Many Are Called, Few Are Chosen: Understanding the King’s Invitation (Matthew 22:1–14)

When Jesus says, “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14), He isn’t giving us a puzzle to overcomplicate. He’s warning us—and inviting us—to think seriously about how we respond to God’s call.

The parable of the wedding feast gives us the context we need.

The King, the Wedding, and the First Guests

Text: Matthew 22:1–14

Jesus compares the Kingdom of heaven to a king who prepares a wedding for his son. Two important details show up right away:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.” (vv. 2–3)

These people had already received an invitation. The message now is: “It’s time—come.”Their response: they were not willing.

Different Shades of Rejection

The king sends more servants and makes the invitation even clearer and kinder:

• “All things are ready. Come to the wedding.” (v. 4)

But the responses split:

1. Indifference – “They made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business” (v. 5).

   • Not hostile, just “too busy.”

   • Work, routine, and life become more important than the King’s invitation.

2. Hostility – “The rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them” (v. 6).

   • Some don’t just ignore God’s call; they actively resist and attack His messengers.

The king responds in judgment, and the original city (a picture of Jerusalem and Israel’s leaders) is destroyed (v. 7), pointing ahead to the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70.

A Wide Invitation: Bad and Good

The story doesn’t end with rejection.

“The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.” (vv. 8–9)

The servants obey and:

“…gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.” (v. 10)

Key point:The call is universal in scope. The servants invite everyone they see—morally “bad” and outwardly “good.” Nobody can say, “I wasn’t invited.”

God’s heart is generous: the Kingdom invitation is preached widely. But that doesn’t mean everyone who hears actually enters.

The Wedding Garment: How We Come Matters

Then comes the surprise:

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.” (v. 11)

The king’s question isn’t, “Who invited you?” It’s:

“Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?” (v. 12)

The man is speechless. No excuse. No defense.

The king commands that he be bound and thrown out into outer darkness—“There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (v. 13).

What is the “wedding garment”?

In the context of the parable and the rest of Scripture, this garment pictures the righteousness of Christ given to us by grace. It is:

• Not our good works

• Not our religious activity

• Not our own moral track record

It’s Christ’s righteousness credited to us when we come to Him by faith, admitting our sin and inability to save ourselves.

This man came into the hall, but on his own terms.He wanted the King’s banquet without the King’s garment—salvation without surrender; a place in the Kingdom while still trusting in himself.

“Many Are Called, Few Are Chosen”

Now the closing verse makes sense:

“For many are called, but few are chosen.” (v. 14)

In this parable:

• The “called” = all who hear the invitation (bad and good, near and far).

• The “chosen” = those who respond rightly, by faith, clothed in the provided garment.

This aligns with what Jesus says elsewhere:

• “Enter by the narrow gate… narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13–14)

• Many hear. Many see. Many are around Jesus. But only some truly come on His terms.

So in this text, Jesus is not primarily giving a technical lecture on predestination. He is:

• Exposing superficial responses

• Warning those who presume they belong because they are “around” religious things

• Highlighting that the chosen are recognized by the fact they have received, and are clothed in, what the King provides

The issue is not who is allowed to come—the invitation is wide.The issue is how we come—in our clothes or in Christ’s.

Visible Church vs. True Church

This parable also hints at a sobering reality:

• Visible church – everyone who gathers, sings, serves, gives, posts Christian content, says the right phrases.

• True (invisible) church – all who have truly trusted Christ, been born again, and are clothed in His righteousness.

Jesus also speaks of:

• Wheat and tares growing together

• Good soil vs. shallow or thorny soil (some springs up quickly but never bears lasting fruit)

There will be people who spent years in church but never actually trusted Christ, never received His garment. They’ll say, “Lord, Lord”, but hear, “I never knew you” (Matthew 7:21–23).

This passage is a loving warning: Don’t assume. Examine.

What Does Real Response Look Like?

Genuine saving faith is:

• Humble – “I can’t clean myself. I need your garment.”

• Dependent – leaning completely on Christ’s finished work, not our résumé.

• Transforming – new desires, new loves, new direction (2 Corinthians 5:17). Salvation by grace never leaves a person unchanged.

If you look at your life and honestly say, “I don’t love what I used to love. I desire Christ, His Word, His people in ways I didn’t before,” that’s evidence of His work in you—not a reason to boast, but a reason to give thanks.

Our Role: From Guests to Messengers

Those who have received the garment now become messengers. The parable shows the servants going out:

“Go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.” (v. 9)

Paul describes believers this way:

“We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.” (2 Corinthians 5:20)

What does that mean for us?

• We do not decide who might respond—we invite all.

• We do not lower the terms—we clearly present Christ’s righteousness, not self-righteousness.

• We do not trust our personality or techniques—we depend on the Spirit of God.

• We do something with what’s in our hand: pray, serve, speak, invite, walk the neighborhood, send a message, share a meal.

Our mission is simple:Tell the world: “The banquet is ready. The King has made a way. Come—and come clothed in Christ.”

Reflection & Response

1. How are you responding to the invitation?Are you indifferent, hostile, or surrendered?

2. What are you wearing spiritually?Your own goodness—or the righteousness of Christ?

3. Who around you needs an invitation this week?Pray for them by name. Ask God for an opportunity to speak or invite.

4. What’s one simple step of obedience you can take?Walk and pray a block. Text someone a Scripture and an invitation. Share how Christ saved you.

A Simple Prayer

Lord, I see that your invitation is for me. I confess that my own goodness is not enough. I need the garment of Jesus’ righteousness. I trust His death and resurrection for my salvation. Clothe me in Christ and make me new. Then use me as your messenger, to invite others to your Kingdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.