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. 8:28-30; I Cor. 1:21-24; II Tim. 1:9). There are many examples of this effectual irresistible call in the scriptures (Mt. 4:18-22; Luke 9:5). When the Lord Jesus Christ sends his Spirit to call one of his redeemed ones, saying, "Follow Me", they always follow him. But this is not the call mentioned in our text.

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. 1:23-33). And this call which we issue to sinners in Christ's name is most sincere and gracious. If you will hear his voice and harden not your heart, God will save you. '"Whosoever will, let him come and take of the water of life freely."

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 15:16; Rom. 9:11-13; Eph. 1:3-6; I Thess. l:4; II Thess. 2:13). These are the people for whom we labor. We are seeking the Lord's sheep. We preach the gospel for the elect's sake. Can you rejoice in electing love? How we ought to rejoice that our names are written in heaven, written in The Book of Life before the foundation of the world (Luke 10:20, cf. Rev. 13:8; 17:8).

"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 6:37-40). Saving faith is the result of eternal, electing grace (Phil. 1:29).

'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.