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. 22 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? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV)
I Never Knew You
We have here the conclusion of this long and excellent sermon, emphasizing the indispensable necessity of obeying Christ’s commands. He speaks to his disciples, who followed him wherever he went. Had he sought praise from people, he would have stopped at their admiration, but the religion he came to establish is about power, not just words (1 Corinthians 4:20), so something more is required.
Christ makes it clear that an outward profession of faith, no matter how impressive, will not bring us to heaven unless it is accompanied by true obedience (Matthew 7:21-23). Not everyone who calls him “Lord, Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven. Saying the right words is not enough. True faith must be accompanied by obedience to God’s will—believing in Christ, repenting of sin, living a holy life, and loving one another. Those who only profess faith without living it out are like those who say, “I go,” but never actually go (Matthew 21:30).
Many will claim to have prophesied, cast out demons, and performed miracles in Christ’s name, expecting these works to guarantee them a place in heaven. But these external acts do not prove a person’s faithfulness. Judas cast out demons, yet he was a son of perdition. Miraculous works do not replace a transformed heart. Many rely on religious privileges and good deeds while continuing in pride, worldliness, and lack of love for God and others. Such confidence is misplaced.
Christ, as the judge, will reject these people, saying, “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of iniquity.” He never acknowledged them as his own, even at the height of their religious activity, because their hearts remained unchanged. Those who refuse to come to Christ to be saved will be driven from him to be condemned. This warning should awaken all who rely on religious appearances rather than true obedience.