Luke 13:22–30

Verse 24. Shall seek, and so forth Shall desire to be saved; but for want of taking sufficient pains, and not being thoroughly in earnest, shall not attain to it. Challoner.—Our Lord answers here in the affirmative: that is that the number of those who are saved, is very small, for a few only can enter by the narrow gate. Therefore does he say, according to Saint Matthew, (Calmet. 7) Narrow is the way that leadeth to life, and few there are that enter therein. This does not contradict what is said in the 8th chapter of Saint Matthew: That many shall come from the east, and sit down in the kingdom of God; for many indeed shall join the blessed company of the angels, but when considered with the number of the slain, they will appear but few. Saint Augustine ser. xxxii. de Verb. Dei.

Verse 25. When the Almighty casts any off, he is said not to know them: in the same manner as a lover of truth may be said not to know how to tell a falsehood, being withheld powerfully from it by his love of truth. Saint Gregory mor. chapter 8.

Verse 26. These words are addressed particularly to the Jews, because Christ was born of them according to the flesh, eat and drank with them, and taught publicly in their streets; but they apply to us Christians also, for we eat the body of Christ, and drink his blood, when each day we approach the mystical table, and we hear him teaching us in the streets of our souls. Theophylactus.—Many very fervent at the beginning afterwards grow lukewarm; and many, though at first frozen, have suddenly glowed with virtue; many, who in this world were contemned, have received glory in the next; while others, in honour amongst men, have passed to eternal torments. Ven. Bede.