By: Gen. Jim – 12/5/25
“… For many are CALLED but few chosen.” – Mt. 20:16
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the CALLED according to His purpose.” – Rom. 8:28
Greek Words Study
Both of the above Scriptures use the same Greek adjective – klētos – meaning “invited”, i.e. “appointed”, (spec.) “a saint”, from klēsis, “an invitation, calling, vocation”. These two Gk. words come from kaleō, “to call, bid (= kellō = “to urge on, order, give command”).
Other Scriptures found in the N.T. under the Gk. word (klētos are: Rom. 1:1, 6, 7; 1 Cor. 1:1, 2, 24; Jude 1; Rev. 17:14; Mt. 22:14
The adj., klētos (κλητός), “called” or “invited”, is used,
(a) of the call of the Gospel – Mt. 20:16 & 22:14, not there an effectual call, as in the Epistles, Rom. 1:1, 6, 7; 8:28; 1 Cor. 1:2, 24; Jude 1; Rev. 17:14; in Rom. 1:17 & 1 Cor. 1:2 the meaning is “saints by calling”; (b) of an appointment to apostleship, Rom. 1:1; 1 Cor. 1:1.
Call – Called – Calling
Verbs
1) kaleō (καλέω), derived from the root kal – , Eng., “call” & “clamour”; it is used (a) with a personal object, “to call anyone, invite, summon, e.g., Mt. 20:8, “… Call the laborers”; 25:14, “… Who called his own servants”; Kaleō is used particularly of the Divine CALL to partake of the blessings of redemption, .e.g., Rom. 8:30, “… these He also CALLED; whom He CALLED…”; 1 Cor. 1:9, “… by whom you were CALLED into the fellowship of His Son…”; 1 Thes. 2:12, “… that you would walk worthy of God who CALLS you into His own”; Heb. 9:15, “… those who are CALLED may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.” (b) of nomenclature or vocation, to CALL by a name, to name; in the Passive Voice, to be CALLED by a name, to bear a name. Hence, it suggests either “vocation” or “destination”; (the context determines which): see Rom. 9:25, 26, “… I CALL them My people, who were not My people… There they shall be CALLED Sons of the Living God.” (see O.T. Hosea 2:23 & 1:10); “surname”, in Acts 15:37, “… Barnabas was determined to take with them John CALLED Mark.” [note: there is a dispute by scholars over how the KJV/A.V. & the R.V. have Acts 15:37: some say the A.V. is incorrect – “whose surname was Mark”; the RSV has “… John called Mark.” (The dissension existed between Paul & Barnabas over John Mark – see 15:39);
2) Eiskaleō (εἰσκαλέω), lit., “to CALL in”, hence, “to invite” (eis, = in), e.g., Acts 10:23: “Then he INVITED (Gk. eiskaleō) them in & lodged them…”
3) Epikaleō (ἐπικαλέω), epi, upon, denotes (a) “to surname”; (b) “to be CALLED by a person’s name; so, it is used of being declared to be dedicated to a person, as to the Lord Jesus, as in Acts 15:17: “… Even all the Gentiles who are CALLED by My name…” (from Amos 9:12); see also James 2:7, “Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are CALLED?” (see 1 Pet. 4:16 where the name = “Christian”); (c) to CALL a person by a name by charging him or her with an offence, as the crooked Pharisees charged Christ Jesus with doing His good works by the help of Beelzebub, see Mt. 10:25. (the most authentic reading has epikaleō, for kaleō); (d) “to CALL upon, invoke”; in the Middle Voice, “to CALL upon for oneself (i.e., on one’s behalf), as in Acts 7:59:, “And they Stoned Stephen as he was CALLING on God…”, or to “CALL upon a person as a witness, as in 2 Cor. 1:23, “Moreover I CALL God as witness against my soul…”, or to “appeal to an authority, as in Acts 25:11, “… I appeal to Caesar.” (e) “to CALL upon by way of adoration, making use of the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, as in Acts 2:21, “And it shall come to pass that whoever CALLS on the Name of the LORD shall be saved.”; Rom .10:12, 13, 14; 2 Tim. 2:22 etc.;
4) Metakaleō (μετακαλεω̇), meta, implying “change”, to “CALL from one place to another, to summon” (see the LXX, Hosea 11:1), is used in the Middle Voice only, to “CALL for oneself, to send for, CALL hither,” see Acts 7:14, “Then Joseph sent & CALLED his father Jacob…”; Acts 10:32, “Send therefore to Joppa & CALL Simon here, whose surname is Peter…”; Acts 20:17 & 24:25;
5) Proskaleō (προσκυνέω), pros, to, signifies (a) to “CALL to oneself, to bid to come; “it is used only in the Middle Voice, e.g., Mt. 10:1, “And when He had CALLED His twelve disciples…”; Acts 5:40, “And they agreed with him, & when they had CALLED for the apostles…”; James 5:14, “Is anyone among you sick? Let him CALL for the elders…”; (b) God’s CALL to Gentiles through the Gospel of Christ, as in Acts 2:38. 39, “… Repent, & let every one of you be baptized in the Name of Jesus Christ… For the promise is to you & to your children, & to ALL who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will CALL.”; (c) the Divine CALL in entrusting men/women with the preaching of the Gospel of Christ, Acts 13:2, “… Now separate to Me Barnabas & Saul for the work to which I have CALLED them.”; Acts 16:10, “… the Lord had CALLED us to preach the Gospel to them”;
6) Sunkaleō (συγκαλέω) signifies to “CALL together, Mk. 15:16, Lk. 9:1; 15:6, 9; 23:13; Acts 5:21; 10:24; 28:17. Acts 19:40 says, “for we are in danger of being CALLED (i.e. charged with rebellion concerning today) in question for today’s uproar…”, the Gk. word for “CALLED” is (1) egkaleō or enkaleō (KJV) (see accuse, implead), (2) Acts 28:20, “For this reason therefore I have CALLED for you…”, the Gk. word here is parakaleō, meaning “to beseech, intreat”, is rendered “have CALLED for” (KJV); the R.V. has, “did intreat” (in the Margin, “CALL for”). (see beseech).
7) Aiteō (αἰτέω), means “to ask”, which is translated “CALLED for” in Acts 16:29. (see ask);
8) Phōneō (φωνέω), “to sound”, is used of the crowing of a clock, Mt. 26:34; Jn. 13:38; of CALLING out with a clear/loud/strong voice, to cry out,” e.g., Mk. 1:26 (some mss. have krasō); Acts 16:28; “of CALLING to come to oneself”, e.g., Mt. 20:32; Lk. 19:15; “of CALLING forth”, as of Christ’s CALL to Lazarus from the Tomb, Jn. 12:17; “of inviting”, e.g., Lk. 14:12; “of CALLING by name”, with the implication of the pleasure taken in the possession of those CALLED, Jn. 10:3; 13:13;
9) Legō (λέγω), means “to speak”, and is used of all kinds of oral comm., e.g., “to CALL, to CALL by name, to surname”, see Mt. 1:16; 26:36; Jn. 4:5; 11:54; 15:15; Rev. 2:2;
10) Epilegō (επιλέγω), epi, upon, signifies “to CALL in addition”, that is, by another name besides that already intimated, see Jn. 5:2 where it says, “… a pool, which is CALLED in Hebrew, Bethesda…”; for its other meaning see CHOSE in Acts 15:40: “but Paul CHOSE Silas & departed…”;
11) Chrēmatizō (χρηματίζω), this Gk. work occasionally means “to be CALLED or names, as in Acts 11:26 (of the name “Christians”) & in Rom. 7:3, the only places where it has this meaning. Gk. scholars point out that its primary significance, “to have business dealings with”, led to this. They say they “were (publicly) CALLED” Christians, because of this was their primary/chief business.
“… And the disciples were first CALLED (chrēmatizō) Christians in Antioch.” – Acts 11:25;
“… she marries another man, she will be CALLED an adulteress…” – Rom. 7:3 (CALLED = same Gk. word)
12) Eipon (εἶπεν, from ἐρέω = “to speak/say/CALL); to CALL by a certain appellation, i.e., a name or title that describes or identifies a person or thing. John 10:35 uses this Gk. word: “If He CALLED them gods, to who the Word of God came…”;
13) Krinō (κρίνω), “to judge”, is trans. “to CALL in question, in Acts 23:6 & 24:21.
When looking up #13 I found many different Gk. words:
(1) Onama, “a name”, trans. “CALLED”, in the KJV – Lk. 24:13; Acts 10:1, onomazō, “to name”, trans. “CALLED”, 1 Cor. 5:11, & eponomazō, “to surname”, trans. “art CALLED”, Rom. 2:17;
(2) Legō, “to say”, is rendered “CALLETH” in 1 Cor. 12:3, which the R.V. has “saith”; what is meant is not calling Christ “Anathema”, but making use of the phrase “Anathema Jesus”, i.e., “Jesus is acccursed”;
(3) Porsagoreuō, Heb. 5:10, means “to be named”;
(4) Metapempō, rendered “CALL for” in Acts 10:5, & 11:13, signifies “to fetch” in the R.V.;
(5) Sunathroizō, “to assemble”, is trans. “he CALLED together,” in the KJV of Acts 19:25; the R.V. has, “he gathered together”;
(6) Lambanō, “to take or receive”, is found with the noun hupomnēsis, remembrance, in 2 Tim. 1:5; The R.V. has, “having been reminded” (lit., “having received remembrance”), for the KJV/A.V., “When I CALL to remembrance.”;
(7) Koinoō, “to make common” (in the R.V.) is “CALL common” in the A.V. – Acts 10:15 & 11:9;
(8) Prosphōneō, “to CALL unto”
Noun
Klēsis (κλῆσις), “a CALLING”, is always used in the N.T. of that CALLING the origin, nature & destring of which are heavenly (the idea to man to accept the benefits of salvation (Rom. 11:29; 1 Cor. 1:26; 7:20 (said there of the condition in which the CALLING finds one); Eph. 1:18, “His CALLING”; Phil. 3:14, the “high CALLING”; 2 Thes. 1:11 & 2 Pet. 1:10 = “your CALLING”; 2 Tim. 1:9 = a “holy CALLING”; Heb. 3:1, a “heavenly CALLING”; Eph. 4:1, “the CALLING wherewith ye were CALLED”; 4:4, “in one hope of your CALLING.” (see vocation).
(Pt. 2)
Mt. 20:16
“… for many be called, but few chosen.” Some manuscripts leave out the above lines. The NKJV & the KJV read alike (as above). some scholars point to Luke 14:24: “For I say unto you, that NONE of those men which were bidden (called) shall taste of My supper.” They also point back to Mt. 20:18, “… CALL the laborers, & give them their hire.” They say “for many be CALLED, but few chosen” have less to do with the parable. They have crept in from 22:14, “For many are CALLED, but few chosen,” this may be an independent saying which Matthew uses to a climax to the story. Some rabbis taught a similar doctrine. They say (in reference to the parable of the wedding garment, “many are called” is not an undue pessimism. It is realism: few Jews did respond to the Gospel CALL, & Matthew lived at a time when the new N.T. Ekklesia was persecuted. The parable of the workers in the vineyard (20:1-16) has many interpretations. Early Church fathers as well as modern scholars have their views.
Many ask about Mt. 20:16 – “for many be called”, says that the Gospel CALL was for ALL, not just “many” (see Jn. 3:16) Does God / the Son pick & choose who will be with them?, leaving out others? Doesn’t God CALL ALL for salvation? We know not ALL will respond, but that He/They do call every soul to salvation.
The RSV et al. leave out, “for many be called, but few chosen.” These words are omitted on the authority of Sinaiticus, Vaticanus, & the Coptic versions. Why does the KJV/NKJV et al. retain these words? The Gk. word for CALLED (adj.) is klētos, of the CALL of the Gospel, to be invited, an invitation to a vocation, e.g. Christianity.
Verse 16a, “So the last shall be first, & the first last” means that the Gentiles, who have been without the One True God, shall now enjoy ALL the privileges of the new covenant; & the Jews, who have enjoyed these from the very beginning, shall now be dispossessed of them; for, because they have rejected their Messiah/Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, He also hath rejected the Jewish nation, save those Jews who chose to become Christian.
Like I’ve said, many versions reject 20:16b. Many scholars believe it to be a interpolation from 22:14. But the simple meaning seems to be: As those who did not come at the CALL/invitation of the householder to work in the vineyard did not receive the denarius, or wages, so those who do not obey the CALL of the Gospel, & believe in Jesus, shall not inherit eternal life.
Q. Did Jesus CALL ALL Israel for salvation or just “many”?
TODAY
Today, in this generation & in this hour, the CALL-to-ALL is SOUNDING worldwide, be they Jew or Gentile. ALL are CALLED to REPENT, forsake & COME IN! The gates to the New City are open… but FEW are found who use their advantages in such a way as to become extensively useful in the universal Ekklesia/Church – & many in the E/C “militant” behave so badly as never to be admitted into the E/C “Triumphant”! Too many, once recruited, play “soldier”, play the “harlot”, play the “fool”! They may endure training/discipline for a season but eventually go AWOL!!!
But thank God for all those who have enlisted in the “Army of God”, and serve with distinction – few in number, but faithful in service. How many are being CALLED but REFUSE to be saved?
Christ, our Commander in Chief, CALLS for faithfulness, fruitfulness. “Many are called but few are chosen”(the Epistle of Barnabus 4:14 also). Barnabus (A.D. 100) refers to Christ as the Elect One, the precious cornerstone (Barn. 6:2). In another section, after an extended appeal to obedience, the writer affirms that the Lord will judge the world – both the righteous and the wicked.
Tatian (A.D. 110-72), the composer of the Diatessaron, a harmony of the Gospels, wrote in his Address to the Greeks 11, “Live to God, & by apprehending Him lay aside your old nature. We were not created to die, but we die by our own fault. Our free will has destroyed us; we who were free have become slaves; we have been sold through sin. Nothing evil has been created by God (see my articles on Isa. 45:7 = “evil”/ra); We ourselves have manifested wickedness; but we, who have manifested it, are able again to reject it.” WOW! Good insight! Free will to choose or reject God’s provision determines one’s eternal FATE!
Q. “Why do you want to DIE!” One should read up on early Church fathers et al. They all write about the CALLING of ALL Believers, Although many Jews had shown, by their rejection of Jesus/Gospel, that they were not TRUE Israelites, Paul insists that there is a remnant of TRUE ones, of whom he is one (Rom. 11:1-5). This was the remnant according to the election of grace (11:5-6).
God CALLS lost souls according to His Will & Purpose (Rom. 8:28): This CALLING rests, not upon any works done by any, but upon the purpose & grace of God ALONE (2 Tim. 1:9). The CALL-to-ALL is SOUNDING LOUD & CLEAR, to the straight as well as to the queer!
The call of this hour, as in reference to those of us who are His already, in the CALL to “Righteousness Revolution”. This is not the time to be slack in putting the flesh to DEATH (Paul says, “I DIE Daily” – 1 Cor. 15:31), meaning, on a daily basis, I face the reality of death. In the context in which he wrote this Paul was in constant exposure to danger (like on a battlefield), but if he was not “dying to self” & “sin” daily, he would not be on the battlefield, for he was the very one who penned, “wage the good warfare” (1 Tim. 1:18), “Fight the good fight of faith” (6:12), “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles (plot/scheming) of the devil.”, So, dying daily to self/sin & facing death (physically) daily is THE WAY of the WARRIOR. (see 1 Cor. 16:9 where he mentions “… there are many adversaries”). (see also 2 Cor. 1:8-11 where Paul despaired of his life). “I die daily” = “I am subject to death,” “I am exposed to danger every hour.” We’ve been there as we’ve traveled the world.
Fin
We are not CALLED to have “Your Best Life Now!” as some teach: we are CALLED to do His will, not our will. May the demons of HELL not prevail! Amen.
Too many want to eat, drink, & be merry (drunk!); we are CALLED to be WATCHFUL & SOBER (1 Thes. 5:6) (sober, Gk., nēphō, “to abstain from wine” (lit.); “keep sober (fig.), watchful” (see other texts: 2 Cor. 5:13; 1 Tim. 3:2, 11; Tit. 1:8; 2:2, 4, 6; 1 Pet. 1:13; 4:7; 5:8: Soberly, Rom. 12:3; Tit. 2:12. et al.
We’re living in a time when the world is nearly out of its mind – crazy, hazy, lazy. Time to SOBER up!