DT READING-III: CALLED AND CHOSEN

“Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14)

Dear friends,

In our DT reading-II, we learned that God’s call is based on His Grace, His Sovereignty, and His Foreknowledge. We also learn that God calls us all at a certain point in life and in various ways and situations. And so it is not uncommon to hear people sharing their testimonies declare, ‘God called me through sickness or during such and such tragic incident.’ We also hear testimonies like_ ‘God called me through my friends, or from a Youth Bible Camp,’ etc. Apostle Peter and his brother Andrew were called when they were fishing (Mathew 4:18-20). Recently, I heard a testimony of one of our own members (a former Muslim) who shared with us that 23 years ago he lived in the dark and indulged in all kinds of sinful practices. But God in His mercy called him through a Russian evangelist, who invited him to a church. Then gradually he responded to the call of God and surrendered his life to Christ. I believe by God’s grace today that brother is on fire for the Lord. He keeps sharing the Good News of Jesus to people everywhere, on the streets, and in the marketplaces. 

Reading-III: Learning objectives

-        The parable of the wedding feast
-        A few chosen
-        Disciples are chosen
-        The wedding garment
-        Many are called, but few are chosen

 

The parable of the wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14)

The parable of the wedding feast is a teaching of Jesus on “the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus spoke this parable to the religious leaders (Pharisees) who were always trying to find his mistake and to accuse him. (A “parable” is a story from everyday life used to illustrate a moral or religious truth. It is the primary method Jesus used to teach about the Kingdom of God).

In the parable, Jesus compared (invitation to) the Kingdom of heaven as a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, sent out his servants to call/invite/summon those who were invited/called. But those who were called, none of them paid attention to the call by the king’s servants. They were busy with their jobs and earthly concerns, some of them even went to the extent of threatening and killing the king’s servants. The king was furious with those invited, sent his troops and destroyed those murderers (invited people who turns out to be unworthy), and sent out his servants to go out in the street and invite as many as they can (both good and bad people). So the wedding hall was filled with the guests/people on the street.

The king came in to look at the guests and found a man who had no wedding garment. The king then ordered his attendants to bind the hand and foot of the man with no wedding garment and throw him into the outer darkness. In that place, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth (Hell).

Jesus concludes the parable by saying, “Many are called, but few are chosen.”

 A few chosen

 In our DT reading-II, we have learned that regardless of who and what people have done in the past or are doing at present, God in His Grace and Sovereignty calls/invites people to Himself, (to be citizens) into His Kingdom at a certain point in life. God calls people by sending his servants (e.g. teachers, pastors, evangelists, or even your friends,  etc.) like a king sent servants who went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad for his son’s wedding feast (Mathew 22:10). This truth was repeated by Apostle Paul, “How then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? (Romans 10:14) also, see Matthew 24:14_ everyone will get a chance to (a call) to hear the good news of the Kingdom of God..

However, not everyone who is called is chosen, nor everyone on the street that God’s servants invite/call is chosen as we learned in the parable. Not all the Jews (Israelites) whom God called are chosen, nor all the Gentiles whom God calls are chosen. Do you also remember that God delivered the Israelites in the hands of Egyptians but later destroyed many of them (all who were 20 years old or above), and only two men, Joshua and Caleb reached the Promise Land?  (See Number 32:10-13)

Who are the few chosen? And why did God choose them? A few chosen are those who humble themselves and respond to the calls of God (through/in various occasions and from the proclamation/preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdom by the servants of God). A few chosen are those who heed the calls from the king’s servants and they went (took action/by faith responded to the call) to the wedding feast. A few chosen are those who wear wedding garments (We will later discuss what is wedding garments refer to). People are not chosen on the basis of their ethnicity or race (Jews or Gentiles), but because of God's Grace and Sovereignty- He chose those that humble themselves, accept and acknowledge His calls.

 Disciples are chosen

As we have learned in our DT reading-I, disciple simply means student, follower, or apprentice. We all know that during His earthly ministry Christ chose only twelve people to be His disciples. And of course, in a generic sense, everyone who followed Jesus during His earthly ministry was His disciples or his followers, but Jesus chose only 12 people, to train them so that they could go and make more disciples. The 12 disciples became Apostles (messengers, delegate, or sent one) and went to fulfill the great commission of Jesus, to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:16-20; the book of Acts).  

What we are today, becoming disciples and making disciples of Jesus is a continuing work of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Apostles. Yet, what is extremely important for us to realize is that not everyone who is called is chosen. And if someone is not chosen he or she cannot be a true disciple of Jesus. You might be attending churches or doing churches activities but if you are not chosen, you cannot be a disciple. Disciples are chosen.

Do you think that out of 43 souls/members that are doing RCFD discipleship-II are all true disciples of Jesus? Or chosen? Only God knows! But I also believe we are all called by God, or rather God is calling all of us, and so we all can become true disciples. We become disciples by humbling ourselves and responding to His call; we become disciples by faith and respond to God’s call (God use his servants to call/invite us into His Kingdom) and submit ourselves to Him; we become disciples by putting off our old clothes/filthy clothes (sins, sinful deeds, wickedness, corrupt ways, etc.) and put on a new clothe (a wedding garment). As such, God in His grace and sovereignty may choose us to become His own disciples, His students. 

I also hope some of you remember the Bible passage I shared in our DT WhatsApp group a few weeks ago. The passage is Psalm 25:9, “He (God) guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His ways.” Humility is the prerequisite in responding to the call of God.

Indeed God guides the humble and teaches them His ways.   

 The wedding garment

In the Bible garment/clothing is used both in literal/general and symbolic ways. Also, various types and colors signify different meanings, and certain types of people wore special clothing (e.g. priest clothing/garment, see Exodus 28). We also learn that clothing is used in symbolic ways for spiritual realities (see Revelation 3:17, 18; Revelation 16: 15; Revelation 19:7-8; Matthew 22:11-12). 

In the parable, a wedding garment is referring to the righteousness (innocence/justification) that is given to people (clothe people) because of the deeds of Jesus Christ on the Cross (cf. Romans 1:16, 17_ the righteousness of God). 

The man who did not wear a wedding garment (but wore his own garment) at the wedding feast was not chosen though he was also called/invited/summoned. His hand and foot were binds and he was thrown into the outer darkness. Why? Because he did not come by faith when he was called by the king’s servants; he did not put off his old filthy clothe which is his sins, wicked deeds, and corrupted life of the street. He was not wearing a wedding garment (Christ’s righteousness) that Jesus offers freely to everyone who comes to Him. He came with his own self-righteousness and hence he was not justified.

As sinners, no one is able to clothe themselves to stand clean in God’s presence as Joshua the high priest discovered, “Now Joshua was dressed in filthy clothes as he stood before the angel. The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off your filthy clothes.” Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you.” (Zechariah 3:3).

 Many are called, but few are chosen

My brothers and sisters, I hope and pray this message is clear to you now. Yes, God has called every one of us (calling everyone), but are we all chosen?

We are all called/ invited into the Kingdom of God and so we need to humble ourselves and respond by faith. We need to put off our flighty clothe/garment, which is our sins, our wicked deeds, and corrupt ways, and we need to put on a wedding garment that God so freely gives to everyone who comes to Him. The wedding garment is the righteousness (justification/ innocence (declared as not guilty) given to us through the works of Jesus on the Cross. God chooses people who humble themselves and by faith accept/receive/believe in Jesus, His words, and His works, and they are given His righteousness (we are justified, we are counted righteous, innocent, not guilty), only then we can take part in the feast of a royal wedding; only then we can enter the kingdom of God and be the citizens.

But sadly as Jesus concludes the parable, “Many are called but few are chosen”. Have we humbly responded to God’s call yet? Have we by faith accepted the Good News of the kingdom of God? And do you also remember the narrow and wide gates? The Bible tells us that many enter through the wide gate that leads to destruction, but few go through the narrow gate that leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). Let us enter the narrow gate that leads to life.

May God help us all to understand this message and may we all heed the call of God today.

“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the Churches” (Revelation 2:29; 3:6, 13, 22)

 Prayer points:

1.     Pray that God may open your mind to know and understand the scripture (Matthew

2.     Pray for the forgiveness of sins (confess/repent/change of mind). By faith in Jesus' name put off/renounce your old flighty clothes_ sins, wicked deeds, corrupt ways, etc.

3.     Prayer of commitment and response to God’s calling. Put on a wedding garment_ the righteousness that comes through Christ. By faith accept/receive Christ, His words, His works on the Cross.  

4.     Prayer of thanksgiving to God for choosing you as His disciple by His grace and sovereignty.

5.     Pray that you will humble yourselves and continue to learn God’s Word, His Ways, and follow His Will.