For many are called, but few are chosen Matthew 22:14

[vassal]

"For many are called, but few are chosen" - Matthew 22:14

What on earth could this mean? My interpretation is: many hear the gospel (are called), but only the ones who believe it are chosen.

I agree but The verse is part of the Parable of the Wedding Feast;
The Parable of the Wedding Feast
Mat 22:1 Once again, Jesus spoke to them in parables:
Mat 22:2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son.
Mat 22:3 He sent his servants to call those he had invited to the banquet, but they refused to come.
Mat 22:4 Again, he sent other servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner. My oxen and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’
Mat 22:5 But they paid no attention and went away, one to his field, another to his business.
Mat 22:6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them, and killed them.
Mat 22:7 The king was enraged, and he sent his troops to destroy those murderers and burn their city.
Mat 22:8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited were not worthy.
Mat 22:9 Go therefore to the crossroads and invite to the banquet as many as you can find.’
Mat 22:10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered everyone they could find, both evil and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
Mat 22:11 But when the king came in to see the guests, he spotted a man who was not dressed in wedding clothes.
Mat 22:12 ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ But the man was speechless.
Mat 22:13 Then the king told the servants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

This parable also is also about preparation and personal response. It’s not just about hearing the call, but about responding appropriately. The man without the wedding garment is an important detail that implies that simply accepting the invitation is not enough; one must come with the right heart and be transformed by the grace of God, symbolized by the wedding clothes.

Blessings

 

[GWH]

The Bible should be viewed as its own interpreter, and reliance should not be placed on human techniques or methodologies for understanding it. Scripture cautions us against such practices. It is only through the Holy Spirit, who discerns and compares spiritual things with spiritual, that the Bible can be truly understood and its message revealed to us. Neither should we seek spiritual truth beyond what is already presented in/by scripture.

[1Co 2:12-14 KJV]
12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.

There is no way we can avoid interpreting the Bible or claim to have infallibility when doing so, because God's image or human reasoning/logic is what we have been given for discerning what is the truer/est understanding, (although we may hope the HS is guiding us), which is why Paul "reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.” (ACTS 17:17)

And again, Scripture is not the only way God is revealed (RM 1:20, 2:14-15); "all truth" (JN 16:13) includes truth not written in the Bible, such as 2+ 2 = 4, although Scripture is focused on truth about the relationship between God and humanity, as in 1CR 2:12-14.

 

[rogerg]

There is no way we can avoid interpreting the Bible or claim to have infallibility when doing so, because God's image or human reasoning/logic is what we have been given for discerning what is the truer/est understanding, (although we may hope the HS is guiding us), which is why Paul "reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.” (ACTS 17:17)

And again, Scripture is not the only way God is revealed (RM 1:20, 2:14-15); "all truth" (JN 16:13) includes truth not written in the Bible, such as 2+ 2 = 4, although Scripture is focused on truth about the relationship between God and humanity, as in 1CR 2:12-14.

You obviously didn't read or didn't understand the meaning of the verses I provided.
There is nothing more I can contribute at this point, beyond what I've already explained.

 

[GWH]

You obviously didn't read or didn't understand the meaning of the verses I provided.
There is nothing more I can contribute at this point, beyond what I've already explained.

True, but I bet you my understanding is essentially correct, and the question remains about whether someone who views God as hateful and unjust will make it past the pearly gates. (I hope you are not that someone, so I can collect :^)

 

[brightfame52]

The chosen are those who have been regenerated, set apart by the Spirit, to embrace Christ as He is set forth in the Gospel, it is for their conversion.2 Thess 2:13-14

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As you can see this call by the Gospel was preceded by being chosen to salvation, sanctification of the Spirit, and then belief of the truth, which is what the Gospel is,

Eph 1:13

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

 

[brightfame52]

Understanding Matt 22:14

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

When the gospel is proclaimed to any audience, that audience, from one point of view, is undifferentiated in this respect—all the members of the audience are alike in their depravity. There is no spiritual receptivity. But from another viewpoint, those who hear the word are indeed differentiated, for it is God who gives the hearing ear (Prov. 20:12). There are many called, that is, by the external preaching of the gospel, but few chosen. And the few chosen are, or shall be, effectually called. “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14).

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.webbmt.org/books-pdf/Regeneration_and_Conversion.pdf

 

[Wansvic]

The chosen are those who have been regenerated, set apart by the Spirit, to embrace Christ as He is set forth in the Gospel, it is for their conversion.2 Thess 2:13-14

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As you can see this call by the Gospel was preceded by being chosen to salvation, sanctification of the Spirit, and then belief of the truth, which is what the Gospel is,

Eph 1:13

13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Ephesians 1:13 points directly to the word of truth, the gospel of salvation first preached on the Day of Pentecost. Those who believe God and obey His message are chosen.

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine..." Acts 2:36-42




"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
For in him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" Col 2:8-14

 

[brightfame52]

Ephesians 1:13 points directly to the word of truth, the gospel of salvation first preached on the Day of Pentecost. Those who believe God and obey His message are chosen.

"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine..." Acts 2:36-42




"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
For in him (Jesus) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;" Col 2:8-14

This is mass confusion

 

[Believer08]

"For many are called, but few are chosen" - Matthew 22:14

What on earth could this mean? My interpretation is: many hear the gospel (are called), but only the ones who believe it are chosen.

Let us say a teacher said that if he were to call and invite everyone in his class to come to his house on a certain date to help him move, that would be an example of how “many are called”. And then on the date of the move whoever actually shows up at his house (let’s say maybe only a small percentage of the class actually shows up to help the teacher move) - they are the ones he chooses. And so “many are called, but few are chosen”.

Another example is a coach is planning a team, and he sends out a letter that all who wants to be on his team will come to the gymnasium in the town on a certain date. The coach chose the plan. All who meet the conditions of his plan are all those who he chose to be on his team. So, many are called through (or by means of) a letter that the coach chose. He chose how to call. But not all will accept and choose. The ones that choose to show up to the gymnasium by answering the call is the team he has chosen.

 

[Omegatime]

IMO the story begins with Israel and ends with the gentiles

 

[Webers.Home]

.
It appears to me that the calling is sometimes in the form of an invitation.
For example:

● Matt 11:28-30 . . Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am
gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my
yoke is easy and my burden is light.

And other times in the form of an opportunity.

● John 3:14-17 . . Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son
of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have
eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God
did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the
world through him.

For example when folks sat through a sermon by Billy Graham, I'd say they
were adequately called. But the thing is; not everyone who should've responded
did when Billy called them forward.

● Heb 3:8 . .Today, if you hear His voice, do not resist.

Numbers of folks are stuck on the wrong side of the netherworld because they
let God's benevolence slip thru their fingers when a simple RSVP like the one
below would've easily sufficed to prevent it.

"Lord, I've never yet lived up to your standards and I'm pretty sure I never
will. I would like to take advantage your son's death to protect myself from
retribution."
_

 

[brightfame52]

@Webers.Home

Matt 11:28-30 . . Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I
will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am
gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my
yoke is easy and my burden is light.

That imperative is addressed to a very specific group of people, not all without exception. Its specific to them who by the Spirit of God have been made to the heavy burden of sin and become weary, to such Jesus is made precious. This imperative is not to the self righteous and see no need. For example, read Lk 18 of the Publican and Pharisee, which one would Matt 11:28-30 describe most ?