Matthew 22:14

[Foghorn]

Matthew 22,
11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”


What does it mean to be called but few are chosen?

Thoughts?

 

[B-A-C]

What does it mean to be called but few are chosen?

During professional sports tryouts, hundreds of people are called to tryout for the team.
However, once tryouts are over, only a certain number are chosen.

 

[Foghorn]

During professional sports tryouts, hundreds of people are called to tryout for the team.
However, once tryouts are over, only a certain number are chosen.

So, scripture is like a professional sport?

 

[Twistie]

Matthew 22,
11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”


What does it mean to be called but few are chosen?

Thoughts?

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.”

 

[B-A-C]

So, scripture is like a professional sport?

1Cor 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
1Cor 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
1Cor 9:26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
1Cor 9:27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Php 3:12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
Php 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2Tim 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
2Tim 4:8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

2Tim 2:3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2Tim 2:4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.
2Tim 2:5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

Matt 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Matt 7:22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
Matt 7:23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

 

[B-A-C]

Matt 22:11 "But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes,
Matt 22:12 and he *said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?' And the man was speechless.
Matt 22:13 "Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
Matt 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

Where do you buy wedding clothes?

Rev 3:17 'Because you say, "I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing," and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
Rev 3:18 I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see.

Rev 19:7 "Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready."
Rev 19:8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Rev 19:9 Then he *said to me, "Write, 'Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.'" And he *said to me, "These are true words of God."

 

[Curtis]

14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Not all the "called" are "chosen."

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

 

[Foghorn]

1Cor 9:24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
1Cor 9:25 Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
1Cor 9:26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air;
1Cor 9:27 but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.

Php 3:12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
Php 3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Heb 12:1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2Tim 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
2Tim 4:8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

2Tim 2:3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
2Tim 2:4 No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.
2Tim 2:5 Also if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not win the prize unless he competes according to the rules.

Matt 7:21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
Matt 7:22 "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?'
Matt 7:23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

Okay, jus wondering your beliefs. Thanks

 

[KingJ]

Matthew 22,
11 “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. 12 And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 For many are called, but few are chosen.”

What does it mean to be called but few are chosen?

Thoughts?

Thoughts:

Whenever we read contentious scripture that can very easily be misinterpreted, it is very important to go back to the core truths of Christianity and have them shine light on the passage.

- Person A, a normal person, one without any bias, would read it as an invitation given to all, but only some accepting it. As John 3:16 states, Jesus lay His life down for the world and Rev 3:20 states that He now stands at the door to our hearts and knocks.

- Person B, a person with a bias, Calvinist for example, would read this as ''God goes through the motions of giving scripture to all, but it is purely a formality as only a few are pre-selected and chosen to be Christians''. They therefore read John 3:16 as Jesus dying for the elect and not the world. They would then also ignore Rev 3:20.

Now the core Christian truths that are needed to shine light on this are:

1. Scripture that defines God's nature
2. Scripture specifically on God's partiality

These are needed as the misinterpretation of that verse suggests that God is partial. And, since God is the creator of all, who has created a lake of fire and stated that He would throw the wicked therein, if He is partial, that would make Him 100% guilty of MURDERING many!! Partiality is evil, and insanely evil if you are the Creator of all.

I am just truly, absolutely, positively BAFFLED at how all Calvinists (@Brightfame52 @Dylan569) and their supporters (@th1bill, @Foghorn) do not 'get this' simple truth. If I met any of you on X and sometimes, I wish I would, I would send pages and pages of colourful language your way. What kind of person is able to so grossly misrepresent God to the lost that He loves and died for?

Now the core scripture required.

1. God's nature - We need to see if scripture says God has an evil side to Him that could be partial.

A - Psalm 136:1 - God IS GOOD and His mercy endures forever.
B - Psalm 145:17 - God is righteous in ALL HIS WAYS.
C - 1 John 1:5 - God is light with NO DARKNESS in Him AT ALL.
D - Job 34:12 - It is UNTHINKABLE that God would do what is wicked or PERVERT JUSTICE.
E - 1 John 4:8 - God IS LOVE and whoever does not know love, does not know God.

So, we see that prophets who knew God better than you or I, make it clear that God has not got a single evil atom in Him. He could have, as Rom 9:21 suggests (a popular Calvinistic verse), but the rest of scripture, shows us what in fact God does do with His omnipotence, He chooses to be righteous in ALL HIS WAYS and lay His life down for ALL mankind.

2. God's partiality

Acts 10:34 Of a truth I perceive, God is no respecter of persons.

Now we must note how this verse is worded. Peter, states that he suddenly grasped something he never grasped before. It seems it is logical to expect God to have both a good and evil side to Him. This is why it is our JOB as Christians to teach the lost, that HE DOES NOT HAVE an evil side to Him.

Our ONE job as a Christian is to be an ambassador for God 2 Cor 5:20, and boy oh boy, we all are so guilty of failing so hard on this. But truly, Calvinists are right there at the top. I cannot think of a more evil message to share with the lost and weak.