KNOKING ON THE DOOR

There are many verses that I've read that I simply don't understand.
This is one of them!

I could force a meaning if I tried but I'd still come away unsatisfied.
I read your post and felt a bit skeptical... it is an interpretation of the passage but I'm unconvinced it is what Luke was trying to communicate.

I looked over a few commentaries this morning and still came way unconvinced that I had a handle on it.

Perhaps the most appropriate remark I found about this verse in Luke was one by I. Howard Marshall, in the New International Greek Testament Commentary, (The Gospel of Luke: A Commentary on the Greek Text, Exeter: Paternoster Press, 1978, 630), after three of four pages of commentary he ended by writing:

...few sayings in the Gospels are so uncertain in interpretation as this one.
​

Rob

 

We must look at the context of the passage to see what a couple sentences mean.
Luke 16:10-17 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? And if you have not been faithful in that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

Jesus is confronting legalistic Pharisees and their belief that they can shrewdly manipulate the Master with their efforts to gain his good favor. He is telling them that an attempt to gain access to the Kingdom of God by the Law will result in failure. He is telling them that they are trying to force their way into God's Kingdom and the Law will condemn them as hypocrites. They are doomed. They need the Master to forgive them their debts by His mercy and grace.

Your attempt to work your way into heaven will never work. You cannot force God into redeeming you because of your works. You are corrupted and thus you cannot be perfect and enter heaven by your own holiness.

 

Luke 16.16
The context is Jesus speaking to the Pharisees. As much as they try they can’t fulfill the Law. TheIr effort is fruitless.

Clearly we do not gain entrance into God’s presence by our “effort and struggles”.

Only by grasping the grace given with the good news can we gain that privilege.

Rob

 

It seems the money greedy religious were not taking the advent of Messiah seriously. The sense is that John the Baptist had a huge following and the religious leaders were getting anxious about loosing profits. The new kingdom was likened to an amusement park. All were rushing inside to take advantage of the "fun". Jesus was mocking the religious leaders on their anxiety over loosing their lively hood. They themselves had to fight to get in as they had lost their control over the population.

 

This is not accurate regarding Baptists. The problem is you miss the most important ingredient in good works, which is first and foremost that God must redeem a person and cause them to believe before that person will be made righteous and his works made good.
Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
It seems you think your good works can save you, but unless God has made you alive with Christ, you are dead in your trespasses and sins. You have missed the mark so badly that you are dead. You need a Redeemer to make you alive and place you on the mark so that you may accomplish the good works that God has ordained for you.

 

Romans 4:5

 

Alex, it is not that Baptist’s don’t like the Law. Jesus said he fulfilled the Law, he didn’t abolish it.
But good works will not earn salvation, only God’s grace through Jesus does that.
After salvation, works become a sign that we are saved. No fruit, no assurance of salvation.

Rob

 

Like/Agree/Winner. Now, if only more had this attitude....

 

Not every time ' salvation 'is used ,means the same . It can mean physically saved and can apply to different aspects of salvation . The 'Hope 'of salvation refers to the future aspect of our salvation that we are eagerly await , glorification. The final redemption of the body ,the adoption as mentioned in Rom 8.23 .
23And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
24For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.

Either at death or the rapture . Romans 11 here is saying the same thing ".And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."

 

1 thes 2.12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
simply saying to walk worthy of God . nothing to add really.

 

Luke 21 .19
context and a better translation helps here .
12But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
13And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
18But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19In your patience possess ye your souls.
20¶And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Nothing there relating to salvation for gentiles in 2020 . Its about Israel " this people ( verse 23 ) and verse 19 By your endurance you will gain your lives.
its about staying alive physically .

 

I didn't see anyone mention this verse, It might help you guys out.

Matthew 11

12“From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force.



It ends with:

28“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30“For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

LUKE 16 ends with RICH MAN and LAZARUS.