The Narrow Door (Luke 13:22-38)

Jesus is going through the villages and is asked by someone, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?"

The use of the word "Lord" suggests the questioner is a disciple of Christ.  

Jesus responds to "them", meaning a crowd in the villages that they should make every effort to through the narrow door.  Further, many will try to enter, but would be unable to.  Eventually, the door will close and owner of the house will say "away with you, you evildoers" and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  The people outside will then see other people from the north, south, east, and west eat with the patriarchs and the prophets in the Kingdom of God.

Let's unpack this.  Here is what I see.

1.  This supports the idea that not entering in faith will result in banishment from God.  

2.  Banishment from God will result in weeping and gnashing of teeth.

3.  The question seems to imply salvation in the afterlife, but the answer given does not necessarily mean this refers to the afterlife.  The scope of the answer includes the afterlife (seeing the patriarchs and prophets), but is not necessarily limited to it.

4.  Jesus never actually directly answers the question.  The question was about numbers - how many will be saved?  Jesus' answer is basically - "it is up to you".  Jesus implies that the numbers saved will be large by referring to people coming from the "north, south, east, and west".

5.  The response also functions to predict the Gospel going to the Gentiles.  People will come from the north, south, east, and west to eat with the patriarchs and the prophets.  That means that other, non-Jewish people, will be given a chance to enter the kingdom of God.

6.  Likewise, the answer somewhat predicts the rejection of the Gospel by the Jews and in turn, God's rejection of them.  Jesus is speaking to Jews and tells them to enter the narrow door.  However, many [of these Jews] will not be able to.  Then, these Jews will be outside while non-Jews get to go in.  If we take this literal level, then the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" could also refer to the upcoming destruction of Jerusalem and near annihilation of the Jews by the Romans during the Jewish revolt (67-73 AD).