In the closing segments of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus delivers a stark warning about the nature of true faith and the inevitable judgment that awaits all humanity. The passage in Matthew 7:21-23 serves as a sobering reminder that mere verbal affirmation or outward religious acts are insufficient for salvation. Instead, genuine faith, which is a powerful force, is evidenced by obedience to God’s will and a transformative relationship with Jesus Christ.
Personal Reflection on Matthew 7:21-23
To fully grasp the significance of Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7:23, it is essential to delve into the broader context of the Sermon on the Mount. This sermon, encompassing Matthew chapters 5 through 7, is a foundational discourse in which Jesus outlines the ethical and spiritual principles of the Kingdom of God. He contrasts true righteousness with the superficial piety of the Pharisees and emphasizes the internal transformation required of His followers.
In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus warns of false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but are inwardly ravenous wolves. This warning sets the stage for His declaration in verses 21-23, where He highlights the peril of a nominal faith that lacks genuine obedience and relationship with God. Jesus asserts that not everyone who addresses Him as “Lord” will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but only those who do the will of His Father.
The Nature of False Discipleship
Jesus’ statement, “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (Matthew 7:23), addresses those who claim to follow Him but lack a genuine relationship with Him. The term “knew” here concerns intellectual knowledge and relational intimacy. Jesus emphasizes that He never recognized these individuals as true disciples or friends. This lack of relational knowledge underscores the superficiality of their faith.
The individuals in question profess to have performed mighty works in Jesus’ name—prophesying, casting out demons, and performing miracles (Matthew 7:22). However, these impressive displays of spiritual power do not substitute for genuine faith and obedience. Jesus highlights that mere outward acts, even those that appear spiritually significant, are meaningless without a genuine relationship with Him and adherence to God’s will.
The Will of the Father
To understand what it means to do the will of the Father, we must look at Jesus’ teachings and the broader biblical narrative. In John 6:28-29, some individuals ask Jesus, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus responds, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” Here, Jesus identifies faith in Him as the primary requirement for doing God’s work.
Additionally, 1 John 3:23 reinforces this concept: “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” True faith in Jesus manifests in a life of love and obedience to His commands. This obedience is further echoed in Ephesians 2:10, where Paul writes, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
The Danger of Nominal Christianity
The stark contrast between true faith and nominal Christianity is a central theme in this passage. The danger of nominal Christianity lies in its presentation of a mere façade of faith, lacking the substance of a transformed heart. Isaiah’s condemnation of hypocrisy, 'These people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me' (Isaiah 29:13), aptly describes this condition. This superficiality is precisely what Jesus condemns in Matthew 7:23.
Jesus’ words, “I never knew you,” are not about breaking off an existing relationship but about the absence of one from the beginning. Despite their religious activities, these individuals had no genuine connection with Christ. As Jesus says in John 10:14, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” This relational knowledge is foundational to true discipleship.
The Implications for Judgment Day
The implications for Judgment Day are grave. Jesus will separate true believers from mere pretenders. Revelation 22:15 describes the fate of those outside the kingdom: 'Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.' These individuals, despite their religious veneer, are characterized by their iniquity and rejection of God’s will.
The parable of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25:31-46 further illustrates this separation. The sheep, who represent true believers, are those who have acted in love and obedience, serving Jesus through their actions towards others. On the other hand, the goats are those who failed to live out their professed faith through tangible acts of compassion and obedience.
The Fruit of True Faith
True faith produces the fruit of the Spirit, as described in Galatians 5:22-23: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” These qualities are the evidence of a life transformed by the Holy Spirit. In contrast, the works of the flesh, listed in Galatians 5:19-21, indicate a life not submitted to God.
Jesus emphasizes that true discipleship is not merely about external conformity to religious practices but an inward transformation that manifests in obedience to God’s will. As He states in John 14:15, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” This obedience is not about earning salvation but about living out the reality of a relationship with Christ.
The Role of Works in Salvation
Understanding the role of works in the context of salvation is crucial. Ephesians 2:8-9 clarifies that salvation is by grace through faith and not by works: 'For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.' However, verse 10 states that we are created for good works, which are the evidence of our faith.
James 2:17-18 reinforces this relationship between faith and works: “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” True faith inevitably results in a life of obedience and good works, demonstrating the reality of one’s relationship with God.
Conclusion: The Call to True Discipleship
Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7:21-23 calls for a serious examination of our faith. More than merely professing allegiance to Christ or engaging in religious activities is required. True discipleship requires a deep, transformative relationship with Jesus, evidenced by obedience to God’s will and the fruit of the Spirit in our lives.
As believers, we must heed Jesus’ call to genuine faith and avoid the pitfalls of nominal Christianity. Our hope lies not in our works but in the grace of God and the relational knowledge of Christ. On Judgment Day, it will not be our impressive spiritual accomplishments that matter but our intimate connection with Jesus and our faithful obedience to His commands.
In light of this, let us cultivate a genuine relationship with Christ, marked by faith, love, and obedience. Let us examine our hearts and lives, ensuring that the reality of our discipleship matches our profession of faith. For on that day, we desire to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21), rather than the devastating words, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:23).
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