Matthew 22:14 (WEB)

Passage

For many are called, but few chosen.”

Nearby Context

Matthew 22:12 and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here not wearing wedding clothing?’ He was speechless.

Matthew 22:13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and throw him into the outer darkness. That is where the weeping and grinding of teeth will be.’

Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few chosen.”

Matthew 22:15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how they might entrap him in his talk.

Matthew 22:16 They sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are honest, and teach the way of God in truth, no matter whom you teach, for you aren’t partial to anyone.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "called" and "chosen". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "called" and "chosen", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 13's "Then the king said to the servants..." into verse 15's "Then the Pharisees went and took counsel...", so "called" and "chosen" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "called" and "chosen" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.