The Meaning of Luke 13:25 Explained

Luke 13:25

KJV: When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

YLT: from the time the master of the house may have risen up, and may have shut the door, and ye may begin without to stand, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, lord, open to us, and he answering shall say to you, I have not known you whence ye are,

Darby: From the time that the master of the house shall have risen up and shall have shut the door, and ye shall begin to stand without and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he answering shall say to you, I know you not whence ye are:

ASV: When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

When once  the master of the house  is risen up,  and  hath shut  to the door,  and  ye begin  to stand  without,  and  to knock  at the door,  saying,  Lord,  Lord,  open  unto us;  and  he shall answer  and say  unto you,  I know  you  not  whence  ye are: 

What does Luke 13:25 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The revelation that God would soon shut the narrow door of opportunity to enter heaven and the kingdom should have moved Jesus" hearers not to delay believing in Him. In one sense anyone can believe as long as he or she is alive. In another sense it becomes more difficult to believe as one procrastinates and as one grows older. However in view of Jesus" illustration of the banquet that follows, it is more likely that He was thinking of the beginning of the kingdom. When the kingdom began, it would be impossible for unbelievers to change their minds and be saved. Therefore in view of the kingdom"s imminency when Jesus uttered this warning, His hearers needed to believe without delay.

Context Summary

Luke 13:18-30 - The Penalty Of Neglected Opportunity
Notice here the inward movement and the outward effect of the gospel whether in the heart or in the world of men. The garden and the kitchen, the lives of men and women, respectively yield the same lesson. Though the seed of the divine nature is sown in secret, it cannot remain secret, but works its way into manifestation. Man's method is from without inward; God's, from within outward. You cannot estimate the results when a little child receives the incorruptible seed, 1 Peter 1:23.
But the entrance into the full power and blessedness of Christ is by a narrow way. The strait gate is open to all, but it means that we have to deny and leave behind all that is carnal, whether good or bad in the estimate of men, so that the divine life may have the entire field. Merely to eat and drink in Christ's presence betrays a self-indulgence which is foreign to His Spirit. You may sit at the Lord's table and yet be a worker of iniquity! We may be first in privilege, but last in grace. Luke 13:29-30 remind us of Acts 10:34-35 and Romans 2:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 13

1  Jesus preaches repentance upon the punishment of the Galilaeans and others
6  The fruitless fig tree may not stand
10  He heals the crooked woman;
18  shows the powerful working of the word, by the parable of the grain of mustard seed,
20  and of leaven;
22  exhorts to enter in at the strait gate;
31  and reproves Herod and Jerusalem

Greek Commentary for Luke 13:25

When once [απ ου αν]
Possibly to be connected without break with the preceding verse (so Westcott and Hort), though Bruce argues for two parables here, the former (Luke 13:24) about being in earnest, while this one (Luke 13:25-30) about not being too late. The two points are here undoubtedly. It is an awkward construction, απ ου απο τουτου οτε — aph' hou = αν — apo toutou hote with εγερτηι — an and the aorist subjunctive See Robertson, Grammar, p. 978. [source]
Hath shut to [αποκλειω]
First aorist middle subjunctive of απ ου αν — archomai with εγερτηι — aph' hou an like αποκλεισηι — egerthēi and εσταναι — apokleisēi stand (ιστημι — hestanai). Second perfect active infinitive of και κρουειν — histēmi intransitive tense and to knock (ανοιχον ημιν — kai krouein). Present active infinitive, to keep on knocking.Open to us First aorist active imperative, at once and urgent.He shall say (ειπον — erei). Future active of απ ου — eipon (defective verb). This is probably the apodosis of the aph' hou clause. [source]
And ye begin [αρχομαι]
First aorist middle subjunctive of απ ου αν — archomai with εγερτηι — aph' hou an like αποκλεισηι — egerthēi and εσταναι — apokleisēi stand Second perfect active infinitive of και κρουειν — histēmi intransitive tense and to knock Present active infinitive, to keep on knocking. [source]
Open to us [ερει]
First aorist active imperative, at once and urgent.He shall say (ειπον — erei). Future active of απ ου — eipon (defective verb). This is probably the apodosis of the aph' hou clause. [source]
He shall say [ειπον]
Future active of απ ου — eipon (defective verb). This is probably the apodosis of the aph' hou clause. [source]
When once [ἀφ ' ou)]
Lit.,from the time that. Compare Luke 13:7. Some editors connect this with the previous sentence: “Shall not be able when once, ” etc. [source]
Whence [πόθεν]
Of what family. Ye do not belong to my household. See John 7:27: “We know whence he (Jesus) is;” i.e., we know his birthplace and family. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 13:25

Luke 13:12 Thou art loosed [ἀπολέλυσαο]
The only passage in The New Testament where the word is used of disease. Medical writers use it of releasing from disease, relaxing tendons, and taking off bandages. (Luke 13:25). In Matthew 7:13, where the image is of a gate opening into a way, πύλη ,gate, is used. [source]
Luke 13:25 When once [απ ου αν]
Possibly to be connected without break with the preceding verse (so Westcott and Hort), though Bruce argues for two parables here, the former (Luke 13:24) about being in earnest, while this one (Luke 13:25-30) about not being too late. The two points are here undoubtedly. It is an awkward construction, απ ου απο τουτου οτε — aph' hou = αν — apo toutou hote with εγερτηι — an and the aorist subjunctive See Robertson, Grammar, p. 978. [source]
Acts 12:13 When he knocked at the door of the gate [κρουσαντος αυτου την τυραν του πυλωνος]
Genitive absolute with aorist active participle of κρουω — krouō common verb to knock or knock at. So from the outside (Luke 13:25). Πυλων — Pulōn here is the gateway or passageway from the door (τυρα — thura) that leads to the house. In Acts 12:14 it is still the passageway without the use of τυρα — thura (door, so for both door and passageway). [source]
2 Timothy 2:19 The Lord knoweth them that are his [ἔγνω κύριος τοὺς ὄντας αὐτοῦ]
The first inscription: God knows his own. Comp. Numbers 16:5; 1 Corinthians 13:12. For ἔγνω knowethsee on Galatians 4:9. Them that are his, his ἐκλεκτοὶ chosensee 2 Timothy 2:10; Titus 1:1; Romans 8:33; Colossians 3:12; 1 Peter 2:9: Revelation 17:14. Not, however, in any hard, predestinarian sense. Comp. John 10:14; Matthew 7:23; Luke 13:25, Luke 13:27. [source]
Revelation 22:11 Let him do unrighteousness still [αδικησατω ετι]
First aorist (constative) active imperative of αδικεω — adikeō viewed here as a whole. The language is probably ironical, with a reminder of Daniel 12:10, in no sense a commendation of their lost estate. Charles rejects this verse as not like John. It is the hopelessness of the final state of the wicked which is here pictured. So as to “Let him be made filthy still” First aorist (constative) passive imperative of ρυπαινω — rupainō old verb, to make foul or filthy (from ρυπος — rupos filth, 1 Peter 3:21, as is ρυπαρος — ruparos filthy), here only in N.T. The use of ετι — eti is not perfectly clear, whether “still” or “yet more.” It is the time when Christ has shut the door to those outside who are now without hope (Matthew 25:10; Luke 13:25). υπαρος — Ruparos occurs elsewhere in N.T. only in James 2:2, and ρυπαρια — ruparia (filthiness) only in James 1:21. So then “the righteous” The states of both the evil and the good are now fixed forever. There is no word here about a “second chance” hereafter. [source]
Revelation 3:20 If any man hear - and open [εαν τις ακουσηι και ανοιχηι]
Condition of third class with εαν — ean and first aorist (ingressive) active subjunctive of ακουω — akouō and ανοιγω — anoigō See John 10:3; John 18:37. See the picture reversed (Swete) in Luke 13:25; Matthew 25:10.I will come in to him (εισελευσομαι — eiseleusomai). Future middle of εισερχομαι — eiserchomai See Mark 15:43; Acts 11:3 for εισερχομαι προς — eiserchomai pros to go into a man‘s house. Cf. John 14:23.Will sup Future active of δειπνεω — deipneō old verb, from δειπνον — deipnon (supper), as in Luke 17:8. Fellowship in the Messianic kingdom (Luke 22:30; Mark 14:25; Matthew 26:29). Purely metaphorical, as is plain from 1 Corinthians 6:13. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 13:25 mean?

From what - shall have risen up the master of the house and shall have shut the door then you should begin outside to stand to knock at the saying Lord open to us he answering will say to you Not I do know you from where are
ἀφ’ οὗ ἂν ἐγερθῇ οἰκοδεσπότης καὶ ἀποκλείσῃ τὴν θύραν καὶ ἄρξησθε ἔξω ἑστάναι κρούειν τὴν λέγοντες Κύριε ἄνοιξον ἡμῖν ἀποκριθεὶς ἐρεῖ ὑμῖν Οὐκ οἶδα ὑμᾶς πόθεν ἐστέ

ἂν  - 
Parse: Particle
Root: ἄν  
Sense: has no exact English equivalent, see definitions under AV.
ἐγερθῇ  shall  have  risen  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐγείρω  
Sense: to arouse, cause to rise.
οἰκοδεσπότης  master  of  the  house 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: οἰκοδεσπότης  
Sense: master of the house, householder.
ἀποκλείσῃ  shall  have  shut 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀποκλείω  
Sense: to shut up.
θύραν  door 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: θύρα  
Sense: a door.
ἄρξησθε  you  should  begin 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Middle, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἄρχω  
Sense: to be the first to do (anything), to begin.
ἔξω  outside 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔξω  
Sense: without, out of doors.
ἑστάναι  to  stand 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Infinitive Active
Root: ἵστημι  
Sense: to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set.
κρούειν  to  knock 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: κρούω  
Sense: to knock: at the door.
τὴν  at  the 
Parse: Article, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
λέγοντες  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Κύριε  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
ἄνοιξον  open 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἀνοίγω 
Sense: to open.
ἡμῖν  to  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
ἀποκριθεὶς  he  answering 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀποκρίνομαι  
Sense: to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer.
ἐρεῖ  will  say 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to utter, speak, say.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
οἶδα  I  do  know 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: οἶδα  
Sense: to see.
πόθεν  from  where 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πόθεν  
Sense: of place: from where, from what condition.