Mat_22:14 . - An Earthly Situation Describes A Spiritual Truth. Are You Wearing Your Wed...
5. Matthew 22:14 . - An Earthly Situation Describes A Spiritual Truth. Are You Wearing Your Wedding Garment?
“For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:14 As we examine this portion of Scripture (Matthew 22:1-46) we find in Matthew 22:1-2 that this is a parable:
“And Jesus answered and spoke unto them again by parables, and said, The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son.” This parable is used of an earthly situation to illustrate a divine truth. You will notice in Matthew 22:4 that He sent His servants out with the Gospel and instructed them:
“…Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.” And then in Matthew 22:5 :
“But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise.”
We find out that they treated the servants badly. And then in Matthew 22:9 :
“Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.”
“As many as ye find.” This is everyone! Everyone you come in contact with.
“So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found.”
“All” is equivalent to “as many.” The word “many” is used in reference to “all” many times in the Bible. Notice, they were to invite both the bad and the good. God is not prejudiced. “The bad” were the ones visibly practicing sin and “the good” were the self-righteous. Both were lost, or both would not have been invited.
We continue and find that some came to the wedding; but, they had to wear wedding garments picturing the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Many came, the bad and the good. The good came in their own righteousness.
Suddenly, in Matthew 22:12-13, we see a guest who lacked the proper attire:
“And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. (12)
Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (13) So we find that the good came in their own righteousness, and they were rejected. “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us…” (Titus 3:5). That is what this parable illustrates. The verse that is used in saying that God called us to salvation is found in the conclusion of this parable. I'll quote the verse again, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” He is referring to the “many” who are also the “all” in Matthew 22:10. To gather all or as many as they found. “As many” and “all” are used interchangeably here for “everyone.” Then “Many are called (or all are called) but few are chosen.” The “many” here are as many as they could come in contact with, but everyone they came in contact with was “all” of them so they invited everyone.
You could read this with words used interchangeably, “For all are called, but few are chosen,” and only those chosen are chosen on their acceptance of the righteousness of Christ. The others were rejected because they chose to stand before God in their own self-righteousness. This has nothing to do with God choosing to save some and choosing to condemn some, or He would not have called all. This, again, would be mutilation of the Scriptures. Those chosen were chosen on the basis of how they came to the supper and presented themselves, out of their own free will! A good example of the terminology also used is found in Romans 5:1-21, where we find the contrast here between “all in Adam die” and “all in Christ are made alive.” The important thing is about using the word “many” along with “all” as used interchangeably here. “Many” does not mean “some to the exclusion of others.” “Many” is referring to “all” and we will see that here. Notice in Romans 5:15 :
“But not as the offense, so also is the free gift: For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”
You will find out here that “through the offense, many be dead.” Notice if you will, as we look down to Romans 5:18 the contrast continues:
“Therefore as by the offense of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation.” So “all” and “many” are used not contradictory to one another, but complimentary to one another. Just read the rest of the context and this becomes clear.
We find the interchangeability of these words carried on in this passage also concerning Christ. We find in Romans 5:15 that “…by one man, Jesus Christ (this gift in grace), hath abounded unto many.”
Notice again in Romans 5:18, “…even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” So here you have the words “many” and “all” used interchangeably and both referring to “entirety” or “everyone.”
You see, it would be distorting God's word to eliminate “all” and say that it means “many except those whom God has predestinated to Hell.” This would not be honest with the context of Scripture whatsoever. No, this does not mean in Matthew 22:14 that “Many are called, but few are chosen” to salvation. “All” are called, this is the word used interchangeably with “many.” “Few are chosen” as only those are chosen that come as a sinner with the righteousness of Christ and not their own righteousness.
“For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.