FEW WILL BE SAVED AND MANY LOST

Luke 13:22-27 And He went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto Him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And He said unto them, strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 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: then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in Thy presence, and Thou hast taught in our streets. But He shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity. (Also See Following Vss. 28-30)

Previous to the lesson text we found Jesus, with His disciples, teaching in a wilderness area near the city of Ephraim, which lay approximately 16 miles northeast of Jerusalem. In the lesson text Jesus is found traveling through various towns teaching the multitudes as He was journeying toward Jerusalem. We are not told exactly who, but someone that was traveling with Him, possibly one of the townspeople, even a Pharisee or some other Jewish leader, asked Jesus this question: are there few that be saved? This is an age old question that is often raised today in classroom studies or used as a sermon topic from church pulpits throughout the world. The question has been the subject of much debate, and on whatever side one takes, the outcome of the argument is moot and void of any soul saving merit.

Jesus does not answer this specific question in the lesson text, but the answer is assured in His other teachings. In His "Sermon on the Mount" Jesus gives us assurance that wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat, but strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matt. 7:13:14). Jesus also closes out the parable of the laborers in the vineyard by saying that the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen (Matt. 20:16). And again, in another well-known parable, Jesus likens the preparation for the soul's salvation to that of a marriage feast, then assures us that many are called, but few are chosen (See Matt. 22:1-14).

With these teachings of Jesus before us, we know the answer to this person's question. Speaking in relative terms, the answer to this question is that many will be eternally lost in that Hadean sea of punishment and only a few souls will be saved and spend a blissful eternity with the Lord in heaven. From the human side of Jesus' life on earth, He realized the difficulty of living a life obedient to the will of God and placing one's soul in a position of receiving His grace-given entrance into heaven. Therefore, He does not give a direct answer to the question posed to Him. Instead, He warns the person posing this question, as well as all that hear or read His reply, to earnestly strive to be among the few saved.

Jesus tells us that one must strive to gain entrance into heaven. To "strive" means to valiantly contend, unceasingly fight and struggle, and exert your greatest effort, to overcome all oppressive obstacles in order to enter the haven of safety within the protective arms of God. Jesus assures us that it will be difficult and only a few will be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to enter in at the strait gate that opens into eternal salvation. The door into heaven is too narrow for mankind to take the sins of the world in with them. All men and women will desire to enter heaven but only a few will forego worldliness in order to gain entrance through its narrow door. On the final day of earthly existence, many will 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. Although there will be pleadings of many men and women to justify all of the offences they committed while living here on earth, God's answer will remain the same: I know you not whence ye are; depart from Me, all ye workers of iniquity. One can only imagine the weeping and gnashing of teeth by those that witness the saved of heaven but are unable to enter themselves. All mankind are called by God to enter His haven of rest through obedience to His will. As Jesus knew, on the day noted in the lesson text, that only a few men and women of all ages would be willing to sacrifice this present world for a future in heaven.