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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Luke 13:23-30

We have here, I. A question put to our Lord Jesus. Who it was that put it we are not told, whether a friend or a foe; for he both gave a great liberty of questioning him and returned answers to the thoughts and intents of the heart. The question was, Are there few that are saved? Luke 13:23: ei oligoi hoi sozomenoi??If the saved be few? Master, I have heard thou shouldest say so; is it true?? 1. Perhaps it was a captious question. He put it to him, tempting him, with a design to ensnare him... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Luke 13:22-30

13:22-30 Jesus continued to go through towns and villages, teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. "Lord," someone said to him, "are those who are to be saved few in number?" He said to them, "Keep on striving to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to enter in and will not be able to. Once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and when you begin to stand outside and knock, saying, 'Lord, open to us,' he will answer you, 'I do not know where you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Luke 13:30

And behold, there are last which shall be first ,.... The Gentiles, the most mean and abject, afar from God, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, called last of all; these shall be first, and sit down among patriarchs and prophets, men of the first rank here on earth, in the kingdom of heaven, and enjoy the same glory and happiness with them: and there are first which shall be last : the Jews, who were first the visible professing people of God, to whom the oracles of God, and outward... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 13:30

There are last which shall be first - See on Matthew 19:30 ; (note). read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Luke 13:30

Verse 30 30.And, lo, they are last who shall be first The same words, as we shall elsewhere see, were frequently employed by Christ, but in a different sense, (Matthew 19:30; Mark 10:31.) All that he intended here was, to throw down the vain confidence of the Jews, who, having been chosen by God in preference to all the rest of the world, trusted to this distinction, and imagined that God was in a manner bound to them. For this reason, Christ threatens that their condition will soon be changed;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 13:22-30

The question and the answer. "He went through the cities and villages." The circuits into which the ministry of Jesus was divided are most interesting. "He went about doing good." One feature is suggested by the evangelist's sentence. The village is not overlooked. If the desire had been merely to gain influence, he would have limited the teaching to the city. "Win the great centres of the populations; thus you will establish your reputation; thence the light will radiate to the obscurer... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 13:22-35

Christ's farewell words to the theocracy. As Jesus was journeying steadily towards Jerusalem, the people saw that a crisis was at hand. Hence their anxiety to know how many would be saved in the new kingdom. They consequently inquire if the number of the saved shall be few. To this speculation the Lord returns a very significant answer; he tells them that many shall strive to enter in on false grounds, and that they should strive to enter in on true ones. I. THOSE WHO SPECULATE ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 13:23-30

Jesus replies to the question of " Are there few that be saved ?" read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 13:30

And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. This expression, which apparently was more than once used by the Lord, in this place clearly has an historical reference, and sadly predicts the rejection of Israel, not only in this present world. "There above (on earth) How many hold themselves for mighty kings, Who here like swine shall wallow in the mire, Leaving behind them horrible dispraise!" (Dante, 'Inferno.') read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Luke 13:30

First and last. There are many beside those to whom these words were first applied by Jesus Christ to whom they are applicable enough. They were originally intended to denote the positions of— I. THE JEW AND THE GENTILE . The Jew, who prided himself on being the first favourite of Heaven, was to become the very last in God's esteem; he was to bear the penalty due to the guilty race that "knew not the day of its visitation," but imbrued its hands in the blood of its own... read more

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