The ultimate consequence of not responding to the call, and not putting on a wedding garment, is "weeping and gnashing of teeth." This difficult phrase appears seven times in the New Testament — six times in Matthew, once in Luke. The account in Luke provides important insight.
"And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, ‘strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able (it’s NOT that they are unable to enter in, but rather that they are un-willing to enter in) …"(Luke 13:22-24)
Again, there is the comparison between many and few.
" . . . When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth . . . "(Luke 13:25-28)
Those standing without, knocking at the door, are the same ones who, in the parable, who refused to go to the feast—the called of the Jewish nation.
This text makes manifest the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" is to occur in the Kingdom, after the Lord’s return and the Church is complete. Only in the Kingdom will those who were called realize the great privilege they rejected. It is then they cry "Lord, Lord, open unto us." When they hear the answer "I know you not," then "there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
The prophet Ezekiel wrote of this lament. "Then shall ye [Israel] remember your own evil ways, and your doings that were not good, and shall loathe yourselves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations" (Ezek 36:31).
Zechariah also foretold of it. "... They shall mourn for him, as one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one is in bitterness for his firstborn" (Zech 12:10).
In the Kingdom those Jews who rejected God’s call shall weep and gnash their teeth. The parable reveals a similar destiny awaits the Gentiles who reject God’s call. The writer of Hebrews confirmed this.
"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby [the] many be defiled"(Heb 12:15)
"Many" has the definite article, "the many"—the many who are called as contrasted with the few who are chosen.
"Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright, for ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears."(Heb 2:16, 17)
The Gentiles who do not respond to the call will suffer rejection and, in the Kingdom, will weep even as did Esau.
MANY CALLED, FEW CHOSEN
The Parable of the Marriage Feast dramatically demonstrates the need for understanding the two crises in the Christian experience. All who consecrate to righteous living (who take the “first step” only) enter the banquet hall without a wedding garment. If they remain in that provisional state (un-willing to take the “second step” of a full consecration) then they have received the grace of God in vain (this special favor offered only once, and only now during the Gospel age, 2 Cor 6:1), as did Esau.
"He that rejects me, and receives not my words, hath one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day."(John 12:48)
The failure to be chosen is directly related to not "putting on" a garment, not making the second consecration. Many Jews and Gentiles, as individuals, follow the path taken by the Israelite nation. They leave their Egypt and pass through the antitypical Red Sea. They come to Mt. Zion (Heb 12:22). They are nourished with spiritual meat and drink, the Words of Life (1 Cor 10:13, 14). They are brought to the border of their Canaan (before the door of the Tabernacle); but, as did Israel, they choose not to enter.
They refuse to pass through the Jordan (pass beneath the “first vail”). They willfully refuse to put on the wedding garment! (Refuse to take the “second step”, entering into covenant relationship with the Father, for which reason they received enlightenment in the first place.)
"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it" (Heb 4:1); “… for many are called, but few are chosen" (Matt 22:14)
