Luke 13:23 Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved?
Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.
(Diaglott NT) Agonize; (NET) Exert every effort; (NLT) Work hard; (WNT) Strain every nerve; (CEV) Do all you can; (CLV) Be struggling; (HCSB) Make every effort; (LITV) Labor; (NCV) Try hard; (Wuest) Be endeavoring with a strenuous zeal.
2 Timothy 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully [according to the rules].
(AMP) Strive to enter by the narrow door [force yourselves through it],
(NLT) "Work hard to enter the narrow door to God's Kingdom
Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Philippians 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,
Romans 15:20 Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named
Romans 15:30 Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight ["be striving," YLT] the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1 Corinthians 9:23-25 And I do all things for the gospel's sake, that I may be a joint partaker thereof. 24 Know ye not that they that run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? Even so run; that ye may attain. 25 And every man that striveth in the games exerciseth self-control in all things. Now they do it to receive a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
1912 Weymouth Bible translation:
Romans 2:6-8 TO EACH MAN HE WILL MAKE AN AWARD CORRESPONDING TO HIS ACTIONS; 7 to those on the one hand who, by lives of persistent right-doing, are striving for glory, honour and immortality, the Life of the Ages; 8 while on the other hand upon the self-willed who disobey the truth and obey unrighteousness will fall anger and fury, affliction and awful distress
Luke 13:24 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 13:25 "When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, 'I do not know you, where you are from,'
Luke 13:26 "then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.'
Matthew Henry:
"The reason why many come short of grace and glory is because they rest in a lazy seeking of that which will not be attained without a laborious striving. They have a good mind to happiness, and a good opinion of holiness, and take some good steps towards both. But their convictions are weak; they do not consider what they know and believe, and, consequently, their desires are cold, and their endeavours feeble, and there is no strength or steadiness in their resolutions; and thus they come short, and lose the prize, because they do not press forward."
Barnes says in his notes:
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.
Revelation 22:14-15 Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city. 15 But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie.
Luke 13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. ["cast out," NAS; " thrown out" NIV; "shut outside," BBE]
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