This short verse carries huge questions and implications. Who are the chosen? How does one become chosen? How does one influence the chooser? What does it mean to be called but not chosen?

Context is essential—Jesus was summarizing the message of the parable He had just given, the king inviting his subjects to the wedding celebration of his son. Clearly, many were called, first the select group of first & second round invitees and then everyone else in the kingdom. The “chosen ones” are those who came and were properly attired. Out of the many invited, only a small number were welcomed into the celebration by the king. So far, so good.

What are the spiritual implications? First, the invitation to repent and believe was for all people, the “whoever” of John 3:16. The Lord instructed His disciples to take the message into the whole world to everyone (Matthew 28:18-20). The pervasiveness of the invitation is clear. But the limited nature of the “being chosen” is a bit more difficult to understand.

Some have said that God has predestined only a few for salvation, and that the death of Christ was limited to only those who were pre-determined to believe. But this makes a sham out of the widespread “calling.” What would be the point of calling someone to repent and believe when in fact that one was predetermined to not be chosen. Sounds like the outcome is rigged!

Another way to see this enigmatic statement would be that the criteria of repentance and faith were pre-determined by God, and that among the “called” ones, only those who in the end meet the criteria are actually welcomed into the God’s kingdom. So in that sense, they are chosen. Theologians have debated these things for centuries. But His death for all (see 1 John 2:2) made the invitation to all possible.

The point of Jesus’ statement must not be lost in theological debate. The vast majority will not be found in the kingdom of God, because of their unbelief. This is tragic because God is “… not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). But, unfortunately, “… the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it” (Matt 7:13-14). His love and compassion goes out continually, for Jesus said, “As many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name” (John 1:12).