1.16.2013 LUKE 13.23-4

yesterday a.m. battling again against all kinds of inner turmoil and turn, in matthew henry's commentary, to look at what he has to say about 'agonizing' in verse 24...and am drawn into his comments on verses 23-30
..parts of which are shared below.

'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? v23
'if the saved be few? master, i have heard Thou shouldest say so; is it true?'

1. perhaps it was a captious (faultfinding) question.
he put it to Him, tempting Him, with a design to ensnare Him and lessen His reputation.
if He should say that many would be saved,
they would reproach Him as too loose and making salvation cheap'
if few, they would reproach Him as precise and strait laced.
the jewish doctors said that all israel should have a place in the world to come
and would He dare to contradict that?
those that have sucked in a corrupt notion
are ready to make it the standard by which to measure all men's judgments;
and in nothing do men more betray their ignorance, presumption and partiality,
than in judging of the salvation of others.

2. perhaps it was a curious question, a nice speculation,
which he had lately been disputing upon with his companions
and they all agreed to refer it to Christ.
note, many are more inquisitive respecting who shall be saved and who not,
than respecting what they shall do to be saved.
it is commonly asked, 'may such and such be saved?'
but it is well that we may be saved without knowing this.

3. perhaps it was an admiring question.
he had taken notice how strict the law of Christ was and how bad the world was,
and comparing these together, cries out, 'how few are there that will be saved!'
note, we have reason to wonder that of the many to whom the word of salvation is sent
there are so few to whom it is indeed a saving word.
4. perhaps it was an enquiring question, 'if there be few that be saved, what then?
what influence should this have upon me?'
note, it concerns us all seriously to improve the great truth
of the fewness of those that are saved.

II. Christ's answer to this question, which directs us what use to make of this truth.
our saviour did not give a direct answer to this enquiry,
for He came to guide men's consciences, not to gratify their curiosity.
ASK NOT, 'HOW MANY SHALL BE SAVED?
BUT, be they more or fewer, 'SHALL I BE ONE OF THEM?'
NOT,'WHAT SHALL BECOME OF SUCH AND SUCH
BUT, 'WHAT SHALL THIS MAN DO?'
but, 'WHAT SHALL I DO AND WHAT WILL BECOME OF ME?'
now in Christ's answer observe,

1. a quickening exhortation and direction
STRIVE TO ENTER IN AT THE STRAIT GATE.
this is directed not to him only that asked the question,
but to all, to us, it is in the plural number: strive ye. note

A. all that will be saved must enter in at the strait gate,
must undergo a change of the whole man, such as amounts to no less than being born again,
and must submit to a strict discipline.

B. those that would enter in at the strait gate must strive to enter.
it is a hard matter to get to heaven
and a point that will not be gained without a great deal of
care and
pains,
of difficulty
and diligence.
WE MUST STRIVE IN  EVERY DUTY OF RELIGION
STRIVE WITH OUR OWN HEARTS (agonidzesthe - be in an agony)
STRIVE AS THOSE THAT RUN FOR A PRIZE
(note: I corinthinans 9.25 - 'and everyone WHO COMPETES IN THE (olympic) GAMES
(in nearby athens) (same verb agonidzO)
exercises self control i all things.
they then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable'.)
EXCITE AND EXERT OURSELVES TO THE UTMOST.

2. divers awakening considerations, to enforce this exhortation. 
o that we may be all awakened and quickened by them!
they are such considerations as will serve to answer the question,
'are there few that shall be saved?'

A. think  how many take some  pains for salvation and yet perish because they do not take enough
and you will say that there are few that will be saved
and that it highly concerns us to strive.
'many will seek to enter in, and shall not be able'
they seek, but they do not strive.
note, the reason why many come short of grace and glory is because
they rest in a lazy seeking of that which will not be attained without a laborious striving.
they have a good mind to happiness
and a good opinion of holiness
and take good steps towards both.
but their convictions are weak;
they do