Jesus walked the length and breadth of the land of Israel for over three years preaching, teaching and working miracles. He also spent time in ministry east of the Jordan in Ituraea, Trachonitis (the Decapolis) and Perea, which is, in our day, Syria and Lebanon. During that time, Jesus encountered, spoke to, healed, delivered and ate with many thousands of people.
On two different occasions, Jesus fed multitudes miraculously with fish and loaves. Once it was over 5000 men plus women and children by the sea (Mt 14:14-21) and another time it was over 4000 men plus women and children in the wilderness (Mt 15:2-39). These miraculous feedings were widely known.
It was also widely known that Jesus had raised up at least three people from the dead; i.e., Jairus’ daughter (Mk 5:21-24, 35-43), the widow of Nain’s son (Lk 7:11-23) and
Lazarus of Bethany (Jn 11:1-44). He was known to have healed countless sick people and cast demons out of many as well. Surely if you or I had been there to witness even part of that, we would have left all to follow Jesus, right? I wonder.
It is a matter of record that only a handful of followers were at the foot of the cross. There were only just over 500 people to whom Jesus revealed Himself after His resurrection from the dead. By the end of Pentecost Sunday the church had grown to just over 3,000 souls (Acts 2:41) and within the first months that went up to 5,000 men (Acts 4:4).
This is stellar growth propelled by the coming of the Holy Spirit, but it is by no means indicative of all the people who witnessed Jesus in His three and a half year teaching and miracles ministry. Why did so few people who saw Jesus end up following Him? And, more importantly, would I have been one of them?
Even more surprisingly, history records that many of those who followed Him even after the resurrection fell away from Him when faced with persecution and martyrdom. What separates those who stayed with Him from those who went away? The answer is relationship. All salvation is based on relationship and all relationship is based on trust (faith).
It is all too easy to confuse intense and/or regular religious behavior with relationship. Jesus tells some surprising stories or parables that shed light on this subject. They were usually addressed to the most religious people among the Jews of Jesus’ day; i.e., the chief priests and Pharisees.
Matt 22:1-7 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again (the chief priests and Pharisees) in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king, who gave a wedding feast for his son. 3 “And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. 4 “Again he sent out other slaves saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited,” Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast. “‘ 5 “But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business, 6 and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. 7 “But the king was enraged and sent his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and set their city on fire.
Here in Matthew 22, Jesus tells a story about a king who invites many guests to attend the wedding of his beloved son. Such an invitation should be highly prized, don’t you think? An empty church at a wedding or a funeral implies a lack of importance in whoever is being “honored” that day. Jesus says that many invitees considered their own affairs as more important than either fellowship with or obedience to the king, so they sent back their regrets.
Their business was more important, or their weekend retreat to the farm more compelling. Some even were rude or abusive to the messengers who called looking for the RSVP. The king was not happy. The consequences to those who opted for personal goals over honoring the king were severe and final.
Matt 22:8-10 “Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9’Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.’ 10 “And those slaves went out into the streets, and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.
Because the king wanted to share this special occasion with others and to honor his son, he sent his messengers to travel far and wide to invite “as many as you can” to the feast. They invited everyone they met on the highways and byways, and many people responded and came. The king was thrilled to share his feast with men and women who were more worthy, as evidenced by the fact that they wanted to be there. So far so good.
Jesus has told us that the invitation to be a part of His kingdom is given to those who really want it; i.e., to those who seek it. They are considered worthy to attend, even though they are not culturally qualified like the wealthy and highly positioned people
who were first invited. God is looking for voluntary devotion from grateful people, not coerced or cultural (religious) devotion from those who have no desire for it.
It is important to notice here that God’s rewards and His judgments are based on man’s choices, not out of a capricious will or a petulant anger on God’s part. I personally believe that God damns no one. I think we choose fellowship with or separation from God and He honors that choice (reluctantly when we choose to abandon God) and in effect, we damn ourselves. Often we choose behaviors that have negative consequences and He allows us to make those choices. Too often we see our predicaments as judgments from an angry God versus the natural consequences of our own decisions. Our failure to understand these distinctions cause us to assign malevolent motives and behaviors to a loving Father God. If you think about it, our children often treat us the same way.
Matt 22:11-14 “But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw there a man not dressed in wedding clothes, 12 and he said to him,’ Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And he was speechless. 13 “Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and cast him into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ 14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.” NASB
But then a strange twist occurs in Jesus’ story. The king notices a man in attendance who was not wearing wedding clothes, and this infuriated him. (Apparently this was a dressy affair.) The king saw this as an affront to his son. If the man was going to come, he should have expressed his appreciation by wearing the right clothing in honor of the occasion.
This seems a bit picky to our ears in this age of casual dress codes, but it was not so long ago that proper dress was imperative. A man without a business suit would not even get an appointment, much less a sale. You could not enter a fine dining establishment without a coat and tie. If you showed up at a funeral or a wedding in jeans and a tee shirt, it was taken as an affront to the host and was seen as bad form by everyone.
If you did not care enough to put on the right clothes, it was a sign of rebellion and/or disrespect. (This assumes you could have afforded the right clothes but chose not to wear them.) Just because we have been given grace does not give us the right to be presumptuous or casually disrespectful about our behaviors.
Jesus tells us the king had the man thrown out of the party and permanently deleted from the invitation list. We might think that is a tough response in our egalitarian world, but Jesus is talking about the behavior of a king in a world that understood lordship. If we want to get into the Kingdom of Heaven, we must accept that there is a king and adjust our thinking accordingly.
Some have seen this as a parable about who goes to Heaven when they die, but that is very unlikely. Jesus almost always used the term Kingdom of Heaven to describe the culture we must embrace after we are born again as opposed to the world. When we accept Jesus as our king and get “born again,” we are supposed to leave the world and move into His kingdom here on earth.
The Kingdom of Heaven has a culture of behavior (the fruit of the spirit), a set of laws and rules that Jesus called “My commandments” (Love God, Love people) and a set of duties (make disciples here, there and everywhere). The Kingdom of Heaven on earth
eventually leads us into the Kingdom of Heaven in Heaven, but it starts as soon as we establish a relationship with the king. From that point on we work to ensure that in our lives “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven” is a reality.
Another reason we know that Jesus was not talking about where we go when we die
is found in verse 10. The king invited everyone, both the humble AND the arrogant to this kingdom, a situation that is true for the earthly Kingdom of Heaven but not true for the heavenly Kingdom of Heaven.
So what is going on with this “wedding garment” in verses 11-14? What indeed! Apparently you cannot just show up. You must put on appropriate apparel. But what is that? There are, I am sure, many possible ways to look at this, but I am convinced I know what Jesus means.
Paul tells us that there are several things we must “put on” if we are to be properly attired Christians. We are to put on the armor of light (Rm 13:12), put on Jesus (Rm 13:14), put on the new self, which is the likeness of God (Eph 4:24; Col 3:10) put on the full armor of God (Eph 6:11), put on love and a heart of compassion (Col 3:12-14) and the breastplate of faith (1 Th 5:8).
But Paul sums all of this up in another way when he tells us (as he frequently does) that we must put on righteousness; i.e., right relationship with God and neighbor. Righteousness (right relationship) is the required garment that must be worn to enter and remain in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus taught that if we are rightly related to God and to our neighbor, we will have fulfilled all of the requirements of the law and the prophets. In order to get into the Kingdom of Heaven and to remain there, we must have a right relationship with God and with our fellow man.
Someone unexpectedly and graciously invited to such a marvelous event would need to refrain from callous behaviors, show gratitude to his host and respect the others who are attending. They should, in other words, have a right relationship to God and neighbor.
Matt 22:35-40 And one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 “This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 “On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” NASB
Jesus tells us that “many are called but few are chosen.” Jesus’ public three and a half year ministry was a clarion call to all of Israel to enter into a right relationship with their king. No one was excluded from the invitation. There were even a few gentiles that crashed the party early; i.e., the centurion with the sick servant and the Syro-Phoenician woman.
But for all the many thousands of people who were called, only a few thousand chose to “put on” the relationship and were, therefore, chosen to receive citizenship in the Kingdom. And only those who maintained that relationship were allowed to stay. Provocative thought!
This was not the only parable Jesus told to make the same point. In Matthew 25, we get yet another parable and yet another look at the subject; i.e., who gets into and remains in the Kingdom of Heaven. It is the parable of the ten virgins.
Matt 25:1-13 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 “And five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5 “Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6 “But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 “Then all those virgins rose, and trimmed their lamps. 8 “And the foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 “But the prudent answered, saying, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 “And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11 “And later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12 “But he answered and said, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour. NASB
Using yet another wedding-based metaphor, Jesus tells us about ten virgins (parthenos – unmarried maidens) who are invited to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were wise, but the other five were foolish. On the eve of a wedding, the groom and his friends would go
to the home of the bride after sunset and meet her for the Huppah ceremony. From there they would all travel to the wedding supper at the groom’s house.
Attendance at the bridal supper was, as you would expect, by invitation only. In this parable 10 maidens are invited to attend the supper. It is going to be after dark and they will need lamps to see the way. (There were no street lamps nor headlights? in that day.) Five of them are wise and thought ahead. They brought flasks of oil for their lamps. The five foolish maidens did not think it through and brought along no oil for their lamps.
The five foolish maidens ask for the wise maidens to share their oil, but there was not enough to share, so the foolish maidens had to go find an oil store after closing hours. While they were gone, the bridal party arrives at the site where the maidens are and off they all go to the supper. After all are inside the compound, the gates are closed for the evening to prevent gate crashers.
When the five foolish maidens finally arrive, they cannot get in because the Lord of the manor tells them, “I do not know you. We have no prior relationship. You did not arrive with the bridal party at the appointed time.” (Try not to let your 21st century culture get in the way of the story. Just read what is there. This is a parable about being prepared for an important event, the timing of which is critical but uncertain.)
The point Jesus was trying to make is that there is a day and an hour when entry into the kingdom is open and then comes a day when it will be closed forever. In Jesus’ parable, it was a once and done event. For instance, the coming of the Lord is an event that happens for us all when we die. There is a point in our life when God makes us the offer of relationship and we reach a final decision.
God has been offering and we have been considering our decision, but in this particular moment, we make a final decision. After this we never even consider it again. Then later when we die and realize our mistake, we want the door to be re-opened to let us in, but the Lord of the manor declines on the basis of “I never knew you! We had no prior relationship!”
Notice that the five foolish maidens called him “Lord, Lord!” They are willing to recognize his Lordship now, but the hour is too late and the day has passed in which that is possible. If they had had a prior relationship, the Lord would have opened to them and let them in. “Oh, I know you! I have known you for years. Come on in, my friends!”
Jesus taught that the way to destruction is wide and easy and many there are on that path, but the way into His kingdom is narrow and difficult and few there are who find it (Mt 7:13-14). Sobering thought! Sounds a bit like, “Many are called, but few are chosen!”
Jesus goes on to tell us that we can know who is a kingdom member and who is not by their fruit and not by their gifts. The gifts and call of God are irrevocable. Gifts and callings are not taken away from us even if we abandon God (Rm 11:29). But the fruit of the Spirit is only found on righteous branches.
Gal 5:19-26 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21 envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. NASB
Jesus said we can recognize kingdom members by their fruit. While many may call out to Him “Lord, Lord” (like the five foolish maidens above), Jesus will only open His supper to the people He knows; i.e., those with whom He has a relationship.
Matt 7:20-23 “So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. 22 “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ 23 “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ NASB
Being busily engaged in religion and ministry does not qualify us for membership unless we also have a relationship with God. Those who would be acceptable to God must keep His two great relational commandments, “Love God with all of our being and love our neighbor as ourselves.” If those relationships are not intact, we will be considered as not having kept God’s law; i.e., lawless. We will hear Him say, “I never knew you. We have no prior relationship.”
Paul tells us that he himself focuses on running the race (living his life) in such a way as to avoid being disqualified. He is speaking the language of athletic competition in his day. Apparently Paul believes that just being in the race is not enough. He could be in the race and still get disqualified.
1 Cor 9:24-27 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 25 And everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; 27 but I buffet my body and make it my slave, lest possibly, after I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified. NASB
Paul tells us what athletes who compete for a perishable prize must do to remain qualified. Jesus has told us (and Paul would agree) what athletes who compete for an eternal prize must do to be and to remain qualified; i.e., they must Love God and Love People. They must have right relationships with God and man. All salvation is based on relationship.
So what am I to take away from all of this? What, as Nancy would say, is the practical application? Our salvation, both in this life and in the next, is based on our relationship with God. We cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven in this life without a relationship with the King. That relationship will cause us to do good works, have the right doctrine, be active in serving others, and go to church on a regular basis.
These religious behaviors will usually flow from a right relationship with God, but they cannot be or become a substitute for that relationship. If so, they would just be “dead works.” A genuine saving relationship with God will generate in us a process of establishing and repairing right relationships with our fellow man. Our behaviors will reflect the fruit of the Spirit, including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
The most awful thing would be to arrive at the throne of judgment and have the Lord say, in spite of our many religious behaviors and good works, “Depart from Me! I never knew you.” The vitally important thing to have happen is to stand before the throne of judgment having been rightfully condemned by our all too many sins, but have Jesus rise up in our defense saying, “Hold on! I know this man or woman! whose name is written here in my Book of Life. We are LinkedIn.
His name is in my favorites list, Jesus would say. She is one of my closest friends. I grant her a pass! Take his/her punishment out of the pool of my shed blood. We have a relationship. He/she has genuinely trusted me for his salvation.” Then to us He says, “Enter into the joy of your master.”
As Jesus pointed out, entering the Kingdom of Heaven begins (or should begin) long before we get to the throne of judgment. We are invited to enter into the Kingdom in this lifetime, to grow in Kingdom living as we live in this world. If we will adopt the principles of the Kingdom in this lifetime through relationship with the Father, He will conform us to the image of His dear Son by the power of the Holy Spirit and our meeting at the throne of judgment will be a mere formality, like a man whose passport is in order. The guard will stamp it and say “Welcome home!”
If, while you stand in the express lane, you look over at the long line of weeping people who are being led away in handcuffs and whose behavior was in many ways not so much different than yours at times, you will realize that many are called, but few are chosen. It really is all about Who you know.