The Real Me

It is obvious, objective and observable; indisputable, irrefutable, incontestable. The tree is not qualified as “bad” (v 17) , but “corrupt” (sapros) in KJV, meaning rotten, ruined, worthless. Not a form but its formation, not its DNA but its development. Cut down and thrown into fire (v 19) is different in that the second is diseased, displaced, disfavored, discarded, destroyed, disintegrated.

Contrast:

Matt 7:15

sheep's clothing

ravening wolves.

Matt 7:16

grapes

thorns

Matt 7:16

figs

thistles

Matt 7:17

good tree bringeth forth good fruit corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.

Practice the Profession

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

IF I CONDEMN YOU, BLAME ME NOT.

Ye call Me Master and obey me not,

Ye call Me Light and see Me not,

Ye call Me Way and walk not,

Ye call Me Life and desire Me not,

Ye call Me wise and follow Me not,

Ye call Me fair and love Me not,

Ye call Me rich and ask Me not,

Ye call Me eternal and seek Me not,

Ye call Me gracious and trust Me not,

Ye call Me noble and serve Me not,

Ye call Me mighty and honor Me not,

Ye call Me just and fear Me not,

If I condemn you, blame me not.

~~Inscription inside the Lübeck Cathedral, Germany.

Verse 21 contrasts the “Lord, Lord” with “My Father.” The negative “never” (v 23) occurs only 17 times in the Bible, of which this is the first, the same negation Peter used in his bold prediction (Matt 26:33, “I will never be offended”) and the prodigal son’s brother (Luke 15:29 “I never transgressed your commandment” amd “You never gave me a kid”).

The first imperative (v 13, enter) has to do with our effort, and others (v 15, watch out) in the second imperative but the last imperative (v 23) concerns our relationship with God. The imperative “away/depart” (apochoreo) also describes the devil’s departure from a man’s demon-possessed son (Luke 9:39). It is derived from “choreo, which is room (Mark 2:2), place (John 8:37) or containing (John 2:6). It mean out of sight, put distance, nothing in common,

There are four closely related verbs: say (v 21, lego), say (v 22, ereo), prophesy (v 22) and tell plainly/profess (v 23, homologeo).

There are four “do” in this last section but they are two sets of contrasts: