Wednesday: Many Are Called, but Few Are Chosen
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 1st of January 2025
God not only loves people of His own free will, but He also invites them to love Him in return. That God grants them the ability to freely choose whether they will accept or reject His love is apparent in (among other places) Christ’s parable of the wedding banquet.
Read Matthew 22:1-14. What is the meaning of this parable?
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In Christ’s parable of the wedding banquet, a king arranges a marriage for his son and sends out his servants to “ ‘call those who were invited to the wedding,’ ” but “ ‘they were not willing to come’ ” (Matthew 22:2-3, NKJV). More than once the king sent out his servants to call them, but they ignored his call and, even worse, seized his servants and killed them (Matthew 22:4-6).
Later, after dealing with those who had murdered some of his servants, the king told his servants, “ ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding’ ” (Matthew 22:8-9, NKJV). After another episode of a man without a wedding garment being cast out, signifying the need to receive a wedding garment from the king to attend the wedding banquet, Jesus closes the parable with the cryptic but highly meaningful phrase, “ ‘Many are called, but few are chosen’ ” (Matthew 22:14, NKJV).
What does this mean? Those who are finally “chosen,” the “elect,” are those who have accepted the Lord’s invitation to the wedding. The term translated “call” and “invite” throughout the parable is the Greek term kaleo (to call, invite), and what determines who is finally “elect” (eklektos) is whether one has freely accepted the invitation.
In fact, God calls (that is, invites) everyone to the wedding feast. However, any one of us can refuse God’s love. Freedom is essential to love. God will never force His love on anyone. Sad to say, we can reject having a love relationship with God.
The “elect” are those who accept the invitation. For those who love God, God has prepared things more wonderful than anything that we could possibly imagine. Once again, it all comes down to the question of love and the freedom inherent in love.
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What about your life reveals that you have accepted the wedding invitation and have come appropriately clothed? |
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Welcome to 2025! It is a very special year. Take a look at this:
Only a nerd would think this information is exciting and want to tell you.
In the context of today's lesson we could ask the question: If we are among the chosen, are we keeping it a secret from the many? Or, are we excited about our relationship with Jesus and want to share with everyone by the way we live?
Happy New Year everyone!
Wow! Thanks Maurice. You are truly appreciated.
This is aligned with the title of today’s lesson- Many are called, few are chosen to be mathematically inclined like you. Thank God, that He gave us different talent and gifts for us to work together to fulfill His will. Happy New 2025
Wow!! Brother Maurice. My head is still spinning from those mathematical equations, LOL. But I understand your point!
Happy New Year everyone!! I pray all God's blessings on us all.
For those who think that someone has too much time on their hands it is useful to note that the generalised theorm on which the first two expressions are based were thought up by Nicomachus of Gerasa who lived ~60-120AD. Admittedly he lived at a time when there were no sports channels or reality TV, and no election campaigns for democratic governments. Working on maths problems in those days had top billing for entertainment.
Jesus’s exclamation/warning, “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14) deserves a careful examination. This was not an ordinary invitation, but the king invited his subjects to his son's wedding. People were invited to feast at the king’s table. Sumptuous cuisines were to flow freely accompanied by exotic wines. Just to be in the company of the king was a sight to behold. Even an opportunity to have a selfie with the king for relatives and friends to see was a golden privilege. I envision our King Charles (UK) inviting people to Buckingham Palace to feast on the occasion of one of his two sons’ wedding. Who will want to miss such a chance?
Lo and behold, none of the invited guests deemed it worth attending the marriage feast. The Bible says, “…they were not willing to come” (Matthew 22:3). Even worse still, they seized the servants and killed them. This statement “For many are called, but few are chosen” raises some sobering thoughts. Who are the “many” and who are the “few”? Does it mean only a few shall be saved? Here are a few plausible deductions from the statement:
1. The statement does not make any numeric reference as to how many shall be saved. However, it strongly indicates that not all will accept the gospel of salvation. Sadly, some will dishonour the invitation of free salvation.
2. Secondly, the statement strongly indicates that salvation requires making personal choices. Choices have consequences including eternal outcomes.
3.Thirdly, the statement strongly indicates that priorities need to be determined carefully. For instance, it was more important to attend his farm than to be in the company of the king. To have an opportunity to be at the king’s palace does not come every morning. However, the farm will definitely be there the following morning!
4. Fourthly, yes, salvation is free, but we must accept it. This demands personal commitment. The invitees could not commit their time to be at the king’s banquet. Some personal sacrifice is needed as a demonstration of our firm decision. The gate to eternal life is narrow and few dare to walk through it (Matthew 7:13-14).
5. Fifthly, God wants everyone (many) to be saved (John 3:16). Jesus gave us a commission to take the gospel of salvation to all nations (Matthew 28:19-20).
6. Sixthly, “few” is suggestive of the desires of this life being overwhelming and overpowering to many without the Helper. Jesus knew how perilous our Christian Walk would be without the Holy Spirit. Hence, He promised the Helper (Holy Spirit).
"So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away" (2 Peter 1:10 - NLT).
Thanks for sharing.
Amazing!
The invitation for the ultimate feast is there for all, and the dress code is simple, “Blessed are those who wash their robes(Rev 22:14)... in the blood of the Lamb!
Could it be all are called but few choose to respond? I do believe so. Some maybe willing to be made willing, but a fear to follow through with the knock on the door of their heart or respond to the pleadings of the Holy Spirit compeles them not chose. God does not give up neither should we.
Now I do believe we can find in the unresponders a fear. A fear to let go of current life style, a fear to turn to God because of peer pressure, many other fears. Nathan Brown in January 1 devotion using Luke 12:32, shortens the text by saying, be not afraid, than goes on to say: Christ "who did it, experienced it, felt it, but who also overcame it and transcended it. So when He commanded His disciples—as well as His followers almost 2,000 years later—to “not be afraid,” we ought to take notice. And when we find it echoed throughout the Gospels—in His story and His teaching and then throughout the Bible—it must grab our attention, challenge our assumptions, and shape our lives." Devotional book, Nathan Brown,"Do Not Be Afraid" reading from January 1.
Now in reading the full text of Luke 12:32, we see as pointed out in his devotion Christ was talking to His disciples now and then. I do believe the solution, of being not afraid can apply to those who are afraid to respond to a God Who Freely loves all. in spite of poor response. Once God's love is understood, if we choose we grow in Christ. I have chosen and many I know have also chosen. We have chosen, therefore, we are the chosen is the message I get out of Matthew 22:1-14. The rest of the chapter is depicting how the majority of the Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes were afraid, afraid of genuinely humbling themselves and have a change of heart. They chose not to. As C.S. Lewis said in his book, Reflections on the Psalms page 77, extremely dangerous almost a fatal mistake.
A blessed, productive,and Christ-centered New Year everyone. As I reflect on the parable of the wedding feast and how the inappropriately dressed guest was treated, I wrestled with the question: How exactly are we supposed to be dressed if we are to be acceptable in the sight of the King of Kings for that great Wedding Supper? The Holy Spirit has some answers: We must put on Christ (Romans 13:14a), put on love, compassion, humility, and other righteous garb (Colossians 3:17-17);and we should not forget the whole armour of God in that extended metaphor illustrated in Ephesians 6: 10-20. If we are so attired,we can be sure of a place of honour at that Banquet of all banquets. Lord, help us make ready to participate, in Jesus's Name. Amen.🙏🏾
Is it significant that the lesson says the word used in Matt 22:14 is “eklektos” and the Lexicon and Strong’s (that I have) say the word used is “eklektoi”?
I agree that the choice is made and attributed individually but could this also be a lesson of affect/effect of group think on individual to make incorrect choices?
By the time that the King comes in to view the guests, there are both "good and bad" there. But only one gets cast out of that reception hall: the one not wearing "The Wedding Garment." So it is not about how good we are or how bad we are that determines whether we get to stay in God's "New and Eternal Kingdom" but just simply if we "By Faith" accept Jesus and "His Righteousness" to "Cover Our Unrighteousness."
I might be misunderstanding what is meant by “Cover Our Unrighteousness”.
I would like to submit that Christ/God doesn’t ‘cover over’ unrighteousness that still exists but that His purpose is to eradicate sin/want of sin from our hearts and minds to become more like Christ’s character; and that, that is what is meant by putting on Christ’s robe of righteousness.
Matt 1:21 (NKJV, emphasis mine) “… for He will save His people FROM their sins.”
John 1:29 (BSB, emphasis mine) “… Look, the Lamb of God, who takes AWAY the sin of the world!”
Isaiah 53:5 (BSB, emp my) “… and by His stripes we are HEALED.”
1 John 3:5 (BSB, …) “But you know that Christ appeared to take AWAY sins, and in Him there is no sin.”
Zechariah 3 deals with the changing of Joshua, the High Priest's garment. Theologians state that the "angel of the Lord" is actually a theophany, where the Lord appears in angelic form prior to his incarnation. Notice that in Zech. 3:4, the order is given to remove Joshua's filthy garments. This is thought to mean a change in character, not necessarily clothing. The verse talks about causing Joshua's iniquity to pass from him prior to being clothed with a change of raiment (clothing, representative of character)
Yes, according to this passage it implies that the change of raiment (Robe of Christ's Righteousness) is placed after conversion and not before. True conversion doesn't make us sinless, but means that we will sin less, because we have a living relationship with our living God.
What does the man who came because he was invited, but got thrown out because he wasn't wearing the right clothes mean?
It sounds like the king chose not to give the man the clothes he needed
If that was the case, many others would be cast out as vs. 10 suggests that many poor people were invited. They would not have had wedding clothes. So the idea that the wedding clothes were offered to the man, but he didn't accept them makes more sense to me. I haven't done a lot of research about weddings in Jesus time, but I've heard it was common practice to provide wedding clothes.
Also, if the king represents God, it would go against His character to condemn someone for something he could not control.
What intrigued me about today's lesson is the man who responded to the wedding invitation and showed up. This was what the lord wanted. He wanted people to come to the wedding and was grieved when the people he initially invited did not show up. The lord went so far as to send out his army to take reprisal against the people who stood in the way of preventing other people from attending the wedding.
However, this is the conundrum, when a certain man responded to the invitation and came to the wedding, he was kicked out. What is happening here? What is the message in this for us?
If I accept Christ as my savior, is that enough? This parable is teaching us that we also need what Jesus was telling Nicodemus. We must be born again. This born again experience can only happen if we beg the Holy Spirit for it, as is explained in Eph 6:18. With the Holy Spirit dwelling within us as his temple, we will bear the fruits of the Spirit and will be happy to be led by the Spirit to live a life that brings honor and glory to God.
The point of the parable is that we need to put on Christ and His Righteousness to be allowed into heaven. Our best day is filthy rags. Our righteousness does not save us, nor can it. We need to wear Christ's Robe of Righteousness. It's not only our qualification for, but our fitness for heaven.
I like Maurice’s question however I have always wondered about the work of the servants.Am I incorrect in believing that if one is invited to a banquet at the palace the staff ( servants) would instruct the guests as to protocall /,dress .One would not attempt to attend if unable to meet the requirements. Could it be that the one without wedding garment had bypassed the servants?
As I understand it, the background to the parable is that the host provided the wedding garment. One guest refused the offered garment and chose to wear His own instead.
If we understand that the wedding garment represents the offer of Christ's own righteousness to every believer, the parable is highly significant.
A blessed happy new year to everyone,
We are invited to the party , who is not ready to wear the garment and dine with the king, who is not ready to spend time with the king i believe nobody would be willing to let this offer go! Its an invite thats open for us now and we can also invite others who are willing to attend for the king has prepared enough for everyone,
Tim, you are correct, we need Christ's righteousness, but we are incapable of putting it on by ourselves. It can only happen by the working of the Holy Spirit. This is explained in Rom 12:1,2. This is what Jesus was explaining to Nicodemus.
True! However we have to want it. As Jesus said in His sermon on the mount, "Blessed are they who hunger and thirsty for Righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Matthew 5:6
Absolutely. Please, let us pray for one another, that our burning desire would be for the infilling of the Holy Spirit, so that we would allow him to change us from carnal to spiritual in nature.
Thanks for your encouraging comments.
Hi everyone.happy new year..