Luke 13:23

KJV

¶ Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

KJV (with Strong's)

Then {G1161} said {G2036} one {G5100} unto {G4314} him {G846}, Lord {G2962}, are there few {G1487}{G3641} that be saved {G4982}? And {G1161} he said {G2036} unto them {G846},

Complete Jewish Bible

Someone asked him, “Are only a few people being saved?”

Berean Standard Bible

“Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered,

American Standard Version

And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? And he said unto them,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In an unnamed individual poses a pivotal question to Jesus, "Lord, are there few that be saved?" This inquiry, arising as Jesus teaches on His journey towards Jerusalem, encapsulates a fundamental human concern about the breadth of God's salvation and the conditions for entering His eternal Kingdom. The question itself, deeply rooted in the eschatological expectations and perhaps the numerical anxieties of the time, sets the stage for Jesus' profound redirection from speculative curiosity to the urgent, personal imperative of striving for salvation through the "narrow door."

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a crucial transition point within Luke's narrative, immediately preceding Jesus' famous teaching on the "narrow door" (or "strait gate" in some translations) in [Luke 13:24-30](/luke/13-24-30 "Luke 13:24-30 - The Narrow Door"). Prior to this exchange, Jesus has been issuing calls to repentance, warning against perishing ([Luke 13:1-5](/luke/13-1-5 "Luke 13:1-5 - Call to Repentance")), and illustrating God's patience through the parable of the barren fig tree ([Luke 13:6-9](/luke/13-6-9 "Luke 13:6-9 - Parable of the Barren Fig Tree")). The question about the number of the saved thus flows naturally from Jesus' preceding emphasis on the urgency of spiritual readiness and the consequences of unrepentance, prompting Him to clarify the nature of entry into the Kingdom rather than satisfying a mere numerical curiosity.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The question "are there few that be saved?" likely reflects contemporary Jewish eschatological discussions and anxieties. Many Jews of the time believed that salvation was primarily for Israel, and within Israel, perhaps only a righteous remnant would inherit the Messianic Kingdom. There was a prevalent expectation of a future age, the "Olam Haba" (the world to come), and a strong interest in who would be included. The concept of a "remnant" was deeply embedded in Old Testament prophecy ([Isaiah 10:20-22](/isaiah/10-20-22 "Isaiah 10:20-22 - The Remnant of Israel"), [Zephaniah 3:12-13](/zephaniah/3-12-13 "Zephaniah 3:12-13 - The Righteous Remnant")), suggesting that not all of Israel would be saved. This cultural backdrop explains the individual's concern about the *number* of those who would ultimately experience God's deliverance and reign with the Messiah.
* **Key Themes:** This verse introduces several profound themes that Jesus immediately addresses. Firstly, it highlights the **Nature of Salvation**, prompting Jesus to define salvation not merely as a national or ethnic inheritance but as a personal, active pursuit. Secondly, it underscores the **Tension Between Human Curiosity and Divine Imperative**. The question is a speculative one, focused on statistics, but Jesus' response ([Luke 13:24](/luke/13-24 "Luke 13:24 - Strive to Enter")) shifts the focus entirely to the individual's urgent responsibility to "strive" (ἀγωνίζεσθε, _agōnízesthe_) to enter the Kingdom. Finally, it sets the stage for the theme of **Exclusivity and Urgency in Entering the Kingdom**. While God's grace is vast, the path to salvation is presented as demanding and requiring deliberate effort, symbolized by the "narrow door" that many will seek to enter but will not be able ([Luke 13:24](/luke/13-24 "Luke 13:24 - The Narrow Door")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Lord (Greek, _kýrios'_):** This term, used by the anonymous questioner, signifies a respectful address, acknowledging Jesus' authority and mastery. It implies a recognition of His divine or authoritative status, fitting for someone to whom such a profound theological question would be posed. The questioner sees Jesus as someone capable of providing authoritative insight into the ultimate destiny of souls.
* **few (Greek, _olígos'_):** This word denotes a small quantity, number, or degree. Its use here reveals the inquirer's concern about the potential scarcity of those who will attain salvation. It suggests a prevailing belief or anxiety that salvation might be a privilege reserved for a select group, rather than a widespread experience. The question itself is framed around this quantitative assessment.
* **saved (Greek, _sṓzō'_):** This verb carries the core meaning of being delivered, preserved, or made whole. In this theological context, it refers to spiritual salvation – rescue from the power and penalty of sin, restoration to a right relationship with God, and the attainment of eternal life in His Kingdom. The question is fundamentally about who will experience this ultimate deliverance and inherit the age to come.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Then said one unto him,"**: This opening phrase introduces an anonymous individual who approaches Jesus. The anonymity suggests that the question is not unique to one person but represents a common, perhaps universal, human concern about salvation. It highlights that Jesus' teachings often prompted direct, sometimes challenging, inquiries from His audience.
* **"Lord, are there few that be saved?"**: This is the core of the question, addressed respectfully to Jesus as "Lord." It is a direct inquiry into the scope and number of those who will ultimately experience God's salvation. The use of "few" (Greek _olígos_) underscores the questioner's curiosity or concern about the exclusivity of salvation, possibly reflecting contemporary Jewish thought about a righteous remnant.
* **"And he said unto them,"**: This concluding phrase indicates that Jesus' response, which immediately follows in the subsequent verses, is not just for the individual who asked but for the entire audience present. It signals a shift from the question to Jesus' authoritative teaching, which will broaden the scope of the discussion from a mere numerical inquiry to a profound spiritual imperative.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 13:23 primarily employs **Dialogue** to advance the narrative and introduce a critical theological discussion. The anonymous questioner's direct inquiry to Jesus sets up the subsequent teaching. The question itself functions as a **Proleptic Question**, anticipating and prompting Jesus' detailed discourse on the nature of salvation and entry into the Kingdom. While a genuine question, it also serves a **Rhetorical** purpose in the broader narrative, allowing Jesus to redirect the focus from speculative numbers to personal responsibility and the demanding nature of discipleship. The verse also subtly uses **Juxtaposition**, contrasting the human tendency towards numerical curiosity with Jesus' immediate pivot to the imperative of personal striving, a theme fully developed in the verses that follow.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 13:23 introduces a profound theological tension between human curiosity about the "how many" and God's divine call to personal responsibility. The question about the number of the saved highlights a universal human preoccupation with destiny and the scope of God's grace. However, Jesus' subsequent response (beginning in [Luke 13:24](/luke/13-24 "Luke 13:24 - Strive to Enter the Narrow Door")) masterfully shifts the focus from a speculative, external inquiry to an internal, urgent, and personal imperative: to "strive to enter in at the strait gate." This redirection underscores that salvation is not a matter of intellectual calculation or mere affiliation, but of diligent effort, genuine commitment, and active pursuit of Christ. It reveals that while God's invitation is broad, the path to true discipleship and eternal life is demanding, requiring wholehearted dedication rather than passive expectation.

* [Matthew 7:13-14](/matthew/7-13-14 "Matthew 7:13-14 - The Narrow Gate and Broad Way")
* [Philippians 2:12](/philippians/2-12 "Philippians 2:12 - Working Out Your Salvation")
* [John 10:9](/john/10-9 "John 10:9 - Jesus, the Door")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 13:23 serves as a powerful mirror, reflecting our own tendencies to get caught up in speculative questions about the spiritual state of others or the precise demographics of the redeemed. The anonymous questioner's inquiry, "Lord, are there few that be saved?", while understandable, is immediately redirected by Jesus. This teaches us that our primary concern should not be to count or judge others, but to diligently examine our own hearts and ensure our personal commitment to Christ. The emphasis shifts from intellectual curiosity about abstract numbers to the concrete, personal call to "strive" for the Kingdom. This striving involves repentance, faith, obedience, and perseverance in following Jesus. It reminds us that salvation is a serious, personal endeavor, requiring active participation and a genuine transformation of life, not merely intellectual assent or passive hope. Our focus should always be on our own walk with God, ensuring we are indeed entering through the narrow door He provides.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Am I more concerned with the salvation of others, or with my own diligent pursuit of Christ?**
* **What does "striving to enter" the narrow door look like in my daily life?**
* **How might I be tempted to speculate about God's plan for others rather than focusing on my personal obedience?**

### FAQ
**Why does Jesus not directly answer the question about the number of the saved?**

Answer: Jesus does not provide a numerical answer because His purpose is not to satisfy human curiosity or to engage in speculative theology. Instead, His aim is to redirect the questioner and His audience from a passive, statistical inquiry to an active, personal imperative. By immediately shifting to the command to "strive to enter in at the strait gate" ([Luke 13:24](/luke/13-24 "Luke 13:24 - Strive to Enter")), Jesus emphasizes that the critical concern is not *how many* will be saved, but *how* one enters salvation and the personal effort required. He transforms a theoretical question into a practical challenge, urging individual responsibility and urgent action in response to God's call.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 13:23, with its question about the number of the saved, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment not in a statistical answer, but in Jesus' subsequent revelation of Himself as the sole means of salvation. While the questioner is concerned with "few," Jesus' response in the following verses (e.g., [Luke 13:24](/luke/13-24 "Luke 13:24 - The Narrow Door")) points to the "narrow door," which is ultimately Himself. He is the "door of the sheep" ([John 10:7](/john/10-7 "John 10:7 - Jesus, the Door")), the only way to the Father ([John 14:6](/john/14-6 "John 14:6 - Jesus, the Way, Truth, and Life")). Salvation is not achieved by human striving alone, but by striving *through* Christ, who perfectly fulfilled the Law and offered Himself as the atoning sacrifice for sin ([Hebrews 9:28](/hebrews/9-28 "Hebrews 9:28 - Christ's Sacrifice")). The "few" who are saved are those who, by God's grace, respond in faith to Jesus' invitation, entering through Him, the living way. Thus, the focus shifts from a quantitative concern to a qualitative reality: salvation is found exclusively in the person and work of Jesus Christ, the one who both defines and embodies the narrow path.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 7:14

Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Matthew 22:14

For many are called, but few [are] chosen.

Matthew 20:16

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Luke 12:13

¶ And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.

Luke 12:15

And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

John 21:21

Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what [shall] this man [do]?

John 21:22

Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what [is that] to thee? follow thou me.