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Selected Verse: Luke 13:24 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Lu 13:24	Strong Concordance	Strive [75] to enter in [1525] at [1223] the strait [4728] gate [4439]: for [3754] many [4183], I say [3004] unto you [5213], will seek [2212] to enter in [1525], and [2532] shall [2480] not [3756] be able [2480].
	King James	Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
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 Mat 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.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

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 Mat 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.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
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 honor of victory was one of the highest honors 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 endeavor to enter into heaven. This same figure or allusion to the Grecian games is often used in the New Testament, Co1 9:24-26; Phi 2:16; Heb 12:1. Strait gate - See the notes at Mat 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 traveler.' 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, etc. 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 Mat 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!

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]

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 honor of victory was one of the highest honors 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 endeavor to enter into heaven. This same figure or allusion to the Grecian games is often used in the New Testament, Co1 9:24-26; Phi 2:16; Heb 12:1.

Strait gate - See the notes at Mat 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 traveler.' 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, etc. 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 Mat 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!

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
Strive Used only by Luke and Paul, except Joh 18:36. Originally to contend for a prize in the public games; and thus conveying a sense of struggle. The kindred noun, ἀγωνία, agony, is used of Christ's struggle in Gethsemane (Luk 22:44). Compare Ti1 6:12; Ti2 4:7. Strait gate (στενῆς θύρας) Rev., narrow door. See on Mat 7:13. The door of a house, and not a gate, is meant

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Strive to enter in - Agonize. Strive as in an agony. So the word signifies Otherwise none shall enter in. Barely seeking will not avail. Mat 7:13.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
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).

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¹³ Enter ye in [1525] at [1223] the strait [4728] gate [4439]: for [3754] wide [4116] is the gate [4439], and [2532] broad [2149] is the way [3598], that leadeth [520] to [1519] destruction [684], and [2532] many [4183] there be [1526] which [3588] go in [1525] thereat [1223] [846]:
¹⁴ Because [3754] strait [4728] is the gate [4439], and [2532] narrow [2346] is the way [3598], which [3588] leadeth [520] unto [1519] life [2222], and [2532] few [3641] there be [1526] that find [2147] it [846].

²² Many [4183] will say [2046] to me [3427] in [1722] that [1565] day [2250], Lord [2962], Lord [2962], have we [4395] not [3756] prophesied [4395] in thy [4674] name [3686]? and [2532] in thy [4674] name [3686] have cast out [1544] devils [1140]? and [2532] in thy [4674] name [3686] done [4160] many [4183] wonderful works [1411]?

¹ Wherefore [5105] seeing we also [2532] are [2192] compassed about [4029] [2254] with so great [5118] a cloud [3509] of witnesses [3144], let [659] us [2249] lay aside [659] every [3956] weight [3591], and [2532] the sin [266] which doth so easily beset [2139] us, and let us run [5143] with [1223] patience [5281] the race [73] that is set before [4295] us [2254],

¹⁶ Holding forth [1907] the word [3056] of life [2222]; that [1519] I [1698] may rejoice [2745] in [1519] the day [2250] of Christ [5547], that [3754] I have [5143] not [3756] run [5143] in [1519] vain [2756], neither [3761] laboured [2872] in [1519] vain [2756].

²⁴ Know ye [1492] not [3756] that [3754] they which run [5143] in [1722] a race [4712] run [5143] all [3956] [3303], but [1161] one [1520] receiveth [2983] the prize [1017]? So [3779] run [5143], that [2443] ye may obtain [2638].
²⁵ And [1161] every man [3956] that striveth for the mastery [75] is temperate [1467] in all things [3956]. [3303] Now [3767] they [1565] do it to [2443] obtain [2983] a corruptible [5349] crown [4735]; but [1161] we [2249] an incorruptible [862].
²⁶ I [1473] therefore [5106] so [3779] run [5143], not [3756] as [5613] uncertainly [84]; so [3779] fight I [4438], not [3756] as [5613] one that beateth [1194] the air [109]:

⁷ I have fought [75] a good [2570] fight [73], I have finished [5055] my course [1408], I have kept [5083] the faith [4102]:

¹² Fight [75] the good [2570] fight [73] of faith [4102], lay hold on [1949] eternal [166] life [2222], whereunto [1519] [3739] thou art [2564] also [2532] called [2564], and [2532] hast professed [3670] a good [2570] profession [3671] before [1799] many [4183] witnesses [3144].

⁴⁴ And [2532] being [1096] in [1722] an agony [74] he prayed [4336] more earnestly [1617]: and [1161] his [846] sweat [2402] was [1096] as it were [5616] great drops [2361] of blood [129] falling down [2597] to [1909] the ground [1093].

³⁶ Jesus [2424] answered [611], My [1699] kingdom [932] is [2076] not [3756] of [1537] this [5127] world [2889]: if [1487] my [1699] kingdom [932] were [2258] of [1537] this [5127] world [2889], then would [302] my [1699] servants [5257] fight [75], that [3363] I should [3860] not [3363] be delivered [3860] to the Jews [2453]: but [1161] now [3568] is [2076] my [1699] kingdom [932] not [3756] from hence [1782].

¹⁴ Because [3754] strait [4728] is the gate [4439], and [2532] narrow [2346] is the way [3598], which [3588] leadeth [520] unto [1519] life [2222], and [2532] few [3641] there be [1526] that find [2147] it [846].