Bible Strands
Matthew 22:14
For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks this as the moral of the wedding-feast parable, addressing the Pharisees and chief priests who had just heard the king cast out a man without a wedding garment.
The words — κλητοί (klētoi, "called") and ἐκλεκτοί (eklektoi, "chosen") are both passive participles, but the second carries the prefix ἐκ- ("out of"), marking a selection made from among the many who were invited.
The thread — 2 Peter 1:10 urges believers to "make your calling and election sure," and Luke 13:23 records the question "will only a few be saved?" to which Jesus answers with a call to strive to enter.
Why it lands — The invitation was real; the exclusion was also real. The verse asks the reader to determine which side of that line they stand on.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
For many are called, but few are chosen.
Cross-references
- 2 Peter 1:10 Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
- Luke 13:23 “Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?” Jesus answered,
- Revelation 17:14 They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”
- Matthew 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
- Matthew 20:16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
- Matthew 24:22 If those days had not been cut short, nobody would be saved. But for the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.