Make Every Effort (Not Minimum Effort): What It Really Takes to Enter Heaven
Overview – Today's Bible Study
Welcome, everyone. Today, we’re diving into a powerful passage found in Luke 13:23-24 (KJV) and we will explore how this passage resonates with other key scriptures mentioned: Jeremiah 29:13, Deuteronomy 6:5, Matthew 22:37, and 2 Chronicles 16:9
Luke 13:23-24 (KJV)
"Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able."
Commentary:
The question asked of Jesus is this: "Are there few that be saved?" Instead of giving a direct number, Jesus redirects us to what truly matters: personal urgency and spiritual effort.
The word "strive" in verse 24 simply means EVERY EFFORT. It comes from the Greek word agonizomai, which implies intense struggle, as in a contest or a race.
This is not passive belief; this is active pursuit. The strait (narrow) gate refers to the disciplined, obedient, and wholehearted way that leads to eternal life (cf. Matthew 7:13-14).
Jesus makes it clear: "many... will seek to enter in, and shall not be able." Why? Because they did not strive — they may have had interest, but not full surrender.
This is not salvation by works, but rather a warning against half-hearted discipleship. It calls for complete devotion to God, which connects powerfully with the Old and New Testament passages.
Jeremiah 29:13 (KJV)
"And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart."
Connection:
God has never been satisfied with minimal effort or shallow religion. He promises to be found — but only by those who search with all their heart. The parallel with Luke 13 is clear: salvation is for those who strive, who hunger and thirst for righteousness, not those who are casually curious.
Deuteronomy 6:5 (KJV)
"And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might."
Connection:
This is the foundational commandment of the Law. Notice the "all" — heart, soul, might. It mirrors Jesus' demand to strive for the narrow gate.
⚠️ Half-hearted love is not true love.
Just as salvation demands a full commitment, God’s command to love Him is total, consuming, and uncompromising.
Matthew 22:37 (KJV)
"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind."
Connection:
Jesus affirms the same truth from Deuteronomy, applying it to the New Covenant. The standard hasn’t changed — wholehearted devotion is the core of true faith. It isn't enough to just want to be saved; one must respond in love and surrender, giving everything to God.
2 Chronicles 16:9 (KJV)
"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him..."
Connection:
God is actively looking for hearts that are fully His. The word perfect here means whole, complete, undivided. This ties beautifully with Luke 13 — those who strive, those who seek with all their heart, will find the strength and grace of God helping them.
⚠️ Those who are casual or lukewarm, however, will be among the "many" who will not be able to enter.
Personal Reflection:
Luke 13:23-24 is a call to urgent, wholehearted discipleship. It is echoed throughout Scripture.
God doesn't ask for religious hobbies, rituals, or empty mindless repetitions; He calls for our hearts, our strength, our minds — our everything. While salvation is by grace, Jesus warns us that grace must not be taken lightly. We must strive, seek Him with all our heart, and love Him with all we are.
"Sold Out" for Jesus
To be sold out for Christ means that Jesus is not just a part of your life — He is your life. It’s a total surrender of every area: your time, your goals, your relationships, your identity. When someone is sold out, they are no longer negotiating terms with God — they have laid everything on the altar.
🙏 This kind of devotion isn't optional or extreme; it's exactly what Jesus calls normal in Luke 13:24. To strive for the narrow gate means abandoning casual Christianity. It means living with eternal urgency and letting The Cross define your purpose, values, and decisions every single day.
Being sold out for Christ also means there is no backup plan, no divided loyalty, no holding back a piece of your heart "just in case." Like the man who found treasure in a field and sold all he had to buy it (Matthew 13:44), the sold-out believer sees Christ as infinitely worthy — worth any cost, any sacrifice, and every ounce of strength.
This ties directly to Jeremiah 29:13 and 2 Chronicles 16:9, where God responds not to effort alone, but to wholehearted pursuit. A sold-out life doesn't blend in with the world; it stands apart, driven by love for God and fueled by the Spirit. It is this kind of heart that finds the narrow gate — and enters in.
A Prayer of Wholehearted Surrender
Dear Lord Jesus,
I hear Your voice calling me — Strive to enter in at the strait gate — and I tremble at how easily I have settled for comfort, convenience, and half-measures. Forgive me, Lord, for the times I have followed You with conditions, with divided loyalty, or with a lukewarm heart. I don’t want to be among the many who try and fail because they never gave You everything.
I don’t want to walk the wide road. I want the narrow path, even if it’s hard, even if it costs me everything. Light the fire in my soul again, Lord — a holy passion that will not be satisfied with minimum effort. Teach me to seek You with all my heart, to love You with all my soul, all my mind, all my strength.
Make me a person whose life says, “Christ is enough.” I don’t want to simply believe — I want to belong, to obey, to follow. Not out of duty, but out of love. Not out of fear, but because I see that the narrow gate leads to life, and that life is You.
Strengthen me, Lord. I cannot do this without Your grace. But with You, and by Your Spirit, I will strive. I will run. I will fight the good fight and lay hold of eternal life. I will be sold out for You.
Here I am, Lord — take all of me. In Your holy name I pray,
Amen 🙏