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Many will try and fail despite God's plan - which was being put into action when Jesus said this. Because, like the Jews of that time, many are trying to get into the kingdom THEIR way instead of His.

"then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.’"

As if to say, "We know you, Jesus!" Just like people today who say, "I know Jesus!"

"But He will say, ‘I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.’"

I guess when Jesus says to "make every effort to enter," He really means it.

>>I guess when Jesus says to “make every effort to enter,” He really means it.

When he said that, he had not completed his work on the cross yet. Salvation does not come from our works. It comes from HIS work. Our life cannot be clean enough, but he gives us HIS perfect life to present as our own.

In modern terms, he is telling those who are making every effort, “yeah, good luck with that!” In fact, he tells the rich, young ruler just that when the man says that he’s done everything he needs to do be saved, so Jesus tells him to do one more thing—and its that one thing that he CAN’T do. Jesus isn’t driving him away. He is making him know that the man can’t save himself because he just isn’t perfect enough.