Bible Study on Matthew 22, verses 1 to 14, many are called, but few are chosen

 

Matthew 22:1 ¶  And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said, 2  The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, 3  And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. 4  Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. 5  But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 6  And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them. 7  But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8  Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy. 9  Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage. 10  So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests. 11  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: 12  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. 13  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 14  For many are called, but few are chosen.

 

This parable could be a reference to the promised marriage supper of the Lamb in Heaven where the bride of Christ, the church, the body of believers, is called.

 

Revelation 19:9  And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God..

 

As Paul refers to the church as Christ’s bride.

 

2 Corinthians 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

 

This union with Christ was offered to the Jews first but they refused. As the passage here in Matthew underscores they even murdered some of the prophets God sent.

 

John 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

 

And the call to enter into God’s kingdom was extended to the farthest reaches of the earth.

 

Matthew 8:11  And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven. 12  But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

 

In this passage we see God’s wrath on those who would reject His offer of amnesty.

 

John 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

 

Prophetically we also possibly see a reference to the tares, the false Christians, who will be rooted out of God’s kingdom at the end which we saw in the previous parable of the tares and the wheat. Please look over the parable of the tares and the wheat in Matthew, chapter 13.

 

First, Christ is our righteousness;

 

1 Corinthians 1:30  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

 

Note this verse in Revelation;

 

Revelation 19:8  And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.

 

This person who is not clothed properly is either a type of the false Christian or a type of the Beast of Revelation, as some say. I think it is a prophetic reference to the false Christian. But it also could be a reference to Judas as a false follower of Christ, as some would put it. I’m sticking with a type of the false Christian who will be ripped out at the end with the more immediate context being a foretelling of Judas, the betrayer of Christ.

 

For verse 14 there are several references that bear investigating. Note the contexts of the following;

 

Matthew 7:13  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: 14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

 

Matthew 20:16  So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

 

I had noted in my comments on that passage;

 

“Some are called in youth and some at various stages of life but all are called, and few will receive Christ and everlasting life. Those who will are chosen. God’s foreknowledge knows everyone that will accept Christ as their Saviour and God chooses those who will. On one side of heaven’s metaphorical door it could say, ‘whosoever will’ and on the other side, ‘Chosen from the foundation of the world.’”

 

In this context, though, it appears to be Christ choosing only the genuine convert and not someone just mouthing a 1-2-3 repeat after me prayer with no root of belief and faith in their heart of hearts.