Luke 13:23  “…are there few who are saved…”
Interesting question.  Wonder what brought it up?  Perhaps someone listening heard Jesus speak of the cost of taking up your cross and following Him.  Honest question.

24  “…many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able”
Not to say that everyone doesn’t get a chance for salvation, but that some will wait too long and miss their chance.  Then they will try to enter, but will not be able, as He says in following verses.

24  “Strive to enter through the narrow gate…”
I see entering through the narrow gate as something deliberate.  You can’t just follow the crowd and end up going through the narrow way.  The crowd flows through the broad way, no resistance, no effort.  I’ve always pictured a small, one person wide gate opening onto a footpath leading up a mountainside.  You have to want to go there.

26  “…We ate and drank in Your presence…”
Knowing about Jesus isn’t enough.  You have to know Him.  You have to accept Who He is and repent and ask Him to save you to create a relationship with Him.  This is what Jesus said would happen to those who say Lord, Lord, didn’t we do all these things in Your Name.  Went through the motions, but never surrendered to Him.

28  “…and yourselves thrust out”
How horrible to know you had every opportunity to know Jesus, but you rejected Him.  And now it’s too late.

30  “…there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last”
Some of those of the Gentiles who were last when it came to knowing salvation will be first in the Kingdom, for all can be saved.  And unfortunately, some of those Jews who were first in line to know who the Messiah was and who should have received Him will be last because they rejected Him.

33  “…it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem”
Interesting little occurrence.  Commentaries agree Jesus was saying go tell Herod what he says is of no consequence.  I’ll do what I need to do here then leave when it’s time.  Besides, no prophet is killed outside Jerusalem, so I’m not concerned with his threats.  I’m wondering if He was also alluding to His own crucifixion and resurrection.  Possible, but the phrase today, tomorrow, and the third day was a common way of saying in just a bit.  And saying He would be perfected could just be referencing His work there, not necessarily His completion of our salvation by rising from the grave.  Don’t want to read more into it than there is.  Just a curious passage.

34  “…How often I wanted to gather your children together…”
Lament of one who truly and deeply cares for those He sees.  And yet they chose not to receive Him.  I feel the same way about our country.  The fact that the world’s superpower isn’t mentioned in the scripture when the last days are discussed means it is either irrelevant in influence or has been destroyed.  I would wish that our country was reduced in influence during the last days because most of the inhabitants knew Jesus and were taken up when He returns for His family.  But I’m afraid it’s going to be that we destroyed ourselves with our sin, and God had no choice but to judge us with annihilation.  The more I see each day, the more I’m convinced that our time of mercy is over, and judgment is inevitable.  But as long as we’re here, there is still hope.  Perhaps He will still move if we repent and return to Him.

35  “…you shall not see Me…Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!”
Jesus was speaking to the nation.  The nation of Israel has rejected Him and won’t accept Him as a nation until He returns and they proclaim Him as Messiah, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD.  But that doesn’t rule out individuals.  Many Jews have come to know Him as the Messiah.  They will leave with the rest of the family when He comes to get us.  This point in time will be the fulfillment of His promise to Abraham that the nation will be redeemed.  I pray it’s not long in coming.

I hope you enjoy reading and studying His word.  May it accomplish what He desires.  Please feel free to comment or post questions.  Thanks for reading!

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.