This passage can best understood by considering its setting. Some six months before his death, Jesus was in Jerusalem, he spoke of being the shepherd of God’s sheep but pointed out that the Jews in general were not among such sheep because they refused to listen. When he said that he was “one” with his Father, the Jews lifted up stones to stone him. He escaped to Perea beyond the Jordan.-John 10:1-40.
There a man asked: “Lord, are those who are being saved few?” (Luke 13:23) That was a fitting question for him to ask, since Jews of that time held that only a limited number would merit salvation. Given their attitude, it is not hard to imagine who they thought would constitute the few.
For some two years, Jesus had been among the Jews, teaching, performing miracles, and holding out the possibility of their becoming heirs of the heavenly Kingdom. They and their leaders, in particular, were proud of being descendants of Abraham and being entrusted with God’s Law. (Matthew 23:2; John 8:31-44) But they would not recognize and respond to the Fine Shepherd’s voice. There had been as if an open door before them, with membership in the Kingdom as the chief reward for going through it, but they refused. Only a relatively few, mainly from the lowly class, heard Jesus’ message of truth, responded, and stuck with him.—Luke 22:28-30; John 7:47-49.
On the day of Pentecost 33 C.E., it was the latter ones who were in line to be anointed with spirit. (Acts 2:1-38) They were not among the workers of unrighteousness mentioned by Jesus who would weep and gnash their teeth because of failing to take up the opportunity made available to them.-Luke 13:27, 28.
Consequently, in the first century the “many” were the Jews in general, and especially the religious leaders. These claimed to want God’s favor-but only according to their own standards and ways, not God’s. In contrast, the relatively “few” who responded out of a sincere interest in being part of the Kingdom became anointed members of the Christian congregation.
By urging us to exert ourselves vigorously, Jesus was not saying that either he or his Father puts obstacles in our way to hinder us. But we understand from Luke 13:24 that God’s requirements are such as to exclude unworthy ones.
There a man asked: “Lord, are those who are being saved few?” (Luke 13:23) That was a fitting question for him to ask, since Jews of that time held that only a limited number would merit salvation. Given their attitude, it is not hard to imagine who they thought would constitute the few.
For some two years, Jesus had been among the Jews, teaching, performing miracles, and holding out the possibility of their becoming heirs of the heavenly Kingdom. They and their leaders, in particular, were proud of being descendants of Abraham and being entrusted with God’s Law. (Matthew 23:2; John 8:31-44) But they would not recognize and respond to the Fine Shepherd’s voice. There had been as if an open door before them, with membership in the Kingdom as the chief reward for going through it, but they refused. Only a relatively few, mainly from the lowly class, heard Jesus’ message of truth, responded, and stuck with him.—Luke 22:28-30; John 7:47-49.
On the day of Pentecost 33 C.E., it was the latter ones who were in line to be anointed with spirit. (Acts 2:1-38) They were not among the workers of unrighteousness mentioned by Jesus who would weep and gnash their teeth because of failing to take up the opportunity made available to them.-Luke 13:27, 28.
Consequently, in the first century the “many” were the Jews in general, and especially the religious leaders. These claimed to want God’s favor-but only according to their own standards and ways, not God’s. In contrast, the relatively “few” who responded out of a sincere interest in being part of the Kingdom became anointed members of the Christian congregation.
By urging us to exert ourselves vigorously, Jesus was not saying that either he or his Father puts obstacles in our way to hinder us. But we understand from Luke 13:24 that God’s requirements are such as to exclude unworthy ones.
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