For many are called but few chosen

  • Welcome to Christian Forums, a Christian Forum that recognizes that all Christians are a work in progress.

    You will need to register to be able to join in fellowship with Christians all over the world.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon and God Bless!

D

Dave L

Guest
We are NOT replacing Jesus with the Jews (your antisemitism is showing, by the way). Your accusation is absurd. Jesus was and is the Messiah of Israel in addition to being the Savior of the whole world. It will be a blessed day throughout heaven and earth when they finally recognize "Him whom they have pierced". Here are some points to counter your accusation: 1) The Talmud is NOT authoritative in the way that the Tanakh is. The Tanakh is what we know as our OT--the Torah is the first five books of the Tanakh--Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. Jesus very frequently quoted from Deuteronomy. Paul quoted from Deuteronomy as well. Neither quoted from the Talmud which was basically, the Oral Law written down along with the discussions (some of which are very odd) from various rabbis. Nor did they quote from the Oral Law itself. 2)To which Talmud are you referring? The Babylonian Talmud is probably the more popular because it is easier to understand while the Jerusalem Talmud (which was not written in Jerusalem, by the way--it was written in Tiberias) is much more inscrutable. 3) There could be references to "Yeshu"--similar to the shortening of Joshua (English for Yeshua) to Josh but there is no way of knowing that Jesus of Nazareth, Our Savior, is being referenced. There is a lot of rancor expressed in the Talmud but that is because it was written by the rabbis who were under intense persecution while it was being written down. In any case, the Talmud contains a lot of weirdness--it was obviously NOT inspired and there are few (if any) rabbis who would think it was. 4) Most Jews you might speak to today believe that Jesus was a "good man" and possibly even a prophet. Most of them don't even believe in a hell as we think of it. And most of them do not have much of a clue as to what the Talmud says about anything. They don't even know what the Tanakh teaches--Christians probably know more about that than the average Jew! Religious, Orthodox Jews (a minority among Jews) would be the only Jews who pay much attention to the Talmud and most of them pay much more attention to Torah and the Tanakh. Smearing the Jews will not help you.
If the broken off unbelieving Jews are Israel, to whom are they reattached upon believing?

“And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?” (Romans 11:23–24)
 
D

Dave L

Guest
Exactly where does the old testament say that?
The OT does not say that, the Jewish bible the Talmud says it along with other nasty things about Jesus and Christians. Google it,you won't believe it.
 

Marymog

Well-Known Member
Mar 7, 2017
11,283
1,633
113
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
I doubt that passage deals with us judging other Christians. If you will notice, it was the Master of the banquet, "the king", who did the judging, not his underlings. And, God also said to let the tares continue to grow with the wheat. We are not given permission to judge who gets to grow, and who doesn't.
Hi Willie,

If we (Christians) are not allowed to judge who gets to grow and who doesn’t then what is the Christian Community to do with the false prophets amongst us? What are we to do with those that twist scripture to support what they believe (ex. Gay marriage, abortion)?

Allow them to spread their blasphemy by not saying anything?

Mary

EDIT: I agree with you that THIS passage does not support judging other Christians HOWEVER there are some passages that do.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Dave L

Marymog

Well-Known Member
Mar 7, 2017
11,283
1,633
113
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
“For many are called but few chosen.”

Matthew 22:14 records this expression Jesus made as he spoke of the parable of the Wedding Feast, wherein a guest attending the feast was not wearing a fitting wedding garment for the occasion.

This person heeded the calling alright, without receiving God’s spiritual garment (the baptism of the Spirit in one’s heart) suited for his Son. All garments folks wore had to be accepted by the Father first, as it was for the spiritual and holy reunion feast of marriage of the body of Christ, his Son. The presence of God, his spirit in our hearts, to truly receive and accept this calling, to come, is mandatory. There is no other way. This is the path of Salvation that is very specific and narrow. This specificity does not just refer to our belief in Christ, it is more.

The ‘way’ or method we receive and believe in Christ is paramount.

This person in this parable decided to bring carnal and corrupt spiritual clothing to the wedding feast of God’s holiness and purity. Yes, this person believed in the ruler and his position, although on his or her own terms. This person believed it was appropriate to bypass the Father’s loving presence and greeting at the door (of the heart) and accepted his Son’s invitation by avoiding the door completely. This person's heart was not cultivated and prepared by the Father to accept this calling in humility and genuine repentance. We know what happened to this person. He or she was quickly rejected and ejected from the feast. Jesus never knew him. His Father never had the opportunity to clothe him correctly for the feast of life, of his Son. This person just clothed himself with what suited him/her– decided to just use his/her own free-will in this critical decision of holy spiritual acceptance.

How many Christians have accepted the gospel without wearing or being baptized in God’s holy spirit within their hearts, first?! We truly cannot wear the wedding garments for the Son’s feast without his permission, his acceptance and intervention. The Father and Son know the legitimate attendees in advance of the feast.

The last part of the expression says, ‘few are chosen.’ Not to sound redundant, but who again chooses? He who chooses us will not return an ‘empty hand.’ Well it is not us, or the person deciding to accept the calling. Some say, well I believed after I was called by hearing the gospel message, so I must be chosen. This is what the person in this parable thought, and he/she was thrown to the roadside, if you will.

God chooses those that are called. How does he do this?

1. First, he already knows the hearts that will turn to him, before they were born. He therefore chose that person he knew as he knew they would also be touched by the call before they were born.

2. Second, the person seeks/sought God’s presence at some time or over many times, to know him and to accept the calling about his Son. They are humble and sincere in their quest. They show their heart to God with all its imperfections and corruption. Nothing is hidden. They truly want to change or repent, and they do.

3. Third, God touches that heart of the one called by spiritual rebirth.

4. Fourth, that person senses God’s presence as the spirit is now already in the heart.

5. Fifth, he provides the faith to believe in the moment of human decision.

6. Sixth, the person is swayed to accept the terms of God and salvation from the heart and not from the mind. It is not a mental exercise as the carnal mind is ill-equipped to understand and respond to the call of God and his gospel.

Now I say, can we truthfully say we chose to accept the calling of God to salvation by the belief in his Son, with our own free will and nothing/or no one else? Did God have anything to do with it? I hope so. No one wants to be rejected by Christ.

If we say we alone chose salvation by the calling of the gospel, without the presence of God, then we mock him and his plan of salvation through Christ. We cannot just believe in Jesus from the emptiness and carnality of our minds or out of our natural carnal hearts.

The spark comes for God himself after we call to him in our own way…and he already knew this anyway…not a riddle to those that understand God is beyond time and space…

What say ye?
Christ minimized the material importance of clothing (Matt. 6:25–33, Luke 12:22–28), HOWEVER he emphasized the importance of the symbolism of the wedding garment. Other passages in Scripture use clothing as a symbol of virtues and good works: the saint’s good deeds are likened to the white linen garment of the bride (Rev. 19:7–8). Isaiah compares the garments of salvation and justice to the apparel of the wedding party (Is. 61:10).

Jesus describes the heavenly banquet as a marriage feast. The invited guests decline because they are too busy with material cares sooooooo the host has his servants invite the poor, the lame, and the afflicted—those who will appreciate it and be grateful. It is these whom God will invite to the heavenly banquet. “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14).

My two cents worth....Mary
 

APAK

Well-Known Member
Feb 4, 2018
8,843
9,582
113
Florida
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
Christ minimized the material importance of clothing (Matt. 6:25–33, Luke 12:22–28), HOWEVER he emphasized the importance of the symbolism of the wedding garment. Other passages in Scripture use clothing as a symbol of virtues and good works: the saint’s good deeds are likened to the white linen garment of the bride (Rev. 19:7–8). Isaiah compares the garments of salvation and justice to the apparel of the wedding party (Is. 61:10).

Jesus describes the heavenly banquet as a marriage feast. The invited guests decline because they are too busy with material cares sooooooo the host has his servants invite the poor, the lame, and the afflicted—those who will appreciate it and be grateful. It is these whom God will invite to the heavenly banquet. “For many are called, but few are chosen” (Matt. 22:14).

My two cents worth....Mary
Thanks Mary for your input and I concur....the key area of this OP is HOW they got these legitimate garments? On their own steam or by some other means.

Having a legitimate garment or not has wide-reaching implications that cuts through the topics of salvation/rebirth, grace, works, the elect/saints, Israel, predestination...this 'garment can mean the difference between salvation, being chosen and being lost...

Bless you,

APAK
 
Last edited:

Lady Crosstalk

Well-Known Member
Feb 16, 2019
2,069
1,114
113
49
Ontario
Faith
Christian
Country
Canada
If the broken off unbelieving Jews are Israel, to whom are they reattached upon believing?

“And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree?” (Romans 11:23–24)

1) The Jews are only a part of Israel. In the Book of Ezekiel, we see them rejoined with the lost tribes before all the tribes of Israel are granted their earthly Kingdom. 2) I believe that the "tree" in the passage represents the tree of life--of faith and obedience. Israel was carefully cultivated by God to be His holy people--to be both the root and branch of His holiness and life among all peoples. They were to be a light, demonstrating life in Him to the nations. But they became stiff-necked, proud and rebellious, so He cut most of them off of His tree. His life was not in the dead branches. Not all had died, of course--the Apostles and the earliest believers were Jews. God then turned to the Gentiles. He sought among them a people for Himself. The Gentiles were, by nature, a wild and unruly people--but the power of God unto salvation, made them fit to be grafted into His tree. When the full number of the Gentiles come in, Israel will be rejoined to God's tree of life.
 
D

Dave L

Guest
1) The Jews are only a part of Israel. In the Book of Ezekiel, we see them rejoined with the lost tribes before all the tribes of Israel are granted their earthly Kingdom. 2) I believe that the "tree" in the passage represents the tree of life--of faith and obedience. Israel was carefully cultivated by God to be His holy people--to be both the root and branch of His holiness and life among all peoples. They were to be a light, demonstrating life in Him to the nations. But they became stiff-necked, proud and rebellious, so He cut most of them off of His tree. His life was not in the dead branches. Not all had died, of course--the Apostles and the earliest believers were Jews. God then turned to the Gentiles. He sought among them a people for Himself. The Gentiles were, by nature, a wild and unruly people--but the power of God unto salvation, made them fit to be grafted into His tree. When the full number of the Gentiles come in, Israel will be rejoined to God's tree of life.
When Christ abolished circumcision, physical Jews and Physical Israel ceased to exist when that generation the apostles preached to died off. Judaism is a religion, not a race. And circumcision made one a physical member.
 
D

Dave L

Guest
That is a negative proof demand.

You made the declaration so it is on you to prove yourself correct.
The proof is in his describing the kingdom as now present, and spiritual numerous times. He never mentions the Pharisees physical kingdom idea as being true, only false.
 

CoreIssue

Well-Known Member
Oct 15, 2018
10,032
2,023
113
USA
christiantalkzone.net
Faith
Christian
Country
United States
The proof is in his describing the kingdom as now present, and spiritual numerous times. He never mentions the Pharisees physical kingdom idea as being true, only false.

Which kingdom? The then kingdom of God? The future new earth and Jerusalem? One he will rule with an iron scepter from earthly Jerusalem?
 
D

Dave L

Guest
Which kingdom? The then kingdom of God? The future new earth and Jerusalem? One he will rule with an iron scepter from earthly Jerusalem?
It's spiritual and happening now. But only the born again can see it.