Sometimes we try to make it as easy as possible for people to enter the kingdom of heaven.

I looked through the gospels for every example of how Jesus invited people, or how he responded to people who wanted to follow him. It’s a little different.

He confronted them with hard truth, expected them to demonstrate faith, or required them to sacrifice something.

Here’s what I found by chapter:

Matthew

3. Bear fruit in keeping with repentance… the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire

4. Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand… they left the boat and their father and followed him

8. “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and leave the dead”

9. Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him

10. if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave

11. they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes… my yoke is easy, and my burden is light

12. at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah

13. he goes and sells all that he has… on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had

19. sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow…

19. easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God

Mark

1. The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel

1. “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed

2. sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

5. begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home“

10. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it…

10 .sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me…

10. How difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!…

10. “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him

Luke

3. Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruits in keeping with repentance

5. Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

7. And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

9. If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me

9. Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

13. No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish

13. Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able

14. For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet…

14. any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple

17. And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

18. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it…

18. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow

19. “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.”

John

1. his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God… disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus…

1. The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”

4. Many Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony

10. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture.

11. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?

12. “we wish to see Jesus.”… Jesus answered them… unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies