The "strait" gate. What is meant by that. The King James is the only bible that uses that word in the verse quoted from in the title of this post - Luke 13:24. Every 'modern version' [link] has replaced it with the word 'narrow' - "narrow gate". This greatly blunts the force, to the loss of the reader. Below is an excerpt transcribed from a 1980 audio sermon titled 'Are Few Saved' [31:30-35:25 - link] by a preacher named Charles Alexander of Liverpool, England (? - 1991) expounding upon the force of the word 'strait' - to the profit of the reader/hearer:
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(from 'Are Few Saved' - C. Alexander)
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 - Luke 13:23-24
"Notice the spelling of that word strait ... s-t-r-a-i-t, not s-t-r-a-i-g-h-t. If it is spelled this way it means the shortest distance between two points, a straight line. No no this word strait s-t-r-a-i-t is the same as that narrow neck of water which lies between two areas of land. A strait. The straits of Dover. The straits of Gibraltar. A narrow neck through which the whole ocean is trying to force it's way through. And on that very account always tempestuous, dangerous with it's currents, difficult a passage for the mariners to get through. Or the strait jacket into which you put a violent criminal - put a strait jacket on him s-t-r-a-i-t - which means tight, so that he can't move, to restrain his movements and his actions so he can't do any harm either to himself or somebody else...put him in a strait jacket - that's the word - strive to enter in at the strait gate.
It's not easy to get through it. The passage is very often stormy, there are counter-currents which are inclined to sweep you away at the last minute. It's hard to get through the straits of Gibraltar. It's hard to get through the straits of Dover. Many proud ships have founded there because they couldn't get through. There was something wrong with their chart and compass, or some carelessness on the bridge. And the old sailing ship days where they founded upon the Goodwind Sands or somewhere else because they didn't keep a good account. They knew they were in dangerous waters but they were familiar with danger. A lot of people in dangerous waters now...spiritual dangers. And they are so used to placing themselves in spiritual danger...they've ceased to mean anything at all. 'I'll get by somehow' - is how they speak.
But strait is the gate that leadeth to life, and Christ said strive to enter in at the strait gate. You need to keep your eye on the chart and compass - that is the Word of God [link]. You need to use all the wisdom that is available to you. To listen to the voice of God, to pray to him, to ask him for guidance to bring the old (ship) safely through this stormy way into the everlasting harbour at last. Some mariners may think that they are equal to the task of negotiating this passage, but I don't feel that way. I feel that I need another captain over me, one who has gone this way before. He knows all the shoals, all the rocks, all the whirlpools, all the hidden sandbanks, all the places where many a proud ship has come to ruin [Heb. 2:10]. And I don't want to finish up as a wreck outside the harbour. I want to make the port. I want to come in safely to the shore at last. Strive to enter in. How shall I strive? By making it the business of your life to be saved..."
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Romans 8:29 'For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son...'
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(from 'Are Few Saved' - C. Alexander)
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 - Luke 13:23-24
"Notice the spelling of that word strait ... s-t-r-a-i-t, not s-t-r-a-i-g-h-t. If it is spelled this way it means the shortest distance between two points, a straight line. No no this word strait s-t-r-a-i-t is the same as that narrow neck of water which lies between two areas of land. A strait. The straits of Dover. The straits of Gibraltar. A narrow neck through which the whole ocean is trying to force it's way through. And on that very account always tempestuous, dangerous with it's currents, difficult a passage for the mariners to get through. Or the strait jacket into which you put a violent criminal - put a strait jacket on him s-t-r-a-i-t - which means tight, so that he can't move, to restrain his movements and his actions so he can't do any harm either to himself or somebody else...put him in a strait jacket - that's the word - strive to enter in at the strait gate.
It's not easy to get through it. The passage is very often stormy, there are counter-currents which are inclined to sweep you away at the last minute. It's hard to get through the straits of Gibraltar. It's hard to get through the straits of Dover. Many proud ships have founded there because they couldn't get through. There was something wrong with their chart and compass, or some carelessness on the bridge. And the old sailing ship days where they founded upon the Goodwind Sands or somewhere else because they didn't keep a good account. They knew they were in dangerous waters but they were familiar with danger. A lot of people in dangerous waters now...spiritual dangers. And they are so used to placing themselves in spiritual danger...they've ceased to mean anything at all. 'I'll get by somehow' - is how they speak.
But strait is the gate that leadeth to life, and Christ said strive to enter in at the strait gate. You need to keep your eye on the chart and compass - that is the Word of God [link]. You need to use all the wisdom that is available to you. To listen to the voice of God, to pray to him, to ask him for guidance to bring the old (ship) safely through this stormy way into the everlasting harbour at last. Some mariners may think that they are equal to the task of negotiating this passage, but I don't feel that way. I feel that I need another captain over me, one who has gone this way before. He knows all the shoals, all the rocks, all the whirlpools, all the hidden sandbanks, all the places where many a proud ship has come to ruin [Heb. 2:10]. And I don't want to finish up as a wreck outside the harbour. I want to make the port. I want to come in safely to the shore at last. Strive to enter in. How shall I strive? By making it the business of your life to be saved..."
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| Strait of Gibraltar |
Romans 8:29 'For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son...'
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