What does the verse mean: "Many are called but few are chosen"

I am unsure of the meaning of this verse. At first i thought that all Christians automatically go to heaven once they accept Christ. But now I'm wondering if this verse indicates that not all Christians will go to heaven. I know some Christians who are more devils than Christian. I know other Christians who lie, and still others who are respecter of persons. So it made me seriously re-think whether all Christians were really going to heaven.

I believe it's talking about people who essentially understand the spiritual laws, but are not "saved" so to speak.

Before that the parable speaks of "how are you not in wedding clothes friend?" It's creepy bc why is he calling them friend before sending them to hell?

But anyhow I believe they are "invited" bc they found some loophole. I don't believe it's referring to Christians. In fact I'm 100% sure it's not bc I've had a dream about it. God corrected the fear of it for me.

Being called is what happens when God reaches out to a person with His Word and invites them to believe and trust in Jesus to be saved... Those who are chosen are the ones who respond positivly to the moving of His Holy Spirit.. those who are chosen accept Gods will and become saved Saints.

As for the differing levels of human behavor of Christians.. Christians do not enter into eternity with God because they have reached some high level of goodness.. They are Redeemed by God because they have accepted Gods Way for them to be justly forgiven for all the faults that would see them excluded from entering into eternity with God..

Jesus once likened those being saved to sick paitents needing a Doctor to be cured.. People who value Doctors the most are those who are in the sickest state of health.. Likewise those who value to atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ the most are those who are the worst of sinners..

A person who is forgiven the biggest debt is more apreachative of the one who has forgiven them..

Luke 7: KJV
39 "Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner. {40} And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on. {41} There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty. {42} And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most? {43} Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged."

The verse is better translated, “Many are invited but few are selected.”

Jesus also called Judas "friend." Judas who was doomed to destruction.

Jesus said:

Jesus has been lifted up to sit at the right hand of the Father, where He is drawing all to Himself.

Who will be chosen? Those who are chosen are those who believe by grace through faith
in His shed righteous blood, for we have been reconciled to God and attained to life ever after.

The wedding garments refer to our deeds in life. If our garments are white and cleanest possible, they are righteous deeds given us by our Father. If they are filthy it is only because they are unrighteous deeds spawned by the flesh and of this material world.

All are called.

Matthew 22
22:10 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.
22:11 And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
22:13 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.
22:14 For many are called, but few [are] chosen.

if ‘believers’ lie, then they can easily lie about being a Christian 😐

The few that are chosen include those who followed the Lord in truth.

Ceasing from sin through suffering; as Christ was their example (1 Peter 4:1).

Because those who are rejected are described as workers of iniquity (Luke 13:27).

To understand the meaning we need to examine the parable which has this verse.

MATTHEW 22:THE WEDDING GARMENT IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY
1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
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.

This parable teaches us that salvation is likened to a marriage, with Christ as the divine Bridegroom, and believers as the Bride (the Church). However, only those who are wearing the robe of righteousness ("the wedding garment" which God gives to those who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ) may enter. Others are banished from His presence. "Many are called" actually means that "all are called" as we see above: "all as many as they found, both bad and good". But some despise the wedding garment, and therefore forfeit salvation.

This parable teaches us that in order to be saved we must repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Only then are we justified by grace and receive the righteousness of Christ as a gift -- "the robe of righteousness", also called "fine linen, clean and white" (Rev 19:8,14), since the saints have been washed in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 1:5).

Many are cold but few are frozen 😂

Just as distinguishing a Jew outwardly according to what the eyes see. Corrupted flesh and blood. From a inward born again Jew, born of the Spirit of Christ not seen .or Just as all Israel is Israel is not Israel. . the previous name he named His bride before renaming her Christian. A more befitting name for the bride made up of all the nations. Not all Christian are Christians.

Satan who creates a bitter spirit would have us get our eyes of of Christ and compare the literal what the eyes see to the same. And not faith the unseen to the same faith.

Philippians 2:12-13 . .It informs us of the miracles of God working in these earthen bodies of death. Working to both will and do His good pleasure. Some murmured .Like Peter and started a oral tradition revealed as a lie. This is when he got his eye off Jesus and had a jealous eye after John ( the loved one) . .

If men say they are Christian and we notice what we think is a violation. We have the authority of the word to have the Lord rebuke, the devil. We are given the honor to love the one who says they love Jesus. Only he can see into the hearts of all of mankind. The old testament informs us if we do not rebuke in the spirit of love then we can share in the transgression . Our new wisdom of faith must be applied.

Leviticus 19:17-18 King James Version (KJV) Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord.

So many ways to view this verse.

On the flip side, the Gospel of Christ will eventually be presented to every living human being and then Christ returns. Not everyone who hears the Gospel accepts it, therefore they DENY Christ. They automatically remove themselves from the Guest list of the Wedding.

When we think about, out of the BILLIONS of people who have been born on planet Earth, only 1/4 (if that) have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior. But all those people born were CALLED, they just refused. And those who accepted Christ, they were CHOSEN before God spoke everything into existence.

I thought I gave it a 👍. I must have hit reply. So, yes!

It means God does the calling and choosing on earth.

For if God chooses who would be saved without their choice then why is God calling people that cannot be chosen, for God would only be working in the lives He chose.

Jesus lights every person born in to this world, so everybody gets the chance to see the light of Jesus.

God commands all people to repent, come to the knowledge of the truth, and be saved.

The Spirit and bride say Come, and anybody can have that salvation.

Anybody can have salvation.

But not all who confess Christ will be saved, and Jesus said not everybody that calls Him Lord will be saved, for they did not do the will of the Father, and were workers of iniquity.

Which they have a form of godliness, but deny being led of the Spirit, which God said do not associate with these people, and they are ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth, and are lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God.

For they confess Christ, and hold unto sin, and believe they still have salvation.

Which the Lord knows them that are His having this seal that everyone that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

And awake to righteousness, and sin not, but some do not have the knowledge of God.

And if a person hates sin, and does not want sin, by the Spirit they can abstain from sin, for a Spirit led life will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh, for they have crucified the flesh with the affection and lusts.

So there is no excuse.

If we sin we should have the right attitude to get rid of it, and move forward in the Spirit, and God knows if a person is sincere or not to get rid of sin.

Yes but Scripture says you can't come to God unless you're called - so that tells me that it's Christians. It's confusing.

I'm not sure that settles it for me. We cannot come to God unless we are called - but not all who are called are chosen. Why? The verse doesn't really explain it.

Yes but it doesn't state the criteria for selection.