Quote:
Originally Posted by Chris Haag
Did Jesus not call EVERYBODY to his banquet?
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The short answer — no, He didn't.
The long answer — I believe you are referring to the parable of the wedding banquet:
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. — Mat 21:2-14
The king in this parable, who represents Jesus, invites a group of people whom he has chosen — "them which are bidden" (v4) — to his banquet. These people don't want to come, so he uninvites them and pressgangs a bunch of homeless people into attending so that the banquet hall will be filled. But even among those compelled to attend was one who was unwelcome to the banquet, one who had no wedding garment, and he got kicked out. Jesus closes with the words "
many are called, but few are chosen" (v14).
Many, not
all. And even fewer are chosen by God's election (Matt 7:14).