R.A. Torrey explores Jesus' journey toward Jerusalem, emphasizing the urgency of salvation and the narrow path to the Kingdom of God. He addresses the question of whether few will be saved, urging listeners to focus on their own salvation rather than speculative curiosity. Torrey highlights Jesus' compassionate lament over Jerusalem, illustrating His desire to gather sinners under His protection despite their rejection. The sermon calls for earnest effort in seeking salvation and warns against complacency, reminding us that the opportunity to enter the Kingdom will not last forever. Ultimately, it is a call to recognize the seriousness of our spiritual state and the need for genuine repentance.

DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS 1. Are There Few that Be Saved?, vv. 22–30 Where was the scene of this lesson? The time? (Probably latter part of January, 783 A. U. C., that is 30 A. D.;, a little more than two months before Christ’s death. Robinson’s view involves a date several weeks later.) What was Jesus doing? For what purpose was He going to Jerusalem? (Compare 9:51.) What did He do as He journeyed? What ought we to do as we go journeying on? What was Jesus always doing as He went about? (Acts 10:38.) What question was put to Jesus (v. 23)? Was the question one of honest inquiry or of speculative curiosity? Did Christ answer the question? Why not? (Matt. 7:13, 14.) Did He usually answer questions of speculative curiosity? (John 21:21, 22.) Are there many today who approach solemn subjects in a similar light manner, not to find out practically how to live, but to gratify mere speculative curiosity, or even to get Christian teachers in a corner? How ought we to answer them? Which is more important, that we know how many are to be saved, or that we know how to be saved? Can we know that? To whom did Christ direct the answer He gave? What did He say (v. 24)? While Jesus did not tell whether many would be saved, what did He say about many? Are there many today who are not saved? Instead of speculating as to how many of them are to be saved, what ought we to do about them? (Mark 16:15, 16.) Since there were many who would seek to enter and should not be able, what did Jesus urge each of His hearers to do? Which is more important, that we solve the problem of how many are to be saved, or that we see to it that we are saved ourselves? What is the first word in Christ’s answer? What does “strive” mean? Does it take earnest effort and conflict to enter into the Kingdom? (Acts 14:22; John 6:27; 1 Cor. 9:24–27; Phil. 2:12, 13; Heb. 4:11; 2 Peter 1:10.) Conflict with whom? (Eph. 6:11, 12.) Can one be “carried to the skies on flowery beds of ease”? (2 Tim. 3:12.) Will the easy-going “form of godliness” so common in churches ever take one into the Kingdom of God? What will become of these easy-going religionists when the Master rises up and shuts the door? To what is the Kingdom of God compared in this 24th verse? By what sort of door is this beautiful palace entered? How narrow is this door? (Luke 18:13, 14; Is. 55:7; Prov. 28:13; Luke 18:24; Matt. 16:24; Matt. 5:20; Ro. 9:32, 33; 10:3; John 3:3.) Is it worth while to make the sacrifices and effort necessary to get through this narrow door? (Ro. 8:18.) Will every one who seeks to enter in succeed? Why not? (Ro. 9:31, 32; 10:3; John 10:1, 2, 9; Jer. 2:9, 13; v. 25.) Is it enough to seek? What must we do? Are we saved by effort? (Eph. 2:8.) Are we saved without effort? In what way especially is effort to be put forth? (c. 21:36; 1 Cor. 9:24–27; Phil. 2:12, 13; 2 Peter 1:5–11.) Will the opportunity of entering always remain open (v. 25)? When will it end? (John 8:21; Matt. 25:10.) Is it Christ Himself who brings the day of opportunity to a close by a decisive act? When may the Lord of the palace rise up and shut the door? Have we any Bible illustrations of shut doors? (Gen. 7:16; Heb. 12:17; Matt. 25:10.) What did Jesus say His hearers would do when the door was shut? Are there any who are careless and easy-going now in this day of opportunity who will be anxious and eager when it is too late? Where will they stand? What will they say? What will He say? Will not calling Him: “Lord, Lord” save them? (Matt. 7:21, 22; Luke 6:46; Matt. 25:11, 12.) What claim for admission will they advance (v. 26)? Will the fact that we have eaten at Christ’s table, or heard His teaching save us? Will any merely outward connection with Christ save? What do great opportunities bring, if abused? (Matt. 11:20–24.) What shall He say (v. 27)? Whom does the Lord know? (Ps. 1:6; 1 Cor. 8:3; 2 Tim. 2:19; John 10:14; compare John 10:3, 4, 27.) What will Christ bid those whom He does not know to do? (Compare Matt. 25:41.) What does He call them? For all their seeking entrance into the Kingdom, had they given up their sins? Are there any today who are seeking entrance into the Kingdom without giving up their sins? Will they gain it? We must either depart from our sins, or depart from whom? (Rev. 21:27.) Does iniquity mean only gross sins? Has the man who wishes to hold on to his sins and yet gain salvation a true desire for salvation? What will be the occupation of the land to which they depart (v. 28)? Is this a true picture? (Compare Matt. 8:12; 13:42, 50; 22:13; 24:51; 25:30.) What does “gnashing of teeth” imply? (Compare Acts 7:54.) What would especially cause them to gnash their teeth? Are there any in our day who will weep and gnash their teeth for a similar reason? From whence would they come to take seats in this kingdom (v. 29)? Who will be there? (John 3:3; John 1:12; 2 Thess. 1:8.) Who shall be first (v. 30)? Are there any first today who shall be last there? Any last who shall be first? Is this true of nations as well as individuals? 2. “O, Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Which Killest the Prophets,” vv. 31–35 What message was brought to Jesus at this time? Who brought it? Were the Pharisees really interested in Jesus’ safety? What then was their purpose in bringing this message? (Compare Neh. 6:9–11; Amos 7:12, 13.) What was Jesus’ reply? What characteristics of Herod did He bring out by calling him a fox? Was it a true characterization of Herod? (Compare 3:19, 20; 9:7–9.) What was the point of Jesus’ answer to Herod? (Compare John 11:8–10.) What did He mean by the words, “I shall be perfected”? (John 17:4, 5; 19:30; Heb. 2:10; 5:9.) Whither was Jesus journeying? Why was He journeying to Jerusalem (v. 33)? What characteristics of Jesus appear in v. 34? What would naturally be His feeling toward Jerusalem after the way in which Jerusalem had treated Him? Why did He love Jerusalem with such patient, unwearying love? Whom does He love today with the same patient, unwearying love? Do the sinner’s sins destroy Christ’s willingness to save them? (1 Tim. 1:15.) Does the unwillingness of sinners to be saved destroy Christ’s willingness to save them? When we thrust away His outstretched arms, what does He do? When we say, “I will not,” what does He say? What had Jerusalem already done that would have made it just for God to have already forsaken her utterly? What did Jesus say had been Jerusalem’s treatment of the prophets? Was this characterization of Jerusalem just? (2 Chron. 24:21, 22; 36:15, 16; Neh. 9:36; Jer. 2:30; 26:23; compare Acts 7:52, 59.) Did Jesus on any other occasion show a like passionate love for Jerusalem in spite of her multiplied sins? (c. 19:41, 42; compare Matt. 23:37–39.) What did Jesus say had been His attitude toward Jerusalem? Are there any utterances in the Old Testament suggestive of this? (Deut. 5:29; 32:29; Is. 48:17–19; Ps. 81:10, 13.) What suggested the figure of a hen gathering her own brood under her wings? (Compare Ruth 2:12; Ps. 17:8; 36:7; 57:1; 91:4; Deut. 32:11, 12.) What three things does a chicken find under its mother’s wings? What do we find under the protecting wings of our Saviour? What is contrasted with Jesus’, “I would”? (Compare John 5:40; Neh. 9:30; Ps. 81:11; Prov. 1:24–30; Jer. 6:16; 7:23, 24; 44:4–6; Matt. 22:3.) Is it ever true today that while Jesus “would” men “will not”? Why is anyone today without life, safety, rest and warmth? What will be the result of Jerusalem refusing to be gathered? (Compare c. 21:5, 6.) Had the desolation of Jerusalem because of its persistent disobedience to God ever been prophesied? (Lev. 26:31, 32; Is. 64:10, 11; Dan. 9:26, 27; Micah 3:12.) What will be result to the individual soul that persistently refuses to be gathered under the protecting wings of Christ? How desolate will it be left? While Jesus pronounced doom upon Jerusalem, did He utter the words in anger or in pity? Is justice any the less awful when it has so much pity in it? Was the time ever coming when the Jews as a nation would see Jesus again? When would that time be? (Compare Zech. 12:9–13:1; 14:1–21; Ro. 11:25–29.) Did the Jews at any time during Christ’s life here on earth say regarding Him: “Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord?” (Matt. 21:9.) Is this the time to which Jesus refers in this verse? CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS 1. Jesus Christ (1). His nature: Divine, 34 compare Ps. 91:1, 4; human, 31, 32, 33. (2). His character: Tender, 34; compassionate, 34; unwearying, 34; stern, 27, 34; fearless, 32; persistent, 33. (3). His work: Taught, 22, 26; cast out devils, 32; healed the sick, 32; protected, 34; cherished, 34; gave rest, 34; judges, 25–30. (4). His coming again, 35. 2. The Jews Enjoyed unusual privileges, 22, 26, 28, 30, 34; despised the privileges they enjoyed, 25–30, 34; refused the frequent calls of their Saviour, 34; would not, when Jesus would, 34; killed the prophets, 34; stoned those sent unto them, 34; shut out of the Kingdom, 28; though first in privilege, last in the Kingdom, 30. 3. How to Be Saved Requires earnest effort and conflict, 24; the door narrow, 24; many shall seek to enter and not be able, 24; to enter we must put forth effort before the door is shut, 25; merely hearing the teaching of Jesus not enough, 26; all who will not depart from iniquity now must depart from Jesus hereafter, 27; just come to Jesus and find safety, comfort, rest under His wings, 34.