What did Jesus say about Chosen by God?

Jesus contrasts the disciples’ given understanding with others’ lack of it.

Jesus contrasts the mystery given to his hearers with parables for outsiders.

¹¹ “To you is given the mystery of God’s Kingdom, but to those who are outside, all things are done in parables,

¹² that ‘seeing they may see and not perceive, and hearing they may hear and not understand, lest perhaps they should turn again, and their sins should be forgiven them.’”

Jesus says the disciples are given knowledge of the kingdom’s mysteries.

¹⁰ “To you it is given to know the mysteries of God’s Kingdom, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’

¹¹ “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

¹² Those along the road are those who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.

¹³ Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root. They believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation.

¹⁴ What fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life; and they bring no fruit to maturity.

¹⁵ Those in the good ground, these are those who with an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and produce fruit with perseverance.

Jesus says only those to whom it is given can receive this saying.

¹¹ “Not all men can receive this saying, but those to whom it is given.

¹² For there are eunuchs who were born that way from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men; and there are eunuchs who made themselves eunuchs for the Kingdom of Heaven’s sake. He who is able to receive it, let him receive it.”

Jesus contrasts those inside God’s kingdom with those excluded.

The shepherd calls his own sheep by name and leads them.

¹ “Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn’t enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, is a thief and a robber.

² But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

³ The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

⁴ Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

⁵ They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.”

Jesus gives Simon the name Cephas.

³⁸ “What are you looking for?”

³⁹ “Come and see.”

⁴⁰Not Jesus’ wordsVerses 40–41: not Jesus’ words

⁴² “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas”

Jesus says the Son gives life to whom he wills.

Jesus tells his disciples their names are written in heaven.

¹⁸ “I saw Satan having fallen like lightning from heaven.

¹⁹ Behold, I give you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will in any way hurt you.

²⁰ Nevertheless, don’t rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Jesus speaks of the Father revealing to little children and the Son revealing the Father.

²¹ “I thank you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for so it was well-pleasing in your sight.”

²² “All things have been delivered to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is, except the Father, and who the Father is, except the Son, and he to whomever the Son desires to reveal him.”

²³ “Blessed are the eyes which see the things that you see,

²⁴ for I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them, and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.”

Jesus distinguishes those who do the Father’s will from those he never knew.

²¹ “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

²² Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your name do many mighty works?’

²³ Then I will tell them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you who work iniquity.’

Jesus contrasts those coming into the kingdom with those cast out.

⁷ “I will come and heal him.”

⁸Not Jesus’ wordsVerses 8–9: not Jesus’ words

¹⁰ “Most certainly I tell you, I haven’t found so great a faith, not even in Israel.

¹¹ I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven,

¹² but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

¹³ “Go your way. Let it be done for you as you have believed.”

Jesus promises the conqueror a place and a name in God’s city.