Matthew 7:21-23 (NKJV)
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
Last week as we looked at Philippians 3, the question before us was, “Do you know Jesus?” And if the truth be told, we can profess to know someone but in fact we only know about that person. Even online you may have people know about Shield of Faith and they may know about Pastor Juan, but information alone does not affirm a personal relationship.
So it is with Jesus… many both in the church and outside the church, make a claim and profess to know Jesus, but I am afraid that in all actuality they only know ABOUT Jesus and are not in a personal relationship with Him.
The question as to whether or not someone knows about you or whether they know you on a personal level can only be answered by you. So we have it with Jesus, we can say that we know Him, but if he says he doesn’t know us……. we have a problem……
This is an eschatological (end times) passage, and it shows us that just because someone professes to know Jesus and professes to do works in His name, that is not a qualifier that they are in relationship with Him.
There are 3 basic thoughts that I pondered as I meditated over the text…
First, the text is a little concerning…. Its concerning because Jesus shows us that the manifestation or exhibition of works alone is not evidence of salvation.
We see that those who call Jesus Christ Lord will be divided into two groups. The first group will enter Heaven and the other group will not. We see this even in the parable of the wheat and tares in Matthew 13, where Jesus say let them grow together and we’ll separate them at the end. However, the concerning part is that Jesus says in verse 21 that those who will enter the Kingdom of Heaven are the ones “who does the will of My Father in heaven.” Yet in verse 22 there is a profession of those who will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven followed by a pronouncement of their works.
Matthew7:22 - Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
Then in verse 23 we see Jesus says “I never knew you; depart from Me…” Each of the questions in verse 22 are written in the affirmative, they are rhetorical questions, meaning Jesus knows the answer and the answer to each is YES. YES they did prophesy (or preach) in Jesus’ name, YES they did cast our demons in Jesus’ name, YES they did work miracles in Jesus’ name. It’s concerning because Jesus then says, “I never knew you…”
What does Jesus mean………. What is he talking about……
Well, as we learned last week there is a knowing which is informational and there is a knowing which is experimental or the result of relationship. Jesus as God is omniscience (meaning all knowing). He knows ALL about them, but they were not in relationship with Him. This is concerning because they professed to belong to Jesus, they do things that followers of Jesus do. They look holy, act Holy, they do Holy stuff ….. BUT …. Jesus says I never knew you….
So this tells us that we can make a profession in Jesus Christ, do works in/through the church and not belong to Him.
Matthew 7:23 Jesus says, “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”
Newman & Stine in their commentary called “A handbook on the Gospel of Matthew.” Said this:
I will declare translates a Greek verb which has a wide variety of meanings; quite frequently it is translated “confess.” Here the verb has its root meaning of “to speak openly and freely.” Most translations prefer a somewhat strong affirmation: “I will pass judgment” (German Common Language), “I shall tell them to their faces” (New Jerusalem Bible), “I will tell them straight” (Barclay), and “I shall tell them plainly” (Phillips Bible). Many translators find that the Phillips rendering is a helpful model. They have “I will tell them openly (or, directly).”
Several scholars note that the words I never knew you constitute a formula used by Jewish rabbis when pronouncing a ban against someone; it means “I have nothing to do with you” or “You mean nothing to me.” Barclay translates “You are complete strangers to me!” “I have nothing to do with you” or “You were not my people (or, my followers)” are the most common renderings.
So, as you see the text is concerning because our works are not evidence of salvation.
Secondly, the text is comforting…. It’s comforting to know that we are not saved by our works.
The bible is clear that we have to believe (to put our faith in, trust) in God’s one and only Son to be saved. We can’t earn our salvation because it is a gift from God.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
John 3:16 (NKJV)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
It’s comforting to me to know that since I didn’t save myself, I’m not responsible for keeping myself saved. Therefore, my confidence is not in my flesh, but my confidence is in Jesus Christ……
Jesus said in Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
So this begs the question of…. What is the will of God we need to do, in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven?
Ephesians 5:15-18 tells us that we can understand the will of God.
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,
2 Peter 3:9 tells us God’s desire for mankind.
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Acts 26:20 NIV
… I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds.
Acts 26:20 (AMP)
… that they should repent and turn to God, and do works and live lives consistent with and worthy of their repentance.
Acts 26:20 (NKJV)
… that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance.
Jesus identifies them as those “who practice lawlessness” or your translation may have “evildoers”. Newman & Stine had this to say:
The noun “lawlessness” is one of Matthew’s favorite terms... In the Old Testament “lawlessness” means doing what is contrary to the Law of God, which is also true for Matthew. However, for him “lawlessness” is expressed in the failure to show love for one’s neighbor, since “love” is the true fulfillment of God’s Law. …“You have neglected to live according to the will of God; away with you!” (GeCL).
Here’s the thing…. As believers in Jesus Christ our lives should produce works, but works in and of themselves are pointless. Our works should be the result of our salvation motivated with love.
1 Corinthians 13:1-3(NKJV)
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
Matthew 22:36-40 (NKJV)
36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
Knowing all this our text today is corroborating (to make more certain; confirm) ….. It’s corroborating because we can know, understand, and fulfill the will of God.
It’s not about going through the religious motions of what we think a good Christian should.
• If I go to church but have not love, it profits me nothing.
• If I give my tithes but have not love, it profits me nothing.
• If I worship and praise but have not love, it profits me nothing.
• If I witness to people and invite them to church but have not love, it profits me nothing.
• If I study my bible but have not love, it profits me nothing.
• If I pray but have not love, it profits me nothing.
But the outworking of all these things should be rooted in our love for and of God. EVERYTHING I do in the name of Jesus is because I love Him, and that’s confirmation that he knows me because I can do it all in love with the gift of His Holy Spirit, which is given to us the moment we believe.
Does Jesus know you?
Have you accepted that you are a sinner in need of a savior?
Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal savior?
Have you repented (turn from sin and to God)?
Is the love of God operating in (making you a better Christian) and through your life (by works befitting salvation)?
If you answer yes to ALL these question, then you just might know Jesus and Jesus just might know you.
