09/12/10

Many are called, but few chosen

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


There was a preacher who preached that all are called and be saved and only a few will not be saved. This understanding is contrary to Jesus stating the path to Heaven is narrow.

No understanding can satisfy one scripture and go contrary to another. People preach this gospel so as to please the masses, telling them that they do not need to change and can continue the life they are living. Such messages will please us now but the cost that we will pay latter is unimaginable.

This scripture is nothing to do with the result but more to do with the initial process. It states that many are invited; now how many will accept this invitation it does not talk about. Nor does it talk of among those who receive the invitation and come without wearing the wedding robe and are thrown into the dark torture place.

Jesus does give an idea of how the response towards this invitation is accepted by the people in the parable of the wedding of the King's son. How the Jews rejected the invitation and killed the messengers and then how this invitation was extended to others. The evil and good referred to the goats and sheep respectively. Those who did not keep the word were the ones who did not wear the wedding robe.

This parable like most of Jesus' other parable had also historic roots. This parable angered the Pharisees because this wedding was in reference to the Egyptian style marriage between Cleopatra and Marc Antony. The Pharisees were anger with Jesus as to why He was teaching with things from the Romans and Egyptians, whom they hated, had the Jewish history lacked that He teaches from the enemies?

The part 'few chosen' was not addressed in the parable but was directed towards the Pharisees who proclaimed that they were chosen. Irrespective of what they did in real life or the sins they committed they considered themselves saved and given a special place in Heaven.

There are some people of God throughout mankind from Noah up to the last 2 witnesses (olive trees) of which the numbers id given 144,000 who are also called the elect. They are stated as from the 12 tribes of Israel but they actually have nothing to do with Jewish 12 tribes but the understanding of the 12 tribes. The whole of creation exist partly because of them. They are like Isaiah and Jeremiah and Paul chosen even before they knew Lord, even before they were born. Of these the Lord says He will lose none for His Spirit really worketh among them.

Even now at this moment a few of these elect stand among us, you may meet them or may be living in their neighborhood but will not be able to identify them. When they take on their mission they will truly glorify God. They may not come in the newspapers or be known by name but yet they will bring a change in the history of mankind. These elect really go those the toughest phases of life for God makes diamonds of these coals through the process He takes them.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord, You have great plans for your people. Your wisdom is beyond human understanding. You have set the Heavens and all things according to your wisdom. You know what and where and how to get the best of your people. You know their hearts and every though. Nothing is hidden from You. Lord, You know our weakness and our strength. We ask You Lord in your mercy to strengthen our weakness and use our strength to glorify You...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripture ]
Matthew 22:1-15
1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
15 Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

Romans 2:28-29
28 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh:
29 But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Revelation 7:2-4
2 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea,
3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads.
4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)