Many Called, Few Chosen
“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” (Matthew 20:16Matthew 20:16
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
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These words of Christ make it clear that being called by God and being chosen by Him are not the same.
The two items are similar in the Greek, with the second somewhat like an extension of the first—that is, kletos and eklektos, or “called” and “calledout.”
The same truth is emphasized again in Matthew 22:14Matthew 22:14
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
WP-Bible plugin: “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Note also that the word for “chosen” (eklektos) is the word from which we get the English word “elect.” In fact, it is often rendered “elect” in the Bible.
It often seems, however, that the two words are used almost as synonyms. Both apply only to true believers. For example, those who are “called” are set out as distinct from all others.
“We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the [Gentiles] foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and [Gentiles], Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-241 Corinthians 1:23-24
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
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Yet, as our text says, only a “few” of those that are “called” are also “chosen.” All Christians are “the called” of God, but only some of these are “chosen” by Him for some special ministry.
For example, Paul was called “a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles” (Acts 9:15Acts 9:15
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
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Filed under: Days of Praise
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