Charles Spurgeon Commentary Luke 13:23

"And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? And he said unto them," — Luke 13:23 (ASV)

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

What business is that of ours? Our business is far more practical, to be saved ourselves, and to endeavor to be the means of saving others. Jesus did not answer the question; but he did what was better.

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

That is a question that many have asked, and some have vainly tried to answer. What did Jesus reply?

And he said to them, Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Make a push for it; agonize for it; for many will seek – not strive, but merely seek. Or, to put another meaning into it, strive now to enter in at the strait gate, for many will be unable, when it is too late; and that, doubtless, is the sense of the passage.

24.

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.

For your own part, take it for granted that there will be so few that ever will enter at all that you will have to push for it to get through the gate: Strive to enter in at the narrow gate. If you are not narrow in your own mind — and it is a pity that you should be — yet still recollect that the gate into heaven is narrow, and make up your mind that there is no getting through it except with many a push and many a squeeze.