For many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 20:14 and again in Matthew 22

I wasn't going to respond to this one, as I didn't think I had anything worthwhile further to add on the matter, so I shut the computer down & went home. Shortly after arriving home, the great big thick Goodrick & Kohlenberger Concordance up & fell off the bookshelf - like it wasn't already going to at any moment anyway! I managed to cross-reference Urban's discussion topic text in the three synoptic gospels, finding much the same thing discussed also in Matthew 19:30, 20:16 & 20:27. In Mark, the saying appears in 9:35, 10:31 & 10:44 - likewise in Luke 13:30. Well, "big deal" - they all use almost exactly the same wording. Out of habit, I then checked the study notes in my big thick NIV Life Application Bible - maybe hoping for the light of God to issue out of the pages, but I was disappointed again. They spoke of sacrificing worldly firstness for choosing to follow Christ & the virtues of accepting human disapproval in favour of gaining God's approval. Another cites Jesus' example of being willing to first serve others instead of using them or thinking we are above any job & further details how the best leaders appreciate others' worth & are better at taking the initiative & doing the job themselves. Still others are adamant that if one is humble here on earth, they will certainly be great in heaven & must seek to serve others needs rather than desiring to lead. Hmmm.... that's all very well & good, but still nothing strikingly wonderful to add to this topic that others haven't covered already. My attention then turned to the pencil scribblings in the margins I had acquired the habit of doing since successfully debating the issue in confirmation classes some - well it was on this exact day in 1989! These particular scribblings were far from ordinary - I consider them profound. They were the responses of the great Master Charan Singh of India when his learned disciples asked of him the meaning of this exact text. To be very brief, his interpretation is that there is no seniority on the path. Those who began as children have no more chance of succeeding than the one who begins in old age. Each one of us has our own individual sins to work on as Jesus shows us in the very next parable. So let he who has a high soul, who is spiritually advanced, guide the others without ego. There was no mention of "many being called, but few chosen", so I sought to discover why that was so. I found this verse to be in common with one found in the Gospel of Thomas. Are you familiar with this? This is a record of only the words spoken by the living Jesus & recorded by Didymos Judas Thomas. To be brief, just before the 20th century, fragments of a Greek version of said gospel were found in the Oxyrhynchys Papyri. Later in 1945 a complete version of said gospel was found in Egypt inside the Nag Hammundi Library. You may read a short copy for yourself at www.sacred-texts.com The first finding states: Jesus said: "Let the old man who is full of days not hesitate to ask the child of seven days about the place of life; then he will live. For many that are first will be last, and last, first, and they will become a single one." The second finding differs only slightly: Jesus said, "The man old in days will not hesitate to ask a small child seven days old about the place of life, and he will live. For many who are first will become last, and they will become one and the same." Well now, that is indeed food for thought! It seems there is a much deeper spiritual, mystical teaching to be gained from this than merely the "humble yourself on earth & be great in heaven" surface interpretation. There is no room for a sufficient literal interpretation here either. I'll not comment further on my thoughts upon this for now. But I am interested to hear from Urban what prompted this discussion topic. Maybe 'Twas a glowing Sunday sermon or a detailed bible study or maybe an almighty spirit-led revelation that came to Urban at an opportune moment? I was going to spent some time researching the technicalities of the mighty British Landrover today, but now that will have to wait until next weekend!

Hi Urban. Many are called and few are chosen means only a few Christians will walk on the narrow path. The last shall be first means God likes humble people."For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

That many who begin last, and promise little in religion, sometimes, by the blessing of God, arrive at a great deal of knowledge, grace, and usefulness. That God is not debtor to no man. That if you were saved and accepted Christ long time ago, and a newbie just accepted Christ. He has the same grace of God as you have. Christ does not work like man. On a job you get raises. But with Christ we are all paid the same amount.

Not all obey the will of the Lord.

Yes that's true because nowadays many churches are popping out claiming that they are the true religion. This was prophesied by Jesus in Matthew 24:4-5 Nowadays very few people where called in the true religion because majority was deceived by many religions. The only true church we should join is written in the 2 Corinthians 1:1. Other than that it will be a false religion.

"For many are called, but few are chosen" -- Matthew 22:14 To where are they called? They were called to be in fellowship with Jesus Christ in the Church of God to be saints. "God is faithful, by whom we were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord." -- 1 Corinthians 1:9 "Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours." -- 1 Corinthians 1:2 Who shall be chosen and therefore be saved? Those who will be able to endure until the end-- the elect. "And ye shall be hated of all men for My name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved."

God's grace is equal to all who will accept it, whether you come early or late to it.