Lord, are there just a few who are being saved? (Luke 13:23)

 Lord, are there just a few who are being saved? (Luke 13:23)

Biblical context is an interesting thing. A word should be understood in its paragraph, and a concept needs to be understood against the backdrop of the book of the Bible. A theme can find its context in the Bible as a whole. There can be geographical context; chronological context; or context of theme.

And so our verse, where the disciples ask, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” should be answered carefully. Certainly the opposition against Jesus seemed formidable, such that conversions would be difficult. Misunderstandings of Jesus did abound. And, when God had saved from judgment in the Old Testament, Peter would later write that only “a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through the water” (I,3:20). 

Earlier in the same chapter, Jesus speaks of the small mustard seed which later abounds, or the hidden leaven, which eventually leavens all the dough. In light of those references, “few-ness” should not be surprising, nor distressing.

Later in the same chapter, Jesus mentions “the narrow way,” also mentioned in Matthew 7’s later part of the Sermon on the Mount. Matthew says, “few there be who find it.” That seems a bit more discouraging.

But God has always started out with just a few. Think of Abraham, son-less for years. Moses later says, “It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples (Dt 7:7). Or God winnows down His people to a remnant: “When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in it,” Ps 105:12 (ESV) 

God says to Paul in unfriendly Corinth: “Do not be afraid any longer, but go on speaking and do not be silent; ¹⁰ for I am with you, and no man will attack you in order to harm you, for I have many people in this city.” Acts 18:9-10. He says to His disciples, “I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. Jn 10:16

We seem to be at a point in the West where the growth of the church is stunted. Oh, there are churches that grow, though I am not one to put much stock in market-driven growth, but am glad when the Gospel finds hungry hearts and draws crowds. My point is that we should not be discouraged. What we must be is diligent in sharing the Gospel, in sharing Christ.