Many are called … few are chosen. Are You?

Charitoō

Jesus says in Matthew 20:16 and Matthew 22:14: … for many be called, but few chosen.

Jesus uses this phrase twice in Matthew’s account of the Gospel. The phrase follows the parable of the workers being paid a wage for a day’s work and the parable of the wedding guest dressed inappropriately.

Is this phrase significant?

We often hear a legalistic preacher condemning his audience using this text then saying "Get right with God or get left behind! Or Turn or burn!" or "Repent or else you will not be chosen. You’ll be with the goats instead of the sheep!"

They do.

They preach like this to get everyone into their law-abiding, Pharisee mindset. In the process they do nothing but make the elect of God fall from Grace (we can only fall from Grace if we enter back into the law).

What did Jesus say when He said in Matthew 20:16 and Matthew 22:14: …for many be called, but few chosen?
So, what is it then?

Jesus was quoting a prophetic word and action from the old testament. He quoted 1 Samuel 16 and Isaiah 41:9 when God called and chose His beloved.

The redemption plan of God is beautifully revealed in 1Sam 16.

So, it will be worth our while to look at this prophetic action so that we may batter understand what it is that Jesus is saying.

The background

God sends the prophet Samuel to anoint David (his name meaning Beloved, a man after God’s heart) as the next king of Israel. This follows the demise Israel's first king, Saul (his name meaning desired or beggar, borrower).

When Samuel arrives at old Jesse's homestead, he asks him to bring (call) all his sons so that Samuel may see who the next anointed king of Israel would be. During the parade God speaks to Samuel in every instance concerning the candidate appearing before him indicating whether he is the chosen one or not.

The first time the words called and chosen are used together in the Bible is here in 1 Samuel 16:8 and it says Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, Neither hath the LORD chosen this. In fact, the whole of 1 Samuel 16 makes for very interesting Hebrew wordplay with the words called and chosen.

We recall that Jesse eventually called all his sons before Samuel. Then Samuel asked whether there was another. So Jesse calls David, the youngest from the field. When David appears before Samuel, God immediately says This is he! The beloved is chosen.

But how are these words significant?

I suspect digging deeper into the Hebrew will provide us with a better understanding of God’s Grace here.

Let’s see.

The Hebrew word for called is qâra' קָרָא meaning to proclaim, to summon. The word-picture or pictograph shows least person first.

The Hebrew word for chosen is bâchar בָּחַר meaning to elect, choose, decide. The pictograph here pictures the house (of God) in man revealed.

If we take a minute, we may realize that these Hebrew words together with their word-pictures, points straight towards the original design of man before time was. Man was designed to have relationship with God, housing God.

Already the Grace message is clear!

... but there is more

The names of three of Jesse’s sons are mentioned as they appear before Samuel.

During the encounter with the first son, Eliab (my father is God-like), God tells Samuel not to be deceived and not to look upon his stature and outward appearance for God looks at the heart.

The second son called is Abinadab (my father is willing or noble). This shows that he has knowledge of a willing Father, but not of an able Father. Abinadab also points to man’s own works of self-righteousness.

The third son called is Shammah (horror, waste, appalling). His name points toward the deception of man, where all evil that happens and adversity are ascribed to YHVH. Instead, God declared Himself as love and goodness and kindness, having mercy and grace being patient and abundant. (Still the case today)

None of these called, and also none of the other sons whose names are not mentioned, are the chosen ones.

When Samuel inquires about another, Jesse (I posses) calls David (beloved), the youngest, whom he did not even consider, the shepherd.

And he sent and brought him in.

And he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and handsome.

And יהוה said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is the one!” [1Sam 16:12]

The shadow come of age

1 Samuel 16:12 is exactly the way that Father God looks at us. The perfect atonement of Yah'shua made all of this perfectly possible and real! We are clothed in righteousness, without blemish and without spot or wrinkle.

Glory to Yah'shua!

Glory to Abba!

Let’s get back to Jesus.

Jesus points to this Hebrew word, qâra' meaning to proclaim, to summon - least person first when He says in Mat 20:16: So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

In one word He immediately cancels the law concept of own works, long labour and not being good enough. He shows that the one who was called last, having done the least, if any work at all, earns the same wage.

Who was called?

In the wedding parable in Matthew 22 Jesus explains that everyone was called. Yet, in the end there is one person who attends the wedding feast but without the appropriate garment. This man is doomed to destruction through his own choice. 

What?

He had the wrong clothes.

He was found without a wedding (feasting) garment. He was thus discarding the Bridegroom, Jesus. Instead, our position is one of a garment embellished - for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness. [Isaiah 61:10]

Amazingly called and chosen go together

There exists six instances whence the two words, called and chose, are used together.

God calls all ... He chooses all, but all have a choice in choosing Him!

Prophetically, the called and chosen wordplay in 1 Samuel sheds a lot of light on God’s redemption plan. This plan was perfectly executed Jesus. So, Jesus also completely explains Himself in this regard.

For that we look at the very last book of the Bible to see who exactly are the chosen and called ones. As a side note let me add that what we find here fits ever so beautifully with what Jesus says about His manifest purpose here on earth - not to condemn anyone, but that all shall be saved.

In Revelation 17:14 we find that ... These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Yes, those words are used together again.

HalleluYAH!

We are called, beloved … we are chosen!

* To better understand the word called in relation to church, this post will help this post will help.