Luke 13:23 Meaning and Explanation
“Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Someone asks whether only a few will be saved; Jesus turns His answer to them all.
What Does Luke 13:23 Mean?
A question rises from the road: Lord, are there few that be saved? It is the speculative question of every age — curiosity about the numbers and statistics of the world to come. Luke notes that Jesus said unto them, plural: His answer is aimed at everyone listening.
Jesus declines the census and gives a command instead (verse 24). He turns are there few into will you enter — from spectators counting seats to travelers facing a door. The Lord treats salvation as never merely theoretical: what matters is not how many will be saved but whether the asker will turn and come. Curiosity about the saved is answered by a call to be among them.
Luke 13:23 in the Original Language
sozo (σῴζω), 'saved' -- rescued, delivered, made whole.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 13:23
What does Luke 13:23 mean?
Someone asks whether only a few will be saved; Jesus turns His answer to them all.