In Matthew 22:14, Jesus concludes the parable of the wedding banquet with the statement, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” To understand who does the calling and choosing in this parable, we need to consider the context, the specific words Jesus uses, and the implications of the original Greek.
1. Who Does the Calling?
The King in the parable clearly represents God, who extends the initial invitation to the wedding banquet. The verb κεκλημένους (perfect passive participle) indicates that the guests were already invited long before the banquet was ready. This implies that God had extended His invitation to His chosen people (the Israelites) throughout history. The perfect tense emphasizes a completed action with ongoing relevance — they were invited in the past, and that invitation still stands.
2. Who Does the Choosing?
The phrase “few are chosen” does not imply that God is selectively choosing a few from among the invited. Instead, it reflects the response of the invitees themselves. The Greek phrase ὀλίγοι ἐκλεκτοί (“few are chosen”) consists of two adjectives functioning as nouns, emphasizing the number of those who actually responded properly to the invitation.
Thus, the “choosing” in this context refers to those who chose to attend the banquet with the proper heart and preparation. The parable emphasizes that being called or invited by God does not automatically grant entrance to the Kingdom; it requires a willing and appropriate response from those invited.
3. Theological Implication: The Book of Life and Human Responsibility
In the context of God’s plan of redemption, the term κεκλημένους can carry a deeper significance, referring to those whose names are already written in the Book of Life—that is, those whom God has foreknown and invited into His Kingdom. Just as a wedding guest list is prepared in advance and invitations go out accordingly, God’s call goes out to those He has already known and invited.
However, having one’s name on the 'guest list' is not enough. The invitation requires a genuine response. The parable illustrates that while all are invited, not all choose to respond appropriately. Those who are ultimately considered “chosen” are those who accept the invitation and come properly prepared, symbolized by wearing the appropriate wedding garment (i.e., repentance and righteousness).
This highlights the role of human responsibility. Jesus emphasizes that, although God’s invitation is extended broadly (“many are called”), only a few accept it as required. The parable shows that many refused to come, while others came improperly dressed, symbolizing a lack of true preparation or genuine repentance.
1. Who Does the Calling?
The King in the parable clearly represents God, who extends the initial invitation to the wedding banquet. The verb κεκλημένους (perfect passive participle) indicates that the guests were already invited long before the banquet was ready. This implies that God had extended His invitation to His chosen people (the Israelites) throughout history. The perfect tense emphasizes a completed action with ongoing relevance — they were invited in the past, and that invitation still stands.
2. Who Does the Choosing?
The phrase “few are chosen” does not imply that God is selectively choosing a few from among the invited. Instead, it reflects the response of the invitees themselves. The Greek phrase ὀλίγοι ἐκλεκτοί (“few are chosen”) consists of two adjectives functioning as nouns, emphasizing the number of those who actually responded properly to the invitation.
Thus, the “choosing” in this context refers to those who chose to attend the banquet with the proper heart and preparation. The parable emphasizes that being called or invited by God does not automatically grant entrance to the Kingdom; it requires a willing and appropriate response from those invited.
3. Theological Implication: The Book of Life and Human Responsibility
In the context of God’s plan of redemption, the term κεκλημένους can carry a deeper significance, referring to those whose names are already written in the Book of Life—that is, those whom God has foreknown and invited into His Kingdom. Just as a wedding guest list is prepared in advance and invitations go out accordingly, God’s call goes out to those He has already known and invited.
However, having one’s name on the 'guest list' is not enough. The invitation requires a genuine response. The parable illustrates that while all are invited, not all choose to respond appropriately. Those who are ultimately considered “chosen” are those who accept the invitation and come properly prepared, symbolized by wearing the appropriate wedding garment (i.e., repentance and righteousness).
This highlights the role of human responsibility. Jesus emphasizes that, although God’s invitation is extended broadly (“many are called”), only a few accept it as required. The parable shows that many refused to come, while others came improperly dressed, symbolizing a lack of true preparation or genuine repentance.
