Matthew 22:11-14 - Many are invited but few are chosen

22:11-14

Then things take a darker turn. There was one man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. He was asked how he got in, and had nothing to say. So he was thrown out into the darkness. All are invited, but the banquet is not a free for all. It is only through faith in Christ that a person can get in. Otherwise there is terrible judgement awaiting. We have a terrible habit of going to one extreme or the other. Either we stress that all can get in and that there is great joy awaiting, without talking about judgement. Or we talk about judgement and become all judgemental, and become a joy free zone. In the Bible the two go together, and we must hold to both sides. We are deeply mistaken when we think the gospel does away with judgement, rather it saves us from judgement. “Many are invited, but few are chosen”. The invitation goes out to all, but few are chosen. We are utterly dependent upon God for our salvation, even our having faith.