Many are called but few are chosen

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Episkopos

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Mat. 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

So who are the many?

Who are the chosen?

Chosen by whom? and how?...and for what?
 
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Episkopos

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In a bridal feast, the guests far outnumber the wedding party. So we might say...they are many.

And the bridal party is normally just 2 people...so we might call these...few.
 

Helen

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All are called, but few respond..... = chosen...
In school the kids who put up their hands and wave them around say "pick me"...are the ones who get chosen to do the task.

Not a good illustration but you get the gist.
It is our willingness to respond that puts us in the running of the chosen.

Rev 3:21
"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."
 
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Dave L

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“And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” (John 6:65–66)
 
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Episkopos

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The Pharisees were condemned by Jesus for making unsubstantiated claims about their spiritual condition.

They claimed to be able to see...when they were as blind as bats.

Does that kind of thing still happen?

I would say more so now than then. AND...we live in a time where Jesus is knocking at the door of His church asking for admittance. We are in the time of the church of Laodicea.

Salvation is very simple....that is, IF a person can stop from making outrageous claims that bring him/her into judgment.

So when it comes to the future wedding feast of the Lamb, we must make a distinction between guests and the Bride.

I have only been to one wedding as a bridegroom.....my own! :)


But I have been to many weddings, even some of my children (4 married....and 4 unmarried, although one of these is engaged)....and in my experience the guest far outnumber the bridal party. From about 100 to 1...and beyond.

So then the bridal party are few....but the guests are many.

Likewise a person can have many friends but only one spouse.

The calling for the many is easier than the requirement for the few. And this is where we must understand the difference...this is where we need some wisdom to discern this difference and the requirements of each.

If a person is looking for eternal security above all else...then being a guest.....is a much safer bet than claiming to be the Bride.

Which is easier? To participate in the Olympics as an athlete? Or to secure a ticket as an observer of said games?

So then many are called to the games....but few are chosen to be athletes and competitors.
 
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Episkopos

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Mat. 22:1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them a]">[a]spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

There is no question here that the ones invited to the wedding are not the ones getting married. They are guests. The calling is quite simple. It requires your time and commitment....but little else. The standard is not very high as both bad people and good people are invited.


It is apparent that these people still operate in the knowledge of good and evil...IOW...they are not spiritual in Christ.

But they are deemed righteous. How?

To be righteous doesn't mean you don't sin...it means you are honest about and regret your actions when they are wrong. A righteous person is willing to make amends.

How can a "bad" person be righteous?

Remember the parable of the Pharisee and the Publican?

The Publican was so ashamed of himself that he couldn't even lift his eyes into heaven. Was this because he was too good? And the Pharisee knew what kind of man the publican was.....otherwise he would not have gloated over him. So the religious ones judge people who are deemed by God to be more righteous than they are...as in...prostitutes and sinners shall enter the kingdom before you.
 
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Episkopos

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11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, b]">[b]take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’


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

How did this guest come to suffer such a harsh judgment against himself?

Jesus said...when you enter a room...take the LOWEST place.

A guest is not in the bridal party. A guest is in a humble state. But if such a guest were to presume too much...that would be a dishonour to the proceedings.

So then if you're calling is humble, you should remain humble. You should not speak out of turn. Let your words be few. Let there be no presumptions. They who make great claims must be able to back them up.

So then to be called as a guest AND be religious about it...is a deep pit that very few will be able to crawl out of. Better to remain humble and in one's capacities. Better to be honest.

A guest doesn't have to measure up as does a saint.

Many are called to attend the feast...but few are the saints who will be joined to Christ in a perpetual union of governance over all creation.
 

Episkopos

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And what of the "good" guests? Who are they.

These are they who are kind and gentle...compassionate and loving. The "good" Samaritan could be seen among this number.

What of being born again?

An athlete that doesn't make the cut at the Olympics....can still attend the games as a spectator. That is unless he makes a spectacle of himself...and begins to act as if he was an athlete by running around the field without permission. Then he can expect to be expelled from the games altogether.....just like the speechless one who was rejected for lack of a wedding garment.
 
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VictoryinJesus

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Mat. 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

So who are the many?

Who are the chosen?

Chosen by whom? and how?...and for what?

“...few are chosen.” Look at the obvious in how God worked in the past. God always reduced His numbers of an army to show man the victory was indeed worked of God’s power... so that man can not say it is done of man, but of God. So, He takes the weak...few in number. Chosen for what?

Romans 11:28-36
[28] As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. [29] For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. [30] For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: [31] Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. [32] For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. [33] O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! [34] For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? [35] Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? [36] For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
 

Episkopos

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“...few are chosen.” Look at the obvious in how God worked in the past. God always reduced His numbers of an army to show man the victory was indeed worked of God’s power... so that man can not say it is done of man, but of God. So, He takes the weak...few in number. Chosen for what?

Romans 11:28-36
[28] As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. [29] For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. [30] For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: [31] Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. [32] For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. [33] O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! [34] For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? [35] Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? [36] For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

Amen! God conquers by many or by few....but because of pride God chooses to conquer by few.

But which few?

When there is no knowledge you have everyone claiming to be in the few. But for many of these they simply are taking a too high of a place. They have no humility...so then they risk being rejected altogether.You'd think the warnings in the bible would be easy to discern. But...not so much.

One who is chosen is usually much more fearful of betraying the trust of God...so humility is embraced...usually. But it seems that they who come into salvation easily can also slip out of it easily.

So we must distinguish the call to be saints...which comes at a very high cost. Or...the call to attend the feast of the lamb....which has a much lower expectation.
 

VictoryinJesus

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But which few?

When there is no knowledge you have everyone claiming to be in the few. But for many of these they simply are taking a too high of a place.

Job 34:29-30
[29] When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: [30] That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
 

farouk

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Job 34:29-30
[29] When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: [30] That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.
Good verse there; interesting how good verses like this can seemingly be hidden in the middle of the Old Testament...
 
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Episkopos

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Job 34:29-30
[29] When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: [30] That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.


I think hypocrisy is a combination of a lack of knowledge with an added pride that defends the lack of knowledge as something to be desired....so it is a two-step into hypocrisy or self-righteousness.

When people lack knowledge they will believe a lie...or at least a half-truth. That is not hypocrisy yet. There is still hope! :)
 

Episkopos

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Good verse there; interesting how good verses like this can seemingly be hidden in the middle of the Old Testament...


God does love to hide things. We are to be seekers of His secrets.....and we are to live by everything that comes out of the mouth of God!
 
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Episkopos

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Can the chosen also be rejected? Yes. But the chosen (few), when proved to be unworthy of that calling... need not be entirely rejected. They can be bumped down to the many who are barely saved.


Parable of the unjust steward....

Luke 16:1 He also said to His disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.

2 So he called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.'

3 Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.

4 I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.'

5 So he called every one of his master's debtors to him, and said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'

6 And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' So he said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'

7 Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' So he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'

8 So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.

9 And I say to you, make friends for yourselves by unrighteous mammon, that when you fail, they may receive you into an everlasting home.

10 He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.

11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?

12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man's, who will give you what is your own?
 

stunnedbygrace

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Job 34:29-30
[29] When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only: [30] That the hypocrite reign not, lest the people be ensnared.

Wow...this verse has hit me full on...I've been going through leanness, and just the last few days He brought me quietness. And I enjoyed it because I haven't had the quietness for...about 4-5 months. But I knew He would place me back in the leanness, because it has happened like this for years.

and the part of the verse that grabbed me is the part that says this is true, whether it's done against a nation o r only one man.

And then, the reason is give n, so that the people (or me) will not be a hypocrite and become ensnared.

So it's like this: when He gives me this quietness, I am fat and happy. And who then can make any trouble for my soul? No one can because He surrounds and envelop s me.

Then, He hides His face and I can't see Him/behold Him. And I trust He hasn't abandoned me because He has said it. But whereas before, nothing could make trouble for my soul, now I'm in a turmoil even APART from anyone else troubling me. Its...bitterness and turmoil And a strange darkness.

And I've known for awhile now that He is exercising my faith in this. But now I see also that He does it so I will not be a hypocrite and become ensnared.

He wants me to know and experience that when He hides, I am nothing, so that when He gives quietnezs, I do not forget that I am still nothing and that He Himself is that quietness.

And when I very young to Him, I always experienced the quietness and I did become puffed up and hypocritical, thinking I was being rewarded for seeking Him more than others. And the result was that He hid from me, which was a new and unwelcome experience.

And since then, it has been back and forth between quietness and leanness. And it's all done to protect me from...myself.

And during the leanness, no man has understood. When I say I can't pray and cannot even pick up my bible, they say I have to try harder. But it is Him hiding, not me making Him hide, and so to try to force myself into His presence would be unseemly.
 
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VictoryinJesus

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Wow...this verse has hit me full on...I've been going through leanness, and just the last few days He brought me quietness. And I enjoyed it because I haven't had the quietness for...about 4-5 months. But I knew He would place me back in the leanness, because it has happened like this for years.

and the part of the verse that grabbed me is the part that says this is true, whether it's done against a nation o r only one man.

And then, the reason is give n, so that the people (or me) will not be a hypocrite and become ensnared.

So it's like this: when He gives me this quietness, I am fat and happy. And who then can make any trouble for my soul? No one can because He surrounds and envelop s me.

Then, He hides His face and I can't see Him/behold Him. And I trust He hasn't abandoned me because He has said it. But whereas before, nothing could make trouble for my soul, now I'm in a turmoil even APART from anyone else troubling me. Its...bitterness and turmoil And a strange darkness.

And I've known for awhile now that He is exercising my faith in this. But now I see also that He does it so I will not be a hypocrite and become ensnared.

He wants me to know and experience that when He hides, I am nothing, so that when He gives quietnezs, I do not forget that I am still nothing and that He Himself is that quietness.

And when I very young to Him, I always experienced the quietness and I did become puffed up and hypocritical, thinking I was being rewarded for seeking Him more than others. And the result was that He hid from me, which was a new and unwelcome experience.

And since then, it has been back and forth between quietness and leanness. And it's all done to protect me from...myself.

And during the leanness, no man has understood. When I say I can't pray and cannot even pick up my bible, they say I have to try harder. But it is Him hiding, not me making Him hide, and so to try to force myself into His presence would be unseemly.

I’ve experienced the same. Was up late last night reading Job and book marking so many verses that made sense ...because “There is no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful....” maybe one or more of these verses will also give comfort: Job 33:27-30
[27] He looketh upon men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it profited me not; [28] He will deliver his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light. [29] Lo, all these things worketh God oftentimes with man, [30] To bring back his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.

Job 36:5-10
[5] Behold, God is mighty, and despiseth not any: he is mighty in strength and wisdom. [6] He preserveth not the life of the wicked: but giveth right to the poor. [7] He withdraweth not his eyes from the righteous: but with kings are they on the throne; yea, he doth establish them for ever, and they are exalted. [8] And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction; [9] Then he sheweth them their work, and their transgressions that they have exceeded. [10] He openeth also their ear to discipline, and commandeth that they return from iniquity.

Job 36:20-22
[20] Desire not the night, when people are cut off in their place. [21] Take heed, regard not iniquity: for this hast thou chosen rather than affliction. [22] Behold, God exalteth by his power: who teacheth like him?

“...who teacheth like God?” Job 37:7 He sealeth up the hand of every man; that all men may know his work.

Job 35:14
[14] Although thou sayest thou shalt not see him, yet judgment is before him; therefore trust thou in him.

Job 34:3-4
[3] For the ear trieth words, as the mouth tasteth meat. [4] Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good.
 

stunnedbygrace

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Wow...to choose iniquity rather than affliction...well sis, looks like Job is what I should readread next...
 
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