Matthew 22:14

 Matthew 22:14

For many are called, but few are chosen.

a. NASB 1995: “For many are [fn]called, but few are chosen.” [NASB95 New American Standard Bible. Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation; All Rights Reserved]

b. NKJV: “For many are called, but few are chosen.” [Scripture quotations marked "NKJV" are taken from the New King James Version®, Copyright© 1982, Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.]

c. Classic Amplified:  For many are called (invited and summoned), but few are chosen. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Peshitta Eastern Text: For many are invited, and few are chosen. [HOLY BIBLE FROM THE ANCIENT EASTERN TEXT. Copyright  Ⓒ 1933 by A.J. Holmon Co.; copyright  Ⓒ renewed 1968 by A.J. Holmon Co.; All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. HarperCollins Publishers, 195 Broadway, New York, NY 10007.]

e. ESV:  For many are called, but few are chosen.” [Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001, 2007, 2011, 2016 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved."]

f. Unless otherwise stated, all greek and Hebrew definitions are from Blue Letter Bible

1. “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

a. For [Strong: 1063 gár, gar; a primary particle; properly, assigning a reason (used in argument, explanation or intensification; often with other particles):—and, as, because (that), but, even, for, indeed, no doubt, seeing, then, therefore, verily, what, why, yet.]

b. many [Strong: 4183 polýs, pol-oos'; including the forms from the alternate πολλός pollós; (singular) much (in any respect) or (plural) many; neuter (singular) as adverbial, largely; neuter (plural) as adverb or noun often, mostly, largely:—abundant, + altogether, common, + far (passed, spent), (+ be of a) great (age, deal, -ly, while), long, many, much, oft(-en (-times)), plenteous, sore, straitly.]

c. are [Strong: 1526 eisí, i-see'; 3rd person plural present indicative of G1510; they are:—agree, are, be, dure, × is, were.]

d. called [Strong: 2822 klētós, klay-tos'; from the same as G2821; invited, i.e. appointed, or (specially), a saint:—called.]

e. but [Strong: 1161  dé, deh; a primary particle (adversative or continuative); but, and, etc.:—also, and, but, moreover, now (often unexpressed in English).]

f. few [Strong: 3641 olígos, ol-ee'-gos; of uncertain affinity; puny (in extent, degree, number, duration or value); especially neuter (adverbially) somewhat:—+ almost, brief(-ly), few, (a) little, + long, a season, short, small, a while.]

g. [are] chosen [Strong: 1588 eklektós, ek-lek-tos'; from G1586; select; by implication, favorite:—chosen, elect.]

1). Perry Stone: In this parable, the king here is God and the king’s son is Christ. The wedding is the covenant of redemption through Christ, which brings people into His eternal kingdom. The servants (v.3) are all ministers and prophets proclaiming the kingdom message, inviting people to accept God’s invitation. Notice the excuses being made: people were too busy to attend the wedding because they were working on the farms and involved with selling and business (4, 5). Here the parable takes a turn. The king’s destruction of the city was Christ’s prediction that Jerusalem and the people who rejected Him as messiah, would be destroyed by armies which occurred in A.D.70). Going into the highways (v. 9, 10) was a prediction that the Gentiles would be invited to enter the covenant and the wedding.