SEV Biblia, Chapter 13:23
¶ Y le dijo uno: Seor, ¿son pocos los que se salvan? Y l les dijo:
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Luke 13:23
Verse 23. Are there few that be saved?] A question either of impertinence or curiosity, the answer to which can profit no man. The grand question is, Can I be saved? Yes. How? Strive earnestly to enter in through the strait gate-agwnizesqe, agonize-exert every power of body and soul-let your salvation be the grand business of your whole life.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 23. Then said one unto him , etc.] 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 f432 , 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. And by some things he had observed drop from him, and it may be the foregoing parables, which express the small beginnings of his kingdom, and seem to signify, that at first his Gospel should be received but by a few, though it should afterwards spread, he might collect, that his sense was, there would be but a few saved; or this might be a question of mere curiosity and speculation, as it seems to be, by Christ's treatment of it, who does not give a direct answer to it, but puts him and others upon showing a concern for their own salvation. And he said unto them ; not to the man only that put the question, but to the whole company; though the Persic and Ethiopic versions read, he said unto him, as follows.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 23-30 - Our Saviour came to guide men's consciences, not to gratify their curiosity. Ask not, How many shall be saved? But, Shall I be one of them? Not, What shall become of such and such? But, What shall I do and what will become of me? Strive to enter in at the strait gate. Thi is directed to each of us; it is, Strive ye. All that will be saved must enter in at the strait gate, must undergo a change of the whol man. Those that would enter in, must strive to enter. Here ar awakening considerations, to enforce this exhortation. Oh that we ma be all awakened by them! They answer the question, Are there few tha shall be saved? But let none despond either as to themselves or others for there are last who shall be first, and first who shall be last. I we reach heaven, we shall meet many there whom we little thought to meet, and miss many whom we expected to find.
Greek Textus Receptus
ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S δε 1161 CONJ τις 5100 X-NSM αυτω 846 P-DSM κυριε 2962 N-VSM ει 1487 COND ολιγοι 3641 A-NPM οι 3588 T-NPM σωζομενοι 4982 5746 V-PPP-NPM ο 3588 T-NSM δε 1161 CONJ ειπεν 2036 5627 V-2AAI-3S προς 4314 PREP αυτους 846 P-APM
Robertson's NT Word Studies
13:23 {Are they few that be saved?} (ei oligoi hoi swzomenoi;). Note use of ei as an interrogative which can be explained as ellipsis or as ei=e (Robertson, _Grammar_, p. 1024). this was an academic theological problem with the rabbis, the number of the elect.
