“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Matthew 22:1-33 (NASB) from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, ² “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. ³ And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. ⁴ Again he sent out other slaves saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.”’ ⁵ But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business, ⁶ and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. ⁷ But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire. ⁸ Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. ⁹ Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.’ ¹⁰ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.

¹¹ “But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, ¹² and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ¹⁴ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

The parable of the wedding feast is one of those teachings of Jesus that many people choose to ignore today. Throughout the history of man God has sought after people, calling them to fellowship with Himself. Many have been unwilling to come to God, many have ignored His invitations, some have even rejected and abused God’s messengers, those who carry the invitation of God to everyone. Just as God sought out Adam and Eve in the garden, after they had sinned and hidden from Him,  God has continued to pursue and seek after man. God could have created us as beings without a free will, unable to make our own decisions and choices. He could have made us in a way that we would have no choice but obedience. God has all of creation which is obedient to Him, man was created with a free will. It is up to each individual how he or she will respond to the invitation of God.

Let’s look again at the text. Perhaps one of the most difficult parts of this parable to understand and accept is the last part, which says:     “But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, ¹² and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ¹⁴ For many are called, but few are chosen.”           To understand this we do need to understand a little bit about the custom and culture of the day. When a wealthy person held a wedding feast he did not only provide the food and the drinks, but he also provided the proper attire for each of his invited guests.   Jesus says, in the parable:   “Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.”   Both good and evil people were invited in, yet of all who were gathered there, one guest was singled out and removed because he didn’t have the proper clothes. John 3:16 says: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”  Jesus says:  "I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." (Luke 5:32)  

Jesus, through His sacrifice on the cross has provided the proper clothes for each one to come into the presence of God. Isaiah 64:6 says: For all of us have become like one who is unclean,
And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment.    Even the best of people, by human standards cannot, on the basis of their own works, meet God’s standard of righteousness. Those who try to qualify for heaven by their own works will be like that man without the proper clothes. On the other hand all who are in Christ, all who believe He is their Lord and Savior, their redeemer, regardless of their previous unrighteousness, will be given the proper clothes. For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.(Galatians 3:27)   

Hebrews 9:27 says: …it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment     Each one of us who lives, will die and stand before God. On our own none could measure up to God’s standard of righteousness. Without Christ even the greatest of saints would be unworthy of a place at God’s table and through Christ, in Christ, putting on the righteousness of Christ even the evil and vile become righteous before God.

Many people today try to quote isolated parts of Jesus words, snippets and sound bites, to form their own doctrine regarding Jesus love and acceptance of sinners. It is true that Jesus loves sinners, but it could not be farther from the truth that He would tolerate or accept sin. Jesus says:  “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6) While the world may say that it is intolerant and arrogant to believe that Jesus is the only way to God, they are His words not mine and the fate of the man in the parable of the wedding feast reaffirms Jesus words. It is one thing for those who reject God and Jesus entirely to not concern themselves with Jesus words, they like those in the parable have the choice to reject God’s invitation. But, for those who want to come to God, on their own terms, manipulating the word of God and the grace of God to suit their own choices, it is important to know the whole truth of God’s word, not merely to use snippets and sound bites found on social media.   

Ephesians 2:8-9 says:  For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; ⁹ not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.   While it is true that none of us can enter into the presence of God, either now or in eternity, by our own works, it is only by God’s grace. God’s grace is not a license to continue in sin. Romans 6:1-2 says: What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? ² May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?    Jesus message to the world was/is:  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Matthew 3:2)    Jesus message to individual sinners who He forgives was/is: "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more." (John 8:11)

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” While this may seem harsh and unfair to many, the truth is that it is not God’s choice which leaves anyone outside. 2 Peter 3:9 says:  The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.     God’s choice was/is revealed in John 3:16-18:  “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. ¹⁸ He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”     The invitation is to all, the choice is for each individual,  it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment;      judgment based on our own works and righteousness or judgment in Christ.

Heavenly Father thank You that from the beginning You have sought after sinners to restore them to Yourself. Thank You Jesus for Your sacrifice, that through the cross we are redeemed, reconciled and restored, You did it all and provide all that is needed. Thank You Holy Spirit for convicting me of my sin, making me aware of my need for a Savior, Jesus Christ and for being my guide to help me to walk in the fullness of the redemption and restoration, by grace to walk in Christ, no longer in sin. In Jesus name, the name above all names, the only name by which men can be saved, I pray.   Amen.