in Yeshua will be taken away.
25 once the owner of the house has gotten up and shut the door. You will stand outside, knocking at the door and saying, ‘Lord! Open up for us!’ But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from!’ 26 Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you! You taught in our streets!’
The second warning and analogy has to do with entering the house (i.e., the Kingdom of God) and warns that people may be shut out by Yeshua, whose presence they ate and drank and whose teachings they heard. Listening to Yeshua’s teachings and sharing fellowship with His people are not by themselves any guarantee of eternal life, for that comes only through personal faith in Yeshua.
27 ,and he will tell you, ‘I don’t know where you’re from. Get away from me, all you workers of wickedness!’
Yeshua is not only the Savior but also the final Judge of all humanity (see 2 Corinthian 5:10).
28 You will cry and grind your teeth when you see Avraham, Yitz’chak, Ya‘akov, and all the prophets inside the Kingdom of God, but yourselves thrown outside. 29 Moreover, people will come from the east, the west, the north, and the south to sit at a table in the Kingdom of God. 30 And notice that some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.” [2]
In addition to believing Isra’eli (v. 28), believing Gentiles (people from the east, west, north, and south (Psalm 107:3) will enter the kingdom (Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8).
In our next post, Yeshua Continues to Minister in the Perean Province.
My Heart is for Israel 