"For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:14)

GingerBeer

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Sure it does. People were called from the hedges. It was a general invitation to the feast.
People were invited by the king's servants, perhaps some were in hedges, but the passage doesn't say "all were invited" only that the servants were sent out to invite people to the feast because the people who were invited first decided not to come.
 
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inquiring mind

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Thanks for the thoughtful reply.

You put our sincerity towards the Gospel call as important to being chosen.

Do you see this sincerity as Holy Spirit inspired?
Thank you, and good question. I think the Holy Spirit moves in all of us in every way, and continues to do so until we completely shut him out. In the end, I believe it is still our choice to make. Of course, God knows what that choice will be, but still gives us the opportunity. The 'why' of that I have thought about many times... no doubt it reflects His great love for us, despite the rejection.
 
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Maria Billingsley

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In the parable of the Wedding Banquet, Jesus concludes in Matthew 22:14:

"For many are called, but few are chosen."

In a previous thread we spoke about the general call of the Gospel. Is Jesus in the parable of the Wedding Banquet making a distinction between those who are “invited” to hear the Gospel but “He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:43) are chosen?

Thoughts. Jesus clearly makes a distinction between those who are called and those who are chosen.
IMO, this has to do with the Jewish people. He was speaking to them directly. Many were called, "the remnant" but few were chosen because they fell away. Namely, Judas. This has more to do with falling away.
Blessings
 
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dqhall

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In the parable of the Wedding Banquet, Jesus concludes in Matthew 22:14:

"For many are called, but few are chosen."

In a previous thread we spoke about the general call of the Gospel. Is Jesus in the parable of the Wedding Banquet making a distinction between those who are “invited” to hear the Gospel but “He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:43) are chosen?

Thoughts. Jesus clearly makes a distinction between those who are called and those who are chosen.
I remember a parable. A father asked his two sons to work in his vineyard. One said he was going to work and then did not do the work. The other son said he was not going to work. He changed his mind and did not go to work. Which son did the will of his father?

From Christ’s Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 7:13 “Enter in by the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter in by it. 14 How the gate is narrow and the way is restricted that leads to life! There are who find it.” (WEB)

Not only did Jesus want people to attend weddings. He wanted people to visit strangers, sick people and imprisoned people.
 
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Ken Rank

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In the parable of the Wedding Banquet, Jesus concludes in Matthew 22:14:

"For many are called, but few are chosen."

In a previous thread we spoke about the general call of the Gospel. Is Jesus in the parable of the Wedding Banquet making a distinction between those who are “invited” to hear the Gospel but “He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:43) are chosen?

Thoughts. Jesus clearly makes a distinction between those who are called and those who are chosen.
The number of the people will be as the sand of the sea... yet we know not all make it. Perhaps the difference between between called and being chosen is that while many are called, not many will stand up and accept the challenge, responsibility, and duty of what God has called us to do.
 
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GenemZ

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In the parable of the Wedding Banquet, Jesus concludes in Matthew 22:14:

"For many are called, but few are chosen."

In a previous thread we spoke about the general call of the Gospel. Is Jesus in the parable of the Wedding Banquet making a distinction between those who are “invited” to hear the Gospel but “He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:43) are chosen?

Thoughts. Jesus clearly makes a distinction between those who are called and those who are chosen.
Jesus was speaking to Jews. He spoke in reference to the end of the Jewish age that will take place during the Tribulation. It was not a message for the church.

It speaks of the time of massive evangelism that must take place during the Tribulation! The entire world will be evangelized at that time. Many will be called (by the 144,000.. angels.. and the Two Witnesses in Jerusalem that will be seen world wide via television! Many will witness to all this, but only a few will have been chosen to be beneficiaries of that evangelism!

Matthew 13

36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
 
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redleghunter

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Jesus was speaking to Jews. He spoke in reference to the end of the Jewish age that will take place during the Tribulation. It was not a message for the church.

It speaks of the time of massive evangelism that must take place during the Tribulation! The entire world will be evangelized at that time. Many will be called (by the 144,000.. angels.. and the Two Witnesses in Jerusalem that will be seen world wide via television! Many will witness to all this, but only a few will have been chosen to be beneficiaries of that evangelism!

Matthew 13

36 Then he left the crowd and went into the house. His disciples came to him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.”

37 He answered, “The one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, and the good seed stands for the people of the kingdom. The weeds are the people of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.

40 “As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
He was speaking of the Jews. How they would not come to Him (that generation) and how the invitation would be to all nations. A perfect companion to Romans 9-11.
 
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redleghunter

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The number of the people will be as the sand of the sea... yet we know not all make it. Perhaps the difference between between called and being chosen is that while many are called, not many will stand up and accept the challenge, responsibility, and duty of what God has called us to do.

John 6: NASB

35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36“But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.37“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.39“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.40“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
 
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inquiring mind

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Judging from a lot of responses, it doesn’t seem that God chooses at all. He only affirms our choice.
I believe we must first make the choice, but it must be sincere and in accordance with God’s sovereign plan of salvation, otherwise everyone would deem themselves qualified based on their own guidelines. But, it is God who will make that ‘final cut’ determination and choosing (Romans 8:33).
 
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GenemZ

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He was speaking of the Jews. How they would not come to Him (that generation) and how the invitation would be to all nations. A perfect companion to Romans 9-11.

In the context he spoke of weeds being pulled up and thrown into the fire. That is what will take place at the very end of the Tribulation when all unbelievers are removed from the earth so the Lord can start His Millennial reign with believers only. Later on during the 1000 years unbelievers will be born once more.
 
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DamianWarS

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In the parable of the Wedding Banquet, Jesus concludes in Matthew 22:14:

"For many are called, but few are chosen."

In a previous thread we spoke about the general call of the Gospel. Is Jesus in the parable of the Wedding Banquet making a distinction between those who are “invited” to hear the Gospel but “He who has ears, let him hear” (Matthew 13:43) are chosen?

Thoughts. Jesus clearly makes a distinction between those who are called and those who are chosen.
those "chosen" are selected by wearing the right wedding garments, but there doesn't seem to be any discrimination with the called, even the original are still called, they just aren't interested in attending.

the important things to follow would be:

1) show up at the wedding (don't turn down the invitation or kill the messenger)
2) wear the right clothes (otherwise you're kicked out)

so with this in mind perhaps a better question would be "how do we get the right clothes on?"
 
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I believe we must first make the choice, but it must be sincere and in accordance with God’s sovereign plan of salvation, otherwise everyone would deem themselves qualified based on their own guidelines. But, it is God who will make that ‘final cut’ determination and choosing (Romans 8:33).
You just affirmed my post.
 
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Ken Rank

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John 6: NASB

35Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36“But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe.37“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38“For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.39“This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.40“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
That's a great set of verses. What I wish you would have done is shared what you think it is saying, thus showing how you think it supports or refutes what I said. Many are CALLED... but few chosen, for what? Salvation... only a few make it, 144,000 maybe? Or is the number of Abraham's seed a number so vast nobody can count it? You know, if the amount of a tithe, 10%, were saved, that is still over 700 million people (that are alive... that doesn't count the dead in Christ). That isn't countable if we were to look out over all those people and yet 90% wouldn't have made it.
 
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You just affirmed my post.
Yes, but I think the scripture involves three choices, with adherence to God’s sovereign plan of salvation being the groundwork for all, and Him making the final decision in that regard:

(1) whether the invited want to respond to the invitation, or not

(2) whether they show up sincerely and according to God’s plan of salvation, or not

(3) God does the final determination and choosing, regarding your responses and whether they are according to His plan of salvation, or not
 
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A.ModerateOne

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I believe we must first make the choice, but it must be sincere and in accordance with God’s sovereign plan of salvation, otherwise everyone would deem themselves qualified based on their own guidelines. But, it is God who will make that ‘final cut’ determination and choosing (Romans 8:33).

A couple of verses come to mind, especially about what is "first":

"We love because he first loved us." (1John 4:19, NRSV)

The problem I see, is viewing God's foreknowledge as mere foreseeing what a man does, but does God "knowing" us just involve foresight of what we choose?

"On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?’ Then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.’" (Matt 7:22-23, NRSV) Compare Rom. 11:2 about the remnant.

The idea that God chooses based on our initiative to repent and believe ignores the fact that faith and repentance are God's gift to the elect, to the chosen:

Faith a gift: Phil. 1:29; Heb. 12:2; Acts 18:27; Gal. 5:22 & Rom. 12:23 compared to 2 Thess. 3:2
Repentance a gift: 2 Tim. 2:25; Acts 5:31; 11:18
 
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Yes, but I think the scripture involves three choices, with adherence to God’s sovereign plan of salvation being the groundwork for all, and Him making the final decision in that regard:

(1) whether the invited want to respond to the invitation, or not

(2) whether they show up sincerely and according to God’s plan of salvation, or not

(3) God does the final determination and choosing, regarding your responses and whether they are according to His plan of salvation, or not
If God does the final determination, then salvation is a reward for doing good.
 
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