Many Called and Few Chosen - Matthew 20:16

Matthew the apostle wrote how Jesus told of a certain householder who hired laborers to work in his vine fields, and “when even was come, the lord of the vineyard said unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and you have made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do you no wrong: did not you agree with me for a penny? Take that is yours, and go your way: I will give unto this last, even as unto you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is your eye evil, because I am good?”, and in chapter twenty and verse sixteen of his book, Matthew shares how Jesus said, “the last shall be first, and the first last” where we read:

So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

The verse reads, “So the last shall be first, and the first last:”. Matthew began with the words, “so the last” or “the laborers who were last obtained to work in the vine fields” “shall be first” which means “will be the first laborers who work in the fields”, “and the first” or “the first laborers who work in the fields” “last” which means “the laborers who were last obtained to work in the vine fields”. Matthew shared how Jesus rearranged the “normal” order of ranking for those who labor in the “householder's” field.

The verse continues, “for many be called, but few chosen.” Matthew added the words, “for many” or “because, since and on account that large amounts and a lot of people”, “be called” which means “are invited to be selected and appointed”, “but few” which means “nevertheless, nonetheless, moreover and a small amount or little are” “chosen” or “picked out, appointed and selected”. Matthew wrote how Jesus said “many” people are “invited” to be part of his harvest, however, only a small amount are selected to do so.

When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see a reverse way of doing things in Heaven's Kingdom. On earth, the first are first, and the last are last. However, in God's Kingdom, people who are deemed as “last” will be the “first”, and those who are noted as “first” shall be in “last” position. God desires a relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and He chooses whom He will to be laborers in His field. When people yield their lives to Him in faith, He promotes them to heights they have never known or experienced on the earth.

Next time Matthew tells how Jesus, “took the twelve disciples apart in the way”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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