Luke 13:21-25

Luke 13:21 (KJB)
It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened.

Jesus gives another parable concerning the use of leaven. Leaven was yeast which was mixed in with the dough. In many instances the word leaven was used to convey a negative sense, such as the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees. (Mat 16:6 KJV) Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. Here a woman took the leaven and hid it within three measures of meal. The fact that she was making three measures of meal meant she was making it for a large gathering. The emphasis here is on the leaven which produces a gas that makes the dough much lighter. People who are unsaved carry with them a tremendous burden of sin which weighs them down very heavily. (Heb 12:1 KJV) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, When one lays aside the weight which besets a person and that besetting is a sin which encloses them or presses them in on all sides, they will begin to lighten their load of sin and guilt and begin to run the race once they know that their sins have been removed thus having the burden taken from them. The woman, who is akin to the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life, is continuing to knead the dough until the entire loaf is leavened. The Holy Spirit continues to work with the believer until the sin which resides in our flesh and weighs us down, is removed little by little. It is a honing of the Christian life in every believer so they may do the work of the Lord without any burden of sin’s leftovers.

Luke 13:22 (KJB)
And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem.

Jesus then left the synagogue where He healed the woman and told the parables and now began His journey to Jerusalem. It is not known exactly where He was teaching. It was probably in Galilee and then in the region of Peraea. Either way, He taught as He journeyed south toward Jerusalem.

Luke 13:23 (KJB)
Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

Then someone asks Jesus this question about how many are saved. No one knows who asked the question nor the reason for the question. Maybe this person saw that the majority of the time Jesus ran into opposition instead of acceptance. So Jesus not only responds to the one who asked the question but to all those who are near Him. It is a question which is also asked in our time too concerning how many are saved versus the world population.

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

Strive - Agonize or strive with earnestness
Strait - Narrow

Since Jesus is the only door to salvation, we must come almost agonizing over the fact that we are unable to do anything for salvation and that the only way a person becomes saved is through the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. He is referred to here as the strait or narrow gate. Then in the second half of that verse we read that many will seek to get in and will be unable. This verse should be a problem for those who believe in free will. Many just think because they say a few words like a sinner’s prayer automatically entitles them to Heaven. To get to Heaven, one must come on God’s terms and that is you must be written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world. If your name is there, at some time in your life God will apply salvation to you and indwell you with the Holy Spirit, even if you did not say a sinners prayer. Many want to come to God on their terms such as doing good works or being a member of a church. That is why they will be arguing at the White Throne Judgment Seat of Christ wondering why they are not getting in.

Luke 13:25 (KJB)
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:

When people were invited to the home of an important host and the appointment was for a very specific hour, the invited person needed to be on time. In those days, the host had the right to bolt the door at a specific hour and after that no one was allowed to enter. When we look at this verse we see an urgency in the invited guest’s voice “Lord, Lord open unto us.” The use of the word “Lord” twice adds to that urgency. Jesus tells this small parable which represents salvation and the Kingdom of God. (2 Cor 6:2 KJV) (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Now is the time to seek the Lord for salvation because there will come a time when it will be too late. (Mat 7:22 KJV) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Matthew 7:22 speaks of a time when people will be at the White Throne Judgment of Christ giving a list of their works and they will be in an urgent state because they too use the phrase “Lord, Lord.” Then He shall finally say that He does not know where you came from, that is, you are a stranger to Him meaning you were never saved on God’s terms.

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