In the parable of the wedding feast, Jesus illustrates a profound truth about God's invitation and selection. A king, preparing a marriage for his son, sends out invitations to chosen guests, but they refuse to attend, showing disrespect by ignoring the urgency of subsequent calls and even mistreating the king's servants. Enraged, the king extends a third invitation to all, both good and bad, ensuring the wedding hall is filled. Yet, among these guests, one stands out for not wearing the provided wedding garment, a symbol of righteousness. When questioned, the man is speechless, revealing his deliberate refusal to comply with the king's custom. As a result, the king orders him bound and cast into outer darkness, a place of weeping and gnashing of teeth, signifying severe judgment for his rebellion. Jesus concludes this parable with the striking statement, "For many are called, but few are chosen." This reflects the widespread nature of God's invitation, reaching both the initial chosen group and then mankind at large. However, only a smaller group responds appropriately and is ultimately selected, akin to those who wear the wedding garment. The calling is broad, yet the choice falls on those who align with the king's expectations, demonstrating that while many receive the invitation, few meet the conditions to be among the chosen.

Many are called, but few are chosen. This principle is illustrated in two parables in the book of Matthew, where it serves as a concluding remark. In the first parable, God calls people to His work, and in the second, to the Wedding Supper. The term "called" in Greek is "kletos," meaning invited, appointed, or summoned, and is used generally. "Chosen," or "eklektos" in Greek, means called out, picked out, selected, and is more specific, often translated as "elect." The Parable of the Wedding Feast in Matthew 22 illustrates this concept. Initially, the king sends servants to gather those invited, but they are unwilling. Other servants are then sent to invite others, but some give excuses, and some kill the servants. Eventually, they bring in both good and bad people until the hall is filled. This represents the calling. When the king enters and evaluates the guests, he rejects one without a wedding garment, demonstrating the concept of being chosen. Calling is more general, as God calls people from all walks of life—bad and good, rich and poor, Jew and Gentile, slave and free, man and woman. However, being chosen involves a process of judgment and effort. Few are willing to endure this process, to overcome, grow, and produce fruit. Even those who attend Sabbath services may not ultimately be chosen if they lack the wedding garment of righteousness. The church of God has always been small, even at its peak membership. Jesus emphasized that many are called, but few are chosen, indicating that while many are introduced to God's truth, only a few overcome and remain faithful to the end. This is a joint effort between the individual and God, requiring submission to God's authority and the production of fruit through the Holy Spirit.

Many are called, but few are chosen. God calls many into His church, making His truth available generally. However, only a few succeed in passing the test for inclusion with the firstfruits of His Kingdom. Tens of thousands, perhaps hundreds of thousands, throughout nearly 2,000 years of the true church's history have been introduced to God's truth, yet many have returned to the religions of the world. God tries and tests every individual He calls, aiming to separate out and complete His elect, preparing the firstfruits to rule. This process of refinement and judgment is essential for removing sin from the body, beginning on an individual level. The reason many are called but few are chosen is that God is dedicated to developing and completing the firstfruits of His Kingdom through this rigorous process.

God calls many, but He selects only a few as firstfruits. He makes His truth available generally, but by comparison, only a few pass the test for inclusion with the firstfruits. Tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of people throughout the almost 2,000 years of the true church's history, have been introduced to God's truth and gone back to the religions of the world. The common link in the praise that Jesus Christ gives the churches and the difference between the called who fall away and the chosen, is that the called who fall away are faithless, proud, and opinionated, and the elect of God are truly faithful, humble, and teachable. All who are merely intrigued by God's Word are not chosen by Him. All those who are called are not beyond being enticed by the world. Those God chooses understand the gospel because it comes only by the power of the Holy Spirit. Without this spiritual power, the hearer is susceptible to having God's knowledge stolen by Satan, the accuser, the tempter. When God calls us, He is offering us a new heart with a new Spirit to enable us to produce spiritual fruit by walking in His statutes, His judgments, and His commandments. We must take Him up on His offer with conviction and humility. Jesus Christ's wisdom serves as a warning: many are called, but few are chosen.

Jesus teaches in the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard that many are called, but few are chosen. This principle is illustrated by the workers who were hired at different times of the day yet received the same wage. The parable emphasizes that God's grace is given freely and not based on human merit or the duration of service. Many who start early in their service to God may lose their reward or fail to come to faith if they approach Him with a false or covetous spirit, relying on their own merit rather than God's grace. Conversely, many who begin late may be first because they recognize and praise God for His grace. The parable teaches that the truly desirable approach is to serve out of genuine love for Jesus Christ, through faithfulness, obedience, and repentance, rather than for reward. It is those who serve in the spirit of a son, loving their Father, rather than as a hireling seeking wages, whom God delights to honor.

This message, acquiring inspiration from Lone Survivor, the story of Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell and his fallen teammates, explores how extreme training forged an unbreakable brotherhood, characterized by love, sacrifice, and a commitment to never let another down. The Navy Seals fear is not of death, but of failing their team—drawing a powerful parallel to the bond Christ desires among His disciples. Just as the way SEAL's are identified by their love for each other, Jesus commands His disciples, then and now, to be recognized by their love—not just any love, but by the self-sacrificing, enduring love He demonstrated (John 13:34- 35). This kind of love is characterized as longsuffering (patient endurance through mistreatment) and kindness (active goodness, even toward enemies). These principles are not optional but are commands. As Jesus publicly identifies Himself with physical Israel and the Israel of God, He identifies with us when we follow His command to love one another. Only when we practice this radical Christ-like love (patient, kind, forgiving) is how the world will know we truly belong to Him.