Why are only a few chosen according to Matthew 22:14? Canonical Context Matthew 22:14 comes at the close of the Parable of the Wedding Banquet (Matthew 22:1-14). In the story a king invites guests to his son’s wedding. Those first invited refuse and mistreat the messengers. The king then opens the invitation to anyone found on the roads, “both evil and good” (v. 10). When the hall is filled, one man is discovered without a wedding garment and is expelled. Jesus ends with the maxim: “For many are called, but few are chosen” (v. 14). Old Testament Grounding for Divine Election • Deuteronomy 7:6-8 – Israel chosen out of all nations strictly by Yahweh’s love. • Isaiah 65:12 – “I called, but you did not answer.” • These precedents establish that divine call and divine choice can diverge, foreshadowing Jesus’ maxim. Theological Synthesis 1. Universal Call The gospel invitation is genuinely extended to “all creation” (Mark 16:15). The servants in the parable are told to “invite to the banquet everyone you find” (Matthew 22:9). This reflects God’s desire that “all people be saved” (1 Timothy 2:4). 2. Human Rejection The first invitees “paid no attention” (v. 5). Resistance stems from humanity’s fallen nature (Romans 3:10-12). Moral inability, not lack of evidence, prevents acceptance (John 5:40). 3. Effectual Grace Those ultimately seated possess both the invitation and the king-provided garment, symbolizing Christ’s imputed righteousness (Isaiah 61:10; Revelation 19:8). This accords with passages describing faith as a gift (Ephesians 2:8-9) and salvation as orchestrated beforehand (Ephesians 1:4-5). 4. Evidence of Election The improperly attired man illustrates that profession without transformation is insufficient (Titus 1:16). Fruitfulness and perseverance authenticate election (2 Peter 1:10). “Few” in Perspective “Few” is relative to the vast scope of the call, not an absolute numerical ceiling. Revelation 7:9 depicts “a great multitude that no one could count” of the redeemed. Yet compared with “many” who are merely invited, the elect remain “few.” Harmony of Sovereignty and Responsibility Scripture upholds two concurrent truths: • Divine Sovereignty – God chooses (John 6:37,44). • Human Responsibility – “Repent and believe” (Mark 1:15). The paradox is not contradiction but mystery within the divine intellect (Romans 11:33-36). Historical Voices • Chrysostom saw the wedding garment as “a life of virtue wrought by grace.” • Augustine emphasized prevenient grace: “Those who are chosen are those whom grace makes willing.” • The Reformers echoed the same dual emphasis—Calvin: “The call is offered to all, the Spirit opens the hearts of the elect.” Pastoral Implications • Proclaim broadly: evangelism must mirror the servants’ indiscriminate invitation. • Examine personally: “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5). • Rest securely: assurance flows from God’s choosing, not human performance (John 10:28-29). Concluding Summary Many hear the gospel call; only those clothed in the righteousness supplied by the King are accepted. Divine election does not negate outreach; it guarantees its success. Matthew 22:14 thus harmonizes universal proclamation, authentic human accountability, and God’s sovereign grace. |
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