Luke 13:23 BSB — MannaFest

Luke 13:23

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

BSB

Parallel translations (2) ▾

ASV

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

KJV

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

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Commentary

3 voices

Cyril of Alexandria

Catena Aurea by Aquinas (444)

The narrow gate also represents the toils and sufferings of the saints. For as a victory in battle bears witness to the strength of the soldiers, so a courageous endurance of labours and temptations will make a man strong. Now our Lord does not seem to satisfy him who asked whether there are few that be saved, when He declares the way by which man may become righteous.

The record, by era

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

John Gill

1697–1771

Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)

Then said one unto him,.... Not one of his disciples, but one of the company, in some one of the cities or villages he passed through, or as he was in the road to Jerusalem: are there few that be saved? It is a received opinion among the Jews (z), that all Israel shall have a part in the world to come; and this man might put the question to know whether Christ was of this sentiment or not.

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Perhaps it was an admiring question. He had taken notice how strict the law of Christ was, and how bad the world was, and, comparing these together, cries out, "How few are there that will be saved!" Note, We have reason to wonder that of the many to whom the word of salvation is sent there are so few to whom it is indeed a saving word.

The Nineteenth Century3 voices

Albert Barnes

1798–1870

Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)

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 of them maintained that a proportionally small number would enter into heaven (Lightfoot).

J.C. Ryle

1816–1900

(1858)

Voices on this verse

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Original language & word study

14 tagged words

Original	Transliteration	Meaning	Word study
Εἶπεν	Eipen	Said	G2036 →
δέ	de	then	G1161 →
τις	tis	one	G5100 →
αὐτῷ·	autō	to Him;	G846 →
κύριε,	kurie	Lord,	G2962 →
εἰ	ei	if	G1487 →
ὀλίγοι	oligoi	[are] few	G3641 →
οἱ	hoi	those	G3588 →
σῳζόμενοι;	sōzomenoi	being saved?	G4982 →
ὁ	ho	<the>	G3588 →
δὲ	de	And	G1161 →
εἶπεν	eipen	He said	G2036 →
πρὸς	pros	to	G4314 →
αὐτούς·	autous	them;	G846 →

Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread: the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

The walk

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Follow this verse’s cross-references two steps out. Each card is a verse this one points to, and beneath it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several different paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it. Every stop shows its own words, and every stop is a page.

Through
Matthew 7:14
But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it.
leads to
- Matthew 22:14
  For many are called, but few are chosen.”
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- Luke 13:23–30
  “Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered,
- Matthew 16:24–25
  Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
- Romans 12:2
  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of…
Through
Matthew 22:14
For many are called, but few are chosen.”
leads to
- 2 Peter 1:10
  Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
- Luke 13:23–24
  “Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered,
- Revelation 17:14
  They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen…
- Matthew 7:13–14
  Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

Featured studies on this passage

The Light of the World — William Holman Hunt

Walks through Luke 13

The Door & the Gate

Open the study →

The Broad and the Narrow Way, the 1866 lithograph picturing the two roads of Matthew 7:13–14

Walks through Luke 13

The Narrow Gate

Open the study →

About Luke

The Return of the Prodigal Son — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Luke: the study guide →Read chapter 13 →The featured study →

Continue: Luke 13 →

01Commentary

The record, by era

Voices on this verse

02Original language & word study

03The walk

Where the connections lead

04Related verses

05Featured studies on this passage

06About Luke

The record, by era

Where the connections lead

Commentary

Original language & word study

The walk

Related verses

Featured studies on this passage

About Luke