By“Many are called, but few are chosen” is a verse in the Bible (Matthew 22:14) that many people struggle to understand. Some people don’t comprehend why Sovereign God can call people unto Himself, yet choose some.
God has and will continue doing good to humanity. Nevertheless, because attitude varies from person to person, how God will influence one person’s life will differ from another. God calls, but He chooses those who respond well unto Him with the right attitude.
In this article, I would like to highlight four reasons why few are chosen from Jesus’ parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:1-14. Just in case you get convicted by any of them, there is still a chance for repentance.
1. When you refuse to respond to the call
“He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.” – Matthew 22:3 (NIV)
According to this parable, the king prepared a wedding banquet for his son (parabolically – Jesus). He then sent invitations to some people first. But they refused to come.
So from this, I can say that God still sends people to preach the gospel of the kingdom as a way of announcing the call of Jesus upon lives; but some have intentionally decided to refuse to hear it. That means some people hate the gospel with pure passion, and it’s not because of any specific reason. Such people are spiritually blinded by the devil, not seeing their need for Jesus in their hearts.
2. When you pay no attention to the call
“Then he sent some more servants and said, ‘Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.’ But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business” – Matthew 22:4-5 (NIV)
In the above verses, Jesus explains that the king sent another invitation to the same people who initially refused to come. But this time, some details of what the banquet looked like were shown to them. Yet, they paid no attention to the sent servants of the king. Some went to their fields, and others to their businesses.
There are people who have rated their busy earthly schedules and activities above God. Some to the extent that they intentionally refuse to pay attention to the Word of God even if they pass a crusade ground or scan a Christian TV station in their own homes.
The king did not give up on the people because they refused. But He even moved on to give a more detailed description of the banquet.
Have you been offended by the behaviour of people you love? Go ahead and show them more love than the one you have already shown them. Don’t give up on them.
3. When you harm or reject the sent of God
“The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them.” – Matthew 22:6 (NIV)
While some paid no attention and others went about their businesses, there were also some remaining people. These people seized the sent servants, mistreated them, and killed them. That implies some people don’t only hate the gospel but also the servants of God. Physical abuse of preachers may have been reduced in many places. However, the posting of derogatory comments on preachers’ social media pages, set up and funded just to help spread the gospel to nations, is rising.
According to Jesus in Luke 10:16 (NIV),
Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.
In essence, those who reject the sent of God automatically fail to listen to Jesus, hence ignoring His call upon their lives.
4. When you respond to the call with a bad attitude
“But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend ?’ The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ – Matthew 22:11-13 (NIV)
After the king lost his servants, he still proceeded to call unworthy people on the streets. These people came to the banquet. I see this as a beautiful explanation of 1 Corinthians 1:27 (NIV) which says,
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.
While people rejected the king’s invitation, street people accepted it.
Nevertheless, Jesus addressed one issue common in the church today. That is, coming to a wedding banquet without wedding clothes. Spiritually, this means accepting the call of Jesus but refusing to live by the spiritual laws of the kingdom of God. The one who came to the banquet without wedding clothes was sacked. So God calls people and some accept. But even those who accept the call and yet refuse to follow Jesus will not be chosen to do great exploits.
If you are reading this article today and got convicted by any one of the above reasons why few are chosen in God’s kingdom, I want to minister to your heart that Jesus still loves you. It could be that none of the people in your family background followed or served Him. But you can change that story by deciding to follow Jesus. He is the Way, Truth, and the life. He knows why you’re here on this earth. Come to Him. You shall be among those chosen to make an impact in this world.
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