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Luke 13:25
ESV When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’
NIV Once the owner of the house gets up and closes the door, you will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Sir, open the door for us.’ "But he will answer, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
NASB Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin standing outside and knocking on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ and He then will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’
CSB once the homeowner gets up and shuts the door. Then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up for us!’ He will answer you, ‘I don’t know you or where you’re from.’
NLT When the master of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. You will stand outside knocking and pleading, ‘Lord, open the door for us!’ But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from.’
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:
NKJV When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open for us,’ and He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know you, where you are from,’

What does Luke 13:25 mean?

A man has asked if more people will be saved or unsaved. Jesus reframes the question to focus on the more important issue: the way of salvation is very narrow, like a narrow door. There are some standards on how to enter.

First, we must enter in time. Jesus has already explained that our life is finite. Even those who lead righteous lives can die by violence or tragedy without warning (Luke 13:1–5). But the open door also has a limited duration. Even if Jesus asks the Father for a little more time, eventually the door will close and no one else will be allowed through (Luke 13:6–9).

This verse seems to contradict Jesus' previous words about knocking on doors: "And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened" (Luke 11:9–10). However, Jesus promised this in the context of a God-follower asking for what God the Father wants for His children: His kingdom, life, forgiveness, obedience, and the tools to serve others (Luke 11:1–8).

Here, Jesus is talking about people who claimed to follow Him but didn't really know Him. They listened to His teaching but didn't follow what He said. They ate the physical food He offered but not the spiritual food they needed (John 6:27, 35). Despite what they claim, they are "workers of evil" (Luke 13:27). Most telling, they did not seek fellowship with Jesus in time. Their opportunity is lost, and so are they (Luke 13:26–27).

Most importantly, Jesus does not "know" where they come from. This doesn't mean that Jesus, God the Son, does not know all about their lives and origins. It means that He is from God (John 7:16, 29) and they are of their father the Devil (John 8:44). As Jesus says elsewhere, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world" (John 8:23). Since He does not fellowship with Satan, He cannot let them in.
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