Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,
Parallel translations
- WEB One said to him, “Lord, are they few who are saved?” He said to them,
- BSB “Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered,
- NKJV Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?” And He said to them,
- NASB And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them,
- NLT Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?” He replied,
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Someone asks whether only a few will be saved. Jesus redirects a speculative question toward personal responsibility.
Overview
The question reflects curiosity about the number of the saved, possibly assuming most Jews were secure. Rather than satisfy speculation, Jesus turns the inquirer to his own urgent need to enter. His answer shifts the focus from 'how many?' to 'are you striving to enter?'
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 10
- Matt 7:14Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
- Matt 22:14For many are called, but few are chosen.
- Matt 20:16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
- Luke 12:13–15And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
- John 21:21–22Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
- Matt 24:3–5And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world?
- Luke 21:7–8And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
- Acts 1:7–8And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
- Matt 19:25When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
- Mark 13:4–5Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when all these things shall be fulfilled?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 13:23 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.