The words that we come to today are, in many ways, the most sobering words ever uttered in this world.[1] We might even say that the words we come to today are the most terrifying words found in the Bible.[2] At every turn and from every angle these words pierce in their sharpness, expose us in their ferocity, and lay us bare before the God who knows all. I do wonder, if we’ve ever really paused to linger over these words long enough to truly consider them. I think we must conclude that we are, all of us, guilty of claiming to believe all the Scriptures, yet in practice we avoid certain passages because of how much they demand of us or disturb us. We like our Christianity far too comfortable if we’re honest. Yet this is the teaching of the Lord Jesus Himself! So we must not only consider hard sayings like this, we must hear them, and hear them, and hear them, as long as it takes for us to be mastered by them.
In preparation of this text, I’d ask you to remember a great truth. One day, everything will be stripped away. Family, friends, fair landscapes, all hobbies, all interests, and all duties will pass away, as every single one of us, by ourselves, will stand before God in judgment. What will He say of us on that day? We might comfort ourselves with the thought that we knew God in life but regardless what we think of ourselves and our knowing God, the question this text poses on us in this: will God know us, or will He say, “I never knew you…”
This is yet another crossroads moment Jesus brings us to as He winds down the Sermon on the Mount here in Matthew 7. This whole section feels like this. He presses us to decision time and time again, presenting us with four sets of twos. A few weeks ago we looked at 7:12-14 where Jesus puts two ways before us. Last week we looked at 7:15-20 where Jesus puts two prophets before us. Today in we’ll look at 7:21-23 where Jesus puts two disciples before us. And ending it all next week is 7:24-27 where Jesus puts two foundations before us. In each of these sections all of us hearing Jesus’ words come to a crossroads where we must choose one way or another. We could, in fact, see v21-23 as a clear continuation of the same argument in v15-20 about false prophets. Because though their words were right and sounded good and true, they denied Christ by their deeds. Some do keep these two sections together and handle them as one, I’ve decided to separate them for us in our time together here because there is more than enough to learn and apply to our own lives from v15-20 and v21-23 on their own.
Listen to Jesus’ words in v21-23, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Let’s walk through this slowly and carefully. First see…
A Clear Truth (v21)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”
This is a straightforward warning from Jesus. Yet the words it uses would be very familiar to those aware of the history of Israel.[3] A handful of times in the OT there are moments when names are repeated for emphasis. When Abraham obeyed the Lord and had gathered up all that was necessary and had taken his only son Isaac up Mt. Moriah to be sacrificed, at the moment when he lifted the knife in his hand to carry out the dreadful deed God called out, “Abraham, Abraham…stay your hand” (Gen. 22:11-12). Later on after Jacob had grown old, having been in the promised land for some time, and his sons had discovered Joseph was alive and well in Egypt and had invited them all to come live with him there, Jacob was afraid to leave the land of promise when God appeared to him at night saying, “Jacob, Jacob…do not be afraid to go down to Egypt” (Gen. 46:2-4). Later on after Moses had grown up in Egypt, fled Egypt, spent years out in the wilderness it was there that God revealed Himself to him in the burning bush saying, “Moses, Moses…take off your shoes, for the place where you stand is holy ground” (Ex. 3:4-5). Still further on when the prophet Samuel was a young boy and was learning from Eli the priest, God called out to him for the first time saying, “Samuel, Samuel…” (1 Sam. 3:10). Just a bit later after David’s oldest son Absalom revolted and stole the kingdom from him causing him to flee the city and enter into war and conflict with him, upon the news of his sons death David cried out, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom…” (2 Sam. 18:33).
In the NT we see this too. When Jesus was at the home of Lazarus sitting with his friends, Mary was sitting at His feet while Martha attended to the household duties, Jesus called out, “Martha, Martha, you are worried about much…” (Luke 10:41-42). As Jesus looked out over the city of Jerusalem in grief for their unbelief He cried out, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how I wanted to gather your children together…but you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34). And even as Jesus is dying on the cross for the sins of all who would ever believe He quotes Psalm 22:1, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
I’ve taken you through all of that just to show how the use of the repetition with names is used a handful of times to signify genuine meaning and heartfelt intent. So when Jesus uses this Himself in Matthew 7:21 saying, “Lord, Lord” His hearers would’ve understood that such a phrase most likely reveals a genuine and sincere belief in Him, but He stuns and sobers His hearers when He adds that not everyone who says these words truly means them.
Four things about this confession stand out.[4] First, the confession “Lord, Lord” is polite and respectful. The word Lord in Greek is the word kurios, meaning sir. It was often used by servants in speaking with their masters. Second, the confession “Lord, Lord” is more than polite, they’re words of confession and belief, because the word kurios is also often used as a divine name and designation. Third, the confession “Lord, Lord” is fervent. The double use of the divine designation brings all those moments in the OT when names were used twice for emphasis and deep meaning. So the one saying Lord twice would give the impression of a fervent zeal and devotion to Christ. And fourth, the confession was public. This was a public display of allegiance many made toward Jesus that was followed by public works, as we’ll soon see. From these four things we might wonder, ‘What is wrong with this confession? It seems exemplary on many levels, doesn’t it?’ It does. But Jesus says it is false. One commentator memorably says, “A man who refuses to say ‘Lord, Lord’ will never enter the kingdom of heaven. All true Christians say ‘Lord, Lord.’ But not all who say ‘Lord, Lord’ are true Christians.”[5] This is the point of v21 and it’s what Jesus Himself says. “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.”
Hear we see the nature of what true saving faith really is. It’s far more than mere words, it involves doing. True saving faith is more than merely knowing the right things about the gospel. And it is more than merely knowing and agreeing that these right things about the gospel are true! Real, true, saving faith is more. True, real, saving faith is knowing, agreeing with, and trusting in what we know of the gospel for our eternal salvation. Or we could say, true saving faith is more than seeing Christ for who He truly is. It’s seeing Him rightly as well as savoring Him deeply. This is what separates our knowledge of Christ from the Devil’s knowledge of Christ. James 2 says the Devil knows full well that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the Redeemer, and the long-anticipated Savior of God’s people. But even though he knows this, he refuses to bow the knee. He has true knowledge of Christ, but no trust or love toward Christ. He sees but he doesn’t savor.
What about you? Do you just have a true knowledge of Christ? Or does love, and trust, and prayer, and praise to Christ accompany your knowledge of Christ? Church, saying is one thing, doing is another. Not all who say the right words will enter heaven, only those who do the will of God. This isn’t salvation by works being taught here, as if believing isn’t enough and belief must be completed by deeds, not at all.[6] What is in view is the difference between mere profession of faith and the life of faith. If we truly believe in Christ, our lives will show it. Professing faith in Christ is one thing, possessing Christ and following Christ is another. That’s what Jesus is speaking of. This is sharp and challenging for us to hear.
Notice what v21 says about Jesus. When He says these types of people will not enter into heaven and these types of people will enter into heaven, don’t miss the exalted claim Jesus makes for Himself here.[7] Jesus presents Himself here as the Judge, the One who decides and presides over, the eternal destiny of all mankind. Here He clearly states that the one decisive matter that determines the salvation or damnation of everyone is their relationship to Him. So Church, what is your relationship to Him? Is it one of mere words only? Or is it one of daily life, daily living with and living near Him? The one who simply says words is phony, the one who lives it out is true.
This is the clear truth. Now see…
Clarity Despite Activity (v22)
“On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’”
Here Jesus takes His argument one step further. He says “On that day” referring to the judgment day, the final day, the day when all the books are opened, and all accounts are settled. On that day, many will say to Jesus ‘Lord, Lord’, making a great profession of faith, but here in v22 see that their profession of faith is followed by a list of deeds done, and after each deed mentioned there is the added remark that these deeds were all done “in Your name.” Look at this list.
Prophesy is the first great deed mentioned, “…did we not prophesy in Your name…”? This isn’t surprising to see in the list, especially after v15-20 where we learn that false prophets are a true problem in every age. So by the time we get to this passage we’ve already heard and understand that there are those who claim to speak for God, those who claim to teach about God, and those who claim to live for God who are false and phony. These may speak in great wisdom, showing careful and precise use of language and mastery of their subject at hand, but their profession of faith ‘Lord, Lord’ is nothing more than words alone. It’s empty, vain, and hollow.
What a good reminder this is to those who teach, or those who aspire to teach God’s people. God never saved a man for being a preacher, even if that preacher could captivate and compel and inspire the largest crowds. The preacher must also embrace the message he preaches, lest he die of hunger while he offers the bread of life to others, or die of thirst while offering living water to others. Speaking on behalf of God, about God, to God’s people (as a prophet does) is truly a great task, but the prophet must also embrace the Savior as well, lest his own life unsay all the words he said in preaching/teaching.
Casting out demons is second in the list. This is a common element in the ministry of Jesus and the apostles, as is seen all throughout the gospels and the book of Acts. Demons, wherever they’re found possessing or plaguing or tormenting or torturing individuals, it is always a good deed done when they are cast out. And Jesus did this a lot, to show His deity, to rebuke the Devil for his foul work, and to display His power to those looking on. But apparently there were people going around town who were casting out demons in Jesus’ name, while ironically, not believing in Jesus themselves. Sure they professed to believe in Him saying ‘Lord, Lord’ along with the others, but they didn’t truly believe. Perhaps they loved the attention casting out demons brought them from others, or perhaps they loved the power of such an act, or perhaps they believed they could gain a profit from such a wonder. Whatever it was motivating their deeds, it was far from godly.
Finishing the list in v22 is a catch all phrase, “many mighty works” done in Jesus’ name. We don’t know all that is included in this phrase, much certainly. But we can be sure that these signs and wonders were numerous and miraculous. And many probably concluded that the folks who did such great works were being used mightily by the Lord. But were they? No. They professed faith saying, ‘Lord, Lord’ but their hearts were far from Him.
All three deeds mentioned in v22 are given as clear evidence that those who did them are truly saved, yet they weren’t. As before, so too here again we see more of the nature of saving faith. Deeds done and signs and wonders performed for the Lord are truly great and glorious, but deeds don’t save. Do you know this? Yes, if one truly believes in Christ deeds for Christ will naturally follow. But deeds alone aren’t enough. Even deeds that look great and godly in nature and deeds that bring great good to others. 2 Thess. 2:9 makes this clear when Paul states that there really are demonic and false signs and wonders. We can be the busiest in religious activity and be lost as all get out.
So clarity about their lost condition remains despite all their activity, that’s the second thing to see. Finally, see all of this culminate in v23…
A Sobering End (v23)
“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
Despite the great profession of faith made, ‘Lord, Lord.’ Despite the fervent and zealous religious activity done in Jesus’ name, Jesus will shock some on that final day when He says, “I never knew you.” What does this mean, “I never knew you”? Is Jesus saying He was never aware of them at all, as in He was ignorant of their existence? We use this phrase like that sometimes. ‘Hey, do you know Bob?’ ‘Nope, I don’t know Bob, I’ve never known Bob.’ Is that what Jesus means here? No. When Jesus says, ‘He never knew someone’ He means He never set His love upon them, and never recognized them as His own.[8] Amos 3:2 uses this language. There God tells Israel, “You only have I known, among all the families of the earth.” God is not ignorant of all people, but God has only set His love upon one nation and one family in all the earth, Israel. Paul says the same in Gal. 4:9, “Now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God…” And 1 Cor. 8:3 too, “If anyone loves God, he is known by God.”
So when many say on that day ‘Lord, Lord’ loudly claiming to be Christians with their lips, while their lives deny Him in word, thought, and deed…to these Jesus will respond “I never knew you, depart from Me, you worker of lawlessness.” In other words, ‘I never set My love on you, you are a spiritual stranger to me. Heaven isn’t for you, only Hell.
Conclusion:
I know this is weighty. It easily fits with the category of the hard sayings of Jesus. But as hard as it is, aren’t you thankful for it? I mean, Jesus is clear, Jesus is honest, Jesus tells it like it is, Jesus doesn’t hold anything back from us. Wouldn’t you rather He do this and be so clear with us, rather than Him dancing around the truth about these things? Hear His point: neither good words or good deeds can substitute for truly knowing and being known by the Lord. Religious language or religious activity can’t replace the actual life of faith.
Make no doubt about it, the day of judgment will be a day of many surprises.[9] So what about you? What is your relationship to Jesus? Do you have words? Do you have deeds? Do you know Him? Does He know you? A text like this sobers us all…but if you find that you are lacking and without hope, I pray you’d run to Christ, rest in His grace, and find real hope. This is the whole point of the Sermon on the Mount, that you’d come to Christ, in truth, that you’d know Him as He is, and be saved and made secure forever.
“If I ever reach heaven I expect to find three wonders there: first, to meet some I had not thought to see there; second, to miss some I had thought to meet there; and third, the greatest wonder of all, to find myself there.” (John Newton)
[1] Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1971) 2:261.
[2] R. C. Sproul, Matthew: An Expositional Commentary (Sanford, FL: Ligonier, 2019) 179.
[3] Sproul, Matthew, 179-184.
[4] R. Kent Hughes, The Sermon On the Mount: The Message of the Kingdom – Preaching the Word Commentary (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2001) 259.
[5] Hughes, The Sermon On the Mount: The Message of the Kingdom, 259.
[6] Leon Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew – PNTC (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1992) 179.
[7] R.T. France, Matthew – NICNT (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 2007) 293-294.
[8] France, Matthew, 295.
[9] Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Studies in the Sermon on the Mount (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 1971) 2:273.
