Luke 13:23 kjv
Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
Luke 13:23 nkjv
Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them,
Luke 13:23 niv
Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them,
Luke 13:23 esv
And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them,
Luke 13:23 nlt
Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" He replied,
Luke 13 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Luke 13:24 | Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. | Jesus' immediate response: call to striving for salvation. |
| Matt 7:13-14 | Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. | Parallel teaching on the narrow gate and fewness of those finding life. |
| John 10:9 | I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved... | Jesus is the exclusive way of salvation. |
| John 14:6 | Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. | Jesus as the only path to the Father and salvation. |
| Acts 2:40 | And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. | Apostolic call to personal salvation. |
| Acts 2:47 | Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. | Describes early believers being added to the saved community. |
| Rom 9:27-28 | Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved: For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth. | Old Testament concept of a faithful remnant (Isaiah 10:22-23) |
| Rom 11:5 | Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. | Salvation is always for a remnant by grace. |
| 1 Pet 4:18 | And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? | Emphasizes the difficulty even for the righteous. |
| Phil 2:12 | Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. | Active participation and reverence required for salvation. |
| Prov 16:25 | There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. | The deceptive nature of broad ways to destruction. |
| Jer 2:28-29 | But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah. Why will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD. | Illustrates the futility of false hopes for salvation. |
| 2 Thess 2:10 | And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. | Perishing due to rejection of truth necessary for salvation. |
| Gen 6:8 | But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. | Example of one found righteous and saved in a corrupt world. |
| Isa 1:9 | Except the LORD of hosts had left unto us a very small remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. | Echoes the remnant theme from Isaiah. |
| Joel 2:32 | And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered: for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the LORD hath said, and in the remnant whom the LORD shall call. | Deliverance for those who call on the Lord and the remnant. |
| Zech 13:8-9 | And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined... | Prophecy of only a remnant passing through judgment. |
| Matt 22:14 | For many are called, but few are chosen. | Supports the idea that only a select few are truly God's elect. |
| Luke 13:25 | 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: | Consequences of late striving and exclusion from salvation. |
| Luke 13:28-30 | There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth...and ye yourselves thrust out. And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God... | Final judgment, exclusion for some, inclusion of others from afar. |
| Acts 4:12 | Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. | Confirms the singular pathway to salvation through Jesus. |
| Ezek 14:14 | Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. | Personal righteousness delivers only oneself, emphasizing individual responsibility. |
Luke 13 verses
Luke 13 23 Meaning
This verse presents a direct question posed to Jesus by an unnamed individual concerning the number of people who will attain eternal salvation. The question "Lord, are there few that be saved?" reflects a deep concern, perhaps born from common theological discussions or a desire to understand the exclusivity or inclusivity of God's redemptive plan. Jesus, rather than giving a direct numerical answer, redirects the focus from the quantity of the saved to the quality of the effort required for individual salvation, shifting the emphasis from curiosity about others to personal responsibility.
Luke 13 23 Context
Luke chapter 13 immediately prior to this verse describes Jesus journeying through various cities and villages, teaching as He went (Luke 13:22). His preceding discourse included a call to repentance, emphasizing that all who do not repent will perish (Luke 13:1-5), and the parable of the barren fig tree, highlighting God's patient expectation of fruitfulness (Luke 13:6-9). The question in verse 23 arises within this atmosphere of spiritual teaching and urgent calls to respond to God's kingdom. Following this question, Jesus provides His renowned teaching on the narrow door (Luke 13:24-30), which directly addresses the implication of the question, redirecting the questioner's focus from a hypothetical number to the reality of the individual struggle for salvation and the eschatological judgment. Historically and culturally, discussions about who would be included in the coming Messianic Age were common among Jews. Many held a view of automatic salvation for all Jews, by birthright, or believed the chosen people were inherently assured a place. The questioner's query likely stemmed from this context, perhaps concerned about popular expectations versus the perceived stringency of Jesus' teachings.
Luke 13 23 Word analysis
- Then (εἶπεν - eipes): While transliterated often as 'said,' 'εἶπεν' indicates a transition in the narrative, following Jesus' recent teachings and travels. It smoothly introduces a new interaction.
- said (εἶπεν - eipes): Simple past tense, indicating a completed action. The anonymous individual initiates the dialogue.
- one (τις - tis): An indefinite pronoun, meaning "someone" or "a certain one." The individual is not named, which can imply that this question represented a common concern or a typical inquiry from among the crowd, making it universal rather than specific.
- unto him (αὐτὸν - auton): Refers directly to Jesus.
- Lord (Κύριε - Kyrie): An address of respect or master, commonly used by people to address Jesus. At this point, it does not necessarily convey full recognition of His divine Sonship but acknowledges His authority and teaching role.
- are there (εἰ - ei): Here, 'εἰ' introduces a direct question where an 'if' clause in English might not be explicitly translated but implies the structure of a question: "if (it is the case that) few..." It highlights a point of inquiry or contemplation.
- few (ὀλίγοι - oligoi): Meaning "small in number," "few," "scarcely any." This word directly conveys the numerical concern of the questioner. It stands in contrast to "many" or "all," underscoring the potential exclusivity of salvation.
- that be saved (οἱ σῳζόμενοι - hoi sōzomenoi): This is a present passive participle.
- οἱ (hoi): The definite article, "the ones" or "those who."
- σῳζόμενοι (sōzomenoi): Derived from the verb σῴζω (sōzō), which means "to save, preserve, rescue, make safe." The passive voice "being saved" suggests that salvation is an act initiated by God, not by human effort alone, but humans are the recipients. The present tense indicates either an ongoing process of salvation or a continuous state of being saved, implying those who are actively in the process of entering into or already possessing eternal life in God's Kingdom. It signifies entrance into the eschatological kingdom of God and eternal deliverance from judgment.
Words-Group Analysis
- "Lord, are there few that be saved?" (Κύριε, εἰ ὀλίγοι οἱ σῳζόμενοι;): This entire phrase encapsulates an eschatological anxiety prevalent in the Jewish society of Jesus' time. It represents a profound curiosity about the destiny of humanity, specifically whether God's saving grace would be extended broadly or reserved for a select number. The question is a genuine inquiry into the parameters of eternal life and membership in the coming Kingdom. It seeks a definitive answer regarding the quantity of the saved. Jesus' answer (not in this verse) redirects the focus from speculative statistics to the urgent and personal need for diligent striving. This polemicizes against any idea of automatic or universal salvation without personal transformation and commitment.
Luke 13 23 Bonus section
The anonymity of the questioner (τις - tis, "someone") in Luke 13:23 serves to universalize the inquiry, suggesting that this was a common or representative question reflecting widespread theological speculation during Jesus' ministry. Jesus consistently refused to engage in purely theoretical or statistical theological debates, especially concerning the number of the elect. His pattern was always to pivot such questions toward ethical, personal, and urgent calls to action. By redirecting the discussion from the number to the effort required ("Strive to enter..."), Jesus implicitly critiques the popular tendency to concern oneself with others' salvation or a hypothetical count, rather than focusing on one's own urgent need to repent and diligently pursue the way of life He taught. This question and Jesus' response serve as a critical commentary on superficial curiosity versus deep, transformative faith.
Luke 13 23 Commentary
Luke 13:23 marks a pivotal moment where a universal human concern about destiny intersects with Jesus' practical teaching. The question is about numbers – whether salvation is broad or narrow, encompassing many or few. This curiosity likely stemmed from various societal and theological discussions of the time, where ideas of a collective destiny for Israel mingled with the concept of a faithful remnant. However, Jesus deliberately avoids answering the "how many" and instead shifts the focus to the "what must you do" and "what kind of effort is required." He uses the question as an opportunity to move from passive speculation to active, personal responsibility. The anonymous questioner is a proxy for anyone pondering their ultimate fate, urging all listeners to evaluate their own spiritual standing and the effort they are exerting towards entering God's Kingdom. It serves as a stark warning against complacency, suggesting that merely having an interest or association with Jesus is insufficient for eternal salvation; fervent striving is necessary.