Matthew 22:14

CLAD IN THE GARMENT

‘For many are called, but few are chosen.’

Matthew 22:14

These words have no reference to ‘election.’ The guest neglected to put on the wedding garment, and so while ‘called,’ he was not chosen.

I. The marriage garment.—By universal consent, ‘the marriage garment’ represents the spiritual robe in which we must all appear before God, without which we cannot be owned and accepted; and this spiritual robe is the righteousness of Christ. (See Psalms 45; Isaiah 61; Romans 3; Romans 13)

II. What follows putting on the robe.—What of necessity must be the character of a man who has put on that robe?

(a) He must be a humble man, for the beauty is a borrowed beauty.

(b) He must have confidence. He may take of the Master’s bounties of that feast without fear.

(c) He must be joyous. It is a feast. It is the very intention and condition of the gift—mirth and gladness.

(d) He must be a loving man. Is not it a feast of love? One unloving thought would be out of place.

(e) He must have Christ within him. He will take something himself of the character of the robe he wears. He cannot look at that robe, and not think of Him to whom he owes it all.

III. The distinction between those who are only ‘called,’ and those who are ‘chosen,’ is simply this—the one had not put on the wedding garment, and the other had. The election all turns upon one point:—‘ Have you on the wedding garment?’

The Rev. James Vaughan.

(SECOND OUTLINE)

SELECTION AND ELECTION

One of the chief causes which govern evolution is selection. It is often called natural selection. I prefer to leave out the ‘natural.’ You must not think for a moment that this selection is in any way opposed to Christianity. It is the Christian doctrine, only with a letter changed. Christians believe in election; scientific people believe in selection. The idea in both cases is the same, that it pleases the Almighty God, of the many forms of life that He creates, to select those that are suited for the purpose for which they are created, or, to put it in a scientific phrase, that are suitable to their environment. That is the universal principle. Your scientific man will show it to you in almost every branch of nature.

I. The principle in the parable.—Many people were to be called, but only certain people were to be chosen. The selection goes on further than that. There comes into that feast some one without the marriage garment, and he is cast out, our Lord teaching His disciples to expect that even among that number some will be selected and some refused. The word ‘chosen’ is the word which will take us through the whole of religion.

II. The principle in history.—Looking back into history, we find the same principle written very large on it. The offer has been repeated to great nations that they should become great instruments of God for doing His work, and constantly they have been found unsuited for their environment. They have not been selected, and therefore have been destroyed.

III. The principle in government.—I need not remind you that we who speak so easily about empire now are only one of many, but those who have gone before us have found the weight of empire too heavy for them. The thought of selection makes one very prudent when one speaks about the greatness of England. England is called to rule over a fifth of the world. Can we say that she is chosen? She is on her trial.

IV. The principle in our own lives.—Has it any individual application? ‘Many are called, but few are chosen.’ We see it all around. We see the advance marked by the destruction of the unfit. It is only the fittest that remain, and it is only those souls that shall be fit for the great purpose for which they were created, the praise and honour of God, who shall be selected to remain to eternity.

—The Rev. Lord William Cecil.