In Matthew 7:21-23 in the King James Version of the Bible, Jesus says, "Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
This passage is a powerful and sobering reminder for believers of the importance of true faith and obedience to God's will. It serves as a cautionary tale for those who may claim to be followers of Christ, but who are not truly living out their faith.
In this passage, Jesus makes it clear that simply professing faith in Him is not enough to enter the kingdom of heaven. He emphasizes that it is those who do the will of His Father in heaven who will be granted access. This challenges the popular misconception that mere verbal acknowledgment of Jesus as Lord is sufficient for salvation. Jesus is emphasizing the need for genuine, heartfelt faith that is evidenced by a life of obedience to God.
The examples given in the following verses further drive home this point. Many will come to Jesus on judgment day, claiming to have prophesied, cast out demons, and performed miracles in His name. These are impressive works that may lead one to assume that these individuals are true followers of Christ. However, Jesus exposes the hollowness of their claims by declaring, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." This reveals that their outward displays of spirituality were not reflective of a true relationship with Jesus.
One of the key themes of this passage is the importance of authenticity and sincerity in one's faith. The individuals Jesus warns against are not necessarily deliberate deceivers or infiltrators of the faith. They may genuinely believe they are doing the work of God. However, their focus on their own works and their failure to truly know and obey Jesus demonstrate a fundamental misunderstanding of what it means to have a relationship with Him.
Another central theme in this passage is the distinction between true and false discipleship. Jesus is warning against the dangers of a superficial or performative faith. He challenges his audience to examine their own hearts and motivations, urging them to ensure that their faith is rooted in genuine love for God and a desire to obey His will.
The context of this passage is important for understanding its significance. In the preceding verses, Jesus speaks about the narrow gate and the way that leads to life, contrasting it with the broad gate and the way that leads to destruction. He warns against false prophets who come in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. This sets the stage for His warning about false disciples who may appear to be followers of Christ, but whose hearts are not truly aligned with His.
Symbolically, the narrow gate and the way that leads to life can be seen as representing the path of true discipleship and genuine faith, while the broad gate and the way that leads to destruction represent the lure of superficial or insincere faith. The false disciples in this passage symbolize the danger of falling into the trap of performative religion, where outward actions and displays of spirituality take precedence over a true, heartfelt relationship with God.
In summary, Matthew 7:21-23 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of authentic faith and obedience to God. It challenges believers to examine their own hearts and motivations, and to ensure that their faith is not merely a performance, but a genuine relationship with Jesus. It emphasizes the need for a faith that is evidenced by a life of obedience to God's will, rather than one that relies solely on empty profession. As believers, this passage urges us to pursue a deep, sincere connection with God, rooted in love, humility, and obedience.
Get our apps
Artwork for Matthew 7:21-23
Matthew 7:21-23
Matthew 7:21-23 - "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. 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?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’"
"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. 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?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’" - Matthew 7:21-23
matthew 7:23
Matthew 23:21 - "And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein."
Matthew 23:7 - "And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi."
Matthew 21:21 Philippians 4:6-7 Ephesians 6:10-18 Put the words on the photo
Matthew 21:7 - "And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon."
Matthew 21:21 Philippians 4:6-7 Ephesians 6:10-18
Matthew 7:23 - "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
"And whoso shall swear by the temple, sweareth by it, and by him that dwelleth therein." - Matthew 23:21
"And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi." - Matthew 23:7
Matthew 7:21 - "¶ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven."
Matthew 21:23 - "¶ And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?"
"And brought the ass, and the colt, and put on them their clothes, and they set him thereon." - Matthew 21:7
Mark 7:21-23 - "For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man."
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.
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.
Matthew 6:23
Matthew 9:21
Matthew 25:23
Matthew 2:23
Matthew 15:23
Matthew 2:23
Matthew 23:12
Matthew 23:12
Matthew 21
Matthew 9:21-22
Matthew 9:21-22
Matthew 9:21-22