mat 22v14 The Many and The Few
THE MANY AND THE FEW
Matthew 22:14
We Preach the gospel freely to all men,
according to our Lord's command - "Go ye into all the world and preach the
gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but
he that believeth not shall be damned." Therefore we go, to this place and
that as God makes a way for us, and preach the gospel,
commanding all men everywhere to repent and be converted, inviting all men to
come to Christ by faith and be saved. But those to whom we preach respond in
different ways to the message of saving grace. Some believe, and some believe
not. Why? What makes the difference? Are those who believe any better, any
stronger, any wiser, or any more useful by nature, than those who believe not?
Certainly we must answer, No. The fact is, the difference between those who believe and those who do
not believe is not in the men themselves or in the power of their free-will.
Our lord tells us that the reason some believe, while others believe not, is
the grace of God. "For many are called, but few are chosen." WE
REJOICE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE SOURCE AND CAUSE OF OUR FAITH IN CHRIST IS THE
ETERNAL ELECTION OF DIVINE RACE. If you and I do truly believe the gospel, if
we do truly rest our souls upon Christ alone, it is because God did, from all
eternity, choose us as the objects of his special grace.
"MANY ARE CALLED." Here our Lord is talking
about the general call of the gospel which goes out to all men every time the
gospel is preached. There is an inward, divine call which is given by the Holy
Spirit to all of God's elect. This call of the Holy Spirit is always effectual
and irresistible. By almighty, irresistible power the Spirit of God draws all
of the elect to Christ. This call is given only to God's elect; it always
produces faith in Christ; and it always results in salvation (Ps. 65:4; Rom.
In this parable, our Lord is speaking of that call
which goes forth in the earnest proclamation of the gospel by God's messengers,
those who faithfully preach the gospel. This call is universal and
unconditional. We are ambassadors of Christ, sent to offer men terms of peace
with God. The King himself has sent us to call his enemies to total, unconditional
surrender. We have no authority to change his terms. It is, surrender or die!
This call is given by divine authority. Those who are truly sent of God speak
to men in God's stead! Because this call is given by divine authority, it is
most urgent. God will not trifle with those who trifle with the gospel freely
preached to perishing men by his servants (Pro.
Someone may say, "But, if only God's elect will
be saved, why preach the gospel to every creature? Why call upon all men? Why
invite all?" We preach the gospel to all men, because God has commanded
it. The ground of our responsibility is not the decree of God, but the
command of God. God has chosen to save his elect by the foolishness of
preaching. We have no way of knowing who God's elect are until they believe, so
we preach indiscriminately to all. When I have preached the gospel to all men,
I am free from the blood of all men, and those who believe not are left without
excuse. If they had believed, they would have been saved.
The
vast majority of those to whom the gospel is preached will not believe it. Some
flatly reject it. Some pay no attention to it. Some, in order to soothe their
consciences, pretend to believe it and join the church. And multitudes
substitute a religious form for faith in Christ, the waters of baptism for the
blood of Christ, and their own works for the righteousness of Christ (Mt.
7:13-14). "For many are called, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN."
Blessed be God, he has chosen some! There are some in
this world God has chosen to save; and they shall all, sooner or later, believe
on Christ. The rest have been left to themselves. God has done them no
injustice. He simply lets them have their own way. He does not violate their
will. He does not force them to do what they choose not to do. He does not give
them what they do not want. Pity the man God leaves alone! That man will never
believe on Christ and be saved (John 10:16,26; Acts
13:46-48).
There is no question about it
at all, God has an elect people in this world, a people whom he is determined to
save, saying, "I will be their God, and they shall be my people."
(Read John
"FEW ARE CHOSEN." Are you among this
favored company? Are you one of God's elect? if you do truly rest your soul
upon Christ alone, trusting his righteousness as your only righteousness and
his blood as your only atonement, clinging to him as your only hope and
acceptance before God, rejoice! You would never have such faith had God not
chosen you in Christ before the world began (John
'Tis not that I did choose
Thee,
For, Lord, that could not be,
This heart would still refuse
Thee,
But Thou hast chosen me.
My heart owns none above Thee;
For Thy rich grace I thirst;
This knowing, if I love Thee,
Thou must have loved me first.