Luke 13:23
And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them,
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The question "will those who are saved be few?" isn't just idle curiosity about numbers; it reflects a common Jewish mindset that salvation would be exclusive to their own people. Jesus bypasses this speculative debate entirely, immediately shifting the focus from how many will be saved to the personal imperative of how to be saved.
As Jesus speaks about the kingdom of God using parables, like the mustard seed and leaven, a questioner interrupts, wondering if only a small number will ultimately be saved. This question reflects a common Jewish anxiety of the time, fueled by exclusivity and speculation about who would enter God's favor. Jesus sidesteps the speculative number, instead urging the questioner and all who listen to focus on their own urgent need to strive for salvation.
Ever wonder about the 'big picture' of who makes it to heaven? This question has been asked for centuries. But Jesus redirects the focus from numbers to something far more personal.
The Wrong Question
The question, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" was a common speculation among some Jews. They often looked at their nation's history, like the small number of Israelites who entered the Promised Land after the exodus, and wondered about God's favor.
But Jesus saw this as a question of idle curiosity, a distraction from what truly mattered. Instead of answering directly about the number of people saved, he turned the question back on the asker, and by extension, on all of us.
The Real Question
Jesus’s implied message is clear: the most important thing isn't how many others will be saved, but whether you will be. The focus shifts from external observation to internal responsibility. He wants us to be concerned with our own relationship with God and our own path to salvation.
Jesus's answer isn't a simple 'yes' or 'no.' He paints a picture that requires intense effort and highlights the challenging nature of entering God's kingdom.
The Challenge of the Gate
Jesus uses the imagery of a "narrow gate" and tells people to "strive" to enter. This isn't about casually walking in; it’s about strenuous effort, like an athlete in a competition.
Why the Struggle?
Many people, including those within the religious community, were caught up in self-deception. They assumed their heritage or outward religious practices guaranteed salvation, without genuine heart change or commitment.
Jesus warns that many will seek to enter but won't be able to. This implies they will try too late, or with the wrong attitude, perhaps realizing the seriousness of their spiritual state only when it’s impossible to change course. Their efforts will be earnest but misdirected, or they will have previously ignored the call to strive.
Understand the original words
kyrios · Greek Noun
The title for Jesus as one who possesses sovereign authority, often used by disciples and those acknowledging His messianic identity.
sōzō · Greek Verb/Participle
Refers to deliverance from the penalty, power, and ultimately the presence of sin, resulting in eternal life with God.
The question about 'few being saved' wasn't just theological; it arose from anxieties about Israel's place in God's plan and the apparent scarcity of followers in Jesus' own ministry amidst widespread unfaithfulness. Jesus redirects the focus from a speculative number to personal commitment and urgent effort.
c. 200 BC - AD 100
Jewish Apocalyptic Speculation on Salvation
Writings from this period, like the Second Book of Esdras, reflect a widespread Jewish anxiety and speculation about the number of people who would be saved. Many believed that only a select few, primarily the righteous among Israel, would enter the future kingdom.
Early 1st Century AD— this verse
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus traversed towns and villages, teaching about the Kingdom of God and calling people to repentance and faith. His ministry, though powerful, was met with mixed reactions, and the number of his active followers seemed small in comparison to the general populace.
Mid-1st Century AD
Early Church Growth
Following Jesus' ascension, the Christian church began to grow, spreading the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. This expansion, however, was often met with opposition and persecution, and the number of believers remained a minority in a vast, pagan world.
This passage directly parallels Jesus' teaching on the 'narrow gate' and the 'wide gate,' emphasizing the difficult path to salvation and the many who choose the easier, broader path that leads to destruction.
Romans 9:27Isaiah's prophecy, quoted here, speaks of the remnant of Israel being saved, highlighting the biblical theme that salvation is often through a select few, not the majority, which aligns with the question posed to Jesus.
1 Peter 4:18This verse echoes Jesus' sentiment that if salvation is difficult for the righteous, what will become of the ungodly, reinforcing the idea that entering salvation is not a passive or common occurrence.
This apocryphal text reflects a common Jewish sentiment of Jesus' time, stating 'The Most High has made this world for many, but the world to come for few,' showing the cultural context and potential motivations behind the questioner's inquiry.
barnesLuke 13:23: "Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,"
Then said one - Who this was does not appear. It is probable that he was not one of the disciples, but one of the Jews, who came either to perplex him, or to involve him in a controversy with the Pharisees. Are there few that be saved? - It was the prevalent opinion among the Jews that few would enter heaven. As but two of all the hosts that came out of Egypt entered into the land of Canaan, so some…
calvinLuke 13:23-24: "Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,"
- And one saith to him, Lord, are there few who obtain salvation? And he said to them, 24. Strive to enter by the narrow gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter, and shall not be able.
Luke 13:23. And one saith to him Although Matthew relates this answer, as if it were immediately connected with other sentences taken out of our Lord's sermons, yet I rather think that the occasion of it…
The question "will those who are saved be few?" isn't just idle curiosity about numbers; it reflects a common Jewish mindset that salvation would be exclusive to their own people. Jesus bypasses this speculative debate entirely, immediately shifting the focus from how many will be saved to the personal imperative of how to be saved.
As Jesus speaks about the kingdom of God using parables, like the mustard seed and leaven, a questioner interrupts, wondering if only a small number will ultimately be saved. This question reflects a common Jewish anxiety of the time, fueled by exclusivity and speculation about who would enter God's favor. Jesus sidesteps the speculative number, instead urging the questioner and all who listen to focus on their own urgent need to strive for salvation.
As Jesus speaks about the kingdom of God using parables, like the mustard seed and leaven, a questioner interrupts, wondering if only a small number will ultimately be saved. This question reflects a common Jewish anxiety of the time, fueled by exclusivity and speculation about who would enter God's favor. Jesus sidesteps the speculative number, instead urging the questioner and all who listen to focus on their own urgent need to strive for salvation.
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"And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them," — The question "will those who are saved be few?" isn't just idle curiosity about numbers; it reflects a common Jewish mindset that salvation would be exclusive to their own people. Jesus bypasses this…
