Luke 13:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

These statements are fitting for the Jewish people, to whom the Lord addressed them, as well as for the skeptics of the end times.

They feared the loss of worldly possessions and disregarded the promise of everlasting life, ultimately resulting in the loss of both. After the Lord’s suffering and His accession to glory, the Romans seized their territory and their nation, overtaking the city and dispersing the inhabitants. Consequently, they experienced what has been stated elsewhere: The sons of this kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness.

There exists a significant chasm between the affluent man and the destitute one, as after death, the opportunity to alter one's deeds is lost forever. Consequently, the wealthy man finds himself in hell, yearning for even a small respite from the beggar—just a drop of cooling water, since it revives the spirit (Ps. 22:2-3). The prophet Isaiah reminds us that joy will spring forth from the wells of salvation (Isaiah 12:3). But what causes him anguish before the final judgment? It is the torment of a dissolute individual who is stripped of worldly pleasures. The Lord warns that there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when one witnesses Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of Heaven (Luke 13:28).

There will be sorrow and grinding of teeth. The term "there" is used in place of "then." In that moment, there will be profound sorrow and grinding of teeth stemming from unbearable anguish. You will witness Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God, while you find yourselves excluded. This message is directed mainly at the Jews, who took pride in being descendants of Abraham and the other patriarchs.

As the Lord continued His journey, He took the opportunity to share with His disciples and the crowds that indeed, only a small number of the Jewish people would be privileged to enter the kingdom. One person inquired of Him, "Are there only a few who will attain salvation?" The Lord did not provide a definitive yes or no; rather, He remarked that many would strive to find Him, but it would ultimately be too late. The gates will be closed, and the banquet will commence without their presence. Therefore, regardless of how narrow the path may be, we must act swiftly, for we might miss the opportunity for our neighbors. Those who are first will become last, and those who are last will become first. The Gentiles will come in, while the children of the kingdom will be cast out.

He will respond to you, ‘Indeed, I taught you, but you were unresponsive to My teachings; you chose to ignore Me, and therefore I do not recognize you; depart from Me, you who practice iniquity! You will witness others from every corner of the world gathering in the kingdom of heaven alongside Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets, while you, their descendants, will be cast aside. Look, those who you deem least and hold in contempt here will be exalted there, while you, who see yourselves as prominent, will find yourselves at the end of the line.’ This message from Jesus serves as a general warning for humanity: one must navigate the narrow path that leads to the narrow gate of the Kingdom of Heaven during this earthly life.

In the wild olive tree, He discovered what remained absent in the cultivated olive tree; from this reality, He conveyed a lesson that unsettled the Jewish listeners: ‘When many of the authentic heirs of the kingdom are cast into the outer darkness, numerous others will come from the east and the west, and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. This declaration stood in stark contrast to the cherished ideals of self-effacing Judaism. One rabbinic teaching holds that God promises the Jews, ‘In the world to come, I will prepare a magnificent banquet for you Jews, which the Gentiles will witness and feel shame,’ while this Galilean teacher taught about the disavowal of the Jews and the inclusion of the Gentiles.

In that moment, there will be weeping and sorrow, as noted in Matthew 8:11-12.

As the Divine Teacher of celestial truths, the Lord made Himself available to anyone yearning for His guidance or answers to their confusions. When faced with individual inquiries, He often directed His responses toward the collective benefit of those present. Noticing that justification before God demanded more than just physical descent from Abraham, and understanding that many who remain in disbelief would find salvation elusive, a person approached the Savior with the inquiry: Lord, are there few who are saved? In His reply, which spoke not only to the questioner but also to all who were gathered, Jesus illuminated the reality that salvation transcends worldly concerns and idle discourse; it is a matter of profound significance that necessitates the full investment of human vigor.