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It's the God who's over you that 
knows these things. And so thus concludes the parable, 
except for this last sort of enigmatic statement when Jesus 
says, I honestly believe that's what 
it means. The many called are old covenant 
Israelites living in Israel in the first century, those to whom 
the Messiah had come and they received Him not. The statement 
does not mean that only a few people will be saved, for many 
are called but few are chosen. I think that Revelation 7 betrays 
that. There's a great multitude that 
no man can number from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation. 
The statement should not be used as the battle cry for hyper-Calvinism. 
Well, you know, the Bible says many are called but few are chosen. If you're a hyper-Calvinist, 
can I encourage you not to hinge on this particular text? I would 
suggest that the statement does not contradict other passages 
of scripture in Matthew's gospel. Look at Matthew 8, specifically 
at verse 11. Matthew chapter 8, beginning in verse 10. Jesus 
heals that centurion's servant. And in verse 10, when Jesus heard 
it, he marveled and said to those who followed, assuredly, I say 
to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel. 
And I say to you that many will come from east and west and sit 
down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. 
What do you think he's talking about? Again, Gentiles, tribe, 
tongue, people, and nation. He came to his own, his own received 
him not. And then verse 12, but the sons 
of the kingdom, old covenant Israel, will be cast out into 
outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing 
of teeth. As well, look at chapter 26. 
We're going to read that in a few moments when we transition into 
the supper. Matthew 26, specifically at verse 
28, for this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for 
many for the remission of sins. So whatever Jesus means in Matthew 
22, 14, for many are called but few are chosen, he can't mean 
contradiction. He can't say many aren't saved 
and many are saved. That's simply contradictory and 
it doesn't work. But even in our text, look in 
Matthew 22 again. Look specifically at verse 10, 
the latter part, and the wedding hall was what? It was filled 
with guests. But then in verse 11, he saw 
a man. It seems like it should be just 
the inverse if Matthew 22, 14 is what the hypers tell us it 
is. It should be just the opposite. There should only be a handful 
in that wedding hall. There should only be a few. As 
well, as I think is correct by Warfield, the statement is intended 
to make an ethical impression, not a prophetic declaration. 
In other words, Jesus is condemning these men. He's confronting them. He is dealing with them in absolute 
honesty about the state of their never-dying souls. He's not making 
a prophetic declaration as to how many people are going to 
be in the Kingdom of Heaven. And I would suggest ultimately 
the statement refers to the first group of invitees at the time 
of Christ. Many were called, few were chosen, 
to the Jew first and also to the Greek. We cannot deny the 
apostles and their heritage. We cannot deny the reality that 
they would go and preach in Jewish synagogues and some would be 
saved. But for the most part, few were chosen. They were rejected 
by God most high. And I would suggest that the 
statement also provides warning for us today. Many are called 
by the proclamation of the gospel. Many are called in terms of a 
general call or an external call of the gospel. Don't just assume 
that you've heard, because you've heard the gospel, that you're 
necessarily going to heaven. Response to that gospel is to 
believe. That response to the gospel isn't 
go out and do better, go out and try harder. It's to lay hold 
of the Lord Jesus Christ. As our confession says, metaphorically, 
it is to receive Him and it is to rest.