Luke 13 · Verse 24

Luke 13:24

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
Luke 13:24, King James Version

Luke 13:24 in other translations

BSB“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.
WEB“Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in and will not be able.
ASVStrive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
YLT‘Be striving to go in through the straight gate, because many, I say to you, will seek to go in, and shall not be able;
DARBYStrive with earnestness to enter in through the narrow door, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in and will not be able.
BBEDo your best to go in by the narrow door, for I say to you, A number will make the attempt to go in, but will not be able to do so.
WebsterStrive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

What does Luke 13:24 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
24. Strive--The word signifies to "contend" as for the mastery, to "struggle," expressive of the difficulty of being saved, as if one would have to force his way in. strait gate--another figure of the same. (See on Mt 7:13, 14). for many ... will seek--"desire," that is, with a mere wish or slothful endeavor. and shall not be able--because it must be made a life-and-death struggle.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 24. Strive. Literally, agonize. The word is taken from the Grecian Games. In their races, and wrestlings, and various athletic exercises, they strove or agonized, or put forth all their powers to gain the victory. Thousands witnessed them. They were long trained for the conflict, and the honour of victory was one of the highest honours among the people. So Jesus says that we should strive to enter in; and he means by it that we should be diligent, be active, be earnest; that we should make it our first and chief business to overcome our sinful propensities, and to endeavour to enter into heaven. This same figure or allusion to the Grecian games is often used in the New Testament, 1Cor 9:24-26; Phi 2:16; Heb 12:1.

Strait gate. Mt 7:13,14. Dr. Thomson (The Land and the Book, vol. i. p. 32) says:


"I have seen these strait gates and narrow ways, 'with
here and there a traveller.' They are in retired
corners, and must be sought for, and are opened only
to those who knock; and when the sun goes down and the
night comes on, they are shut and locked. It is then
too late."


Will seek to enter in. Many in various ways manifest some desire to be saved. They seek it, but do not agonize for it, and hence they are shut out. But a more probable meaning of this passage is that which refers this seeking to a time that shall be too late; to the time when the master has risen up, &c. In this life they neglect religion, and are engaged about other things. At death, or at the judgment, they will seek to enter in; but it will be too late--the door will be shut; and because they did not make religion the chief business of their life, they cannot then enter in.

Shall not be able. This is not designed to affirm anything respecting the inability of the sinner, provided he seeks salvation in a proper time and manner. It means that at the time when many will seek--when the door is shut--they will not be able then to enter in, agreeable to Mt 7:22. In the proper time, when the day of grace was lengthened out, they might have entered in; but there will be a time when it will be too late. The day of mercy will be ended, and death will come, and the doors of heaven barred against them. How important, then, to strive to enter in while we have opportunity, and before it shall be too late!

(u) "Strive" Mt 7:13 (v) "for many, I say unto you" Jn 7:34, 8:21, Rom 9:31

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 24 Many - will seek - They seek - wish and desire; but they do not strive; therefore, because they will not agonize - will not be in earnest, they shall not get in. See this subject more particularly explained on Mat 7:13, Mat 7:14 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 13:23-30

Our Saviour came to guide men's consciences, not to gratify their curiosity. Ask not, How many shall be saved? But, Shall I be one of them? Not, What shall become of such and such? But, What shall I do, and what will become of me? Strive to enter in at the strait gate. This is directed to each of us; it is, Strive ye. All that will be saved, must enter in at the strait gate, must undergo a change of the whole man…

Read the full comment on Luke 13:23-30 →

Luke 13:24 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀγωνίζεσθεagōnizesthedo striveG75
εἰσελθεῖνeiseltheinto enter inG1525
διὰdiathroughG1223
τῆςtēstheG3588
στενῆςstenēsnarrowG4728
θύρας·thurasdoor;G2374
ὅτιhotiforG3754
πολλοί,polloimany,G4183
λέγωlegōI sayG3004
ὑμῖν,huminto you,G4771
ζητήσουσινzētēsousinwill seekG2212
εἰσελθεῖνeiseltheinto enter inG1525
καὶkaiandG2532
οὐκouknotG3756
ἰσχύσουσιν.ischusousinwill be able.G2480

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 13:24

  • Matthew 7:13-14

    Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

  • 2 Peter 1:10

    Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

  • 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

    Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

  • Hebrews 4:11

    Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

  • Luke 21:36

    Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

  • Ezekiel 33:31

    And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

  • Philippians 2:12-13

    Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

  • Proverbs 21:25

    The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour.

  • John 6:27

    Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

  • Colossians 1:29

    Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

  • Romans 10:3

    For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

  • Proverbs 1:24-28

    Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh; When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. …

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Strive.
21:36; Ge 32:25,26; Mt 11:12; Joh 6:27; 1Co 9:24-27; Php 2:12,13
Col 1:29; Heb 4:11; 2Pe 1:10
the strait.
Mt 7:13,14
for.
Pr 1:24-28; 14:6; 21:25; Ec 10:15; Isa 1:15; 58:2-4; Eze 33:31
Mr 6:18-20; Joh 7:34; 8:21; 13:33; Ro 9:31-33; 10:3

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 13:23

    Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

  • Luke 13:24

    Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

  • Luke 13:25

    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:

Read all of Luke 13

Luke 13:24 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porfiad á entrar por la puerta angosta; porque os digo que muchos procurarán entrar, y no podrán.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Luttez pour entrer par la porte étroite; car beaucoup, je vous le dis, chercheront à entrer et ne pourront pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Ringet danach, durch die enge Pforte einzugehen; denn viele, sage ich euch, werden einzugehen suchen und werden es nicht vermögen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Contendite intrare per angustam portam: quia multi, dico vobis, quærent intrare, et non poterunt.