Question: Dear Reverend Roane, will you please explain Matthew 7:21-23? It’s the “Never Knew You,” part that frightens me.
Answer: First let’s look at the verse. There are a couple of premises that standout here; so, in order to make this clear let’s look at these verses carefully.
They read:
So, it is the lawless, not necessarily those who hold a particular nuance of theology—Catholic, Pentecostal, Evangelical or Charismatic; but those who practice lawlessness. So, those are the ones Jesus has in mind. Now, that is part of the answer, the other part lies in the words “never knew you.” Interestingly, the word knew here (translated from Aramaic an idiom of Hebrew, which no doubt Jesus was using) is also used in Genesis where the Bible says that “Adam knew his wife, Eve”—that is, had conjugal relations with her. They were intimately related.
So, all Christ is saying here, in brief, is that these lawless ones never committed themselves to Him as the Bride of Christ. Perhaps they had head knowledge, even really believed that He was the Son of God, but never really crossed that barrier of commitment to forsake all and follow Him. They wanted as it were a piece of the world, and a piece of Christ. It doesn’t work that way. There must be an intimately exclusive relationship. It’s all or nothing. We are the bride; He is the groom (John 3:29;Revelation 19:7).
This is what Jesus meant when he said, only those that do the will of My Father shall enter the kingdom of heaven (v. 21).
Some, however, use this verse as support for sacramental theology. Others say that only "belief" counts. Others say, "Why not both?" Others say, "Why not both, with exceptions made like Cornelius who was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in tongues, prior to baptism?" When, however, you analyze the possibilities, belief is always an essential ingredient. No Christian should ever refuse to obey Christ clear commandments—to do so is to disobey.
Answer: First let’s look at the verse. There are a couple of premises that standout here; so, in order to make this clear let’s look at these verses carefully.
They read:
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. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ ((NKJV)First there is an exclusionary clause—that is, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven … This is then followed by an inclusionary clause—which is, “but he who does the will of My Father in heaven [will enter].” Then, finally a conditional clause which identifies those that will not enter—and, that is, those who “practice lawlessness.”
So, it is the lawless, not necessarily those who hold a particular nuance of theology—Catholic, Pentecostal, Evangelical or Charismatic; but those who practice lawlessness. So, those are the ones Jesus has in mind. Now, that is part of the answer, the other part lies in the words “never knew you.” Interestingly, the word knew here (translated from Aramaic an idiom of Hebrew, which no doubt Jesus was using) is also used in Genesis where the Bible says that “Adam knew his wife, Eve”—that is, had conjugal relations with her. They were intimately related.
So, all Christ is saying here, in brief, is that these lawless ones never committed themselves to Him as the Bride of Christ. Perhaps they had head knowledge, even really believed that He was the Son of God, but never really crossed that barrier of commitment to forsake all and follow Him. They wanted as it were a piece of the world, and a piece of Christ. It doesn’t work that way. There must be an intimately exclusive relationship. It’s all or nothing. We are the bride; He is the groom (John 3:29;Revelation 19:7).
This is what Jesus meant when he said, only those that do the will of My Father shall enter the kingdom of heaven (v. 21).
Some, however, use this verse as support for sacramental theology. Others say that only "belief" counts. Others say, "Why not both?" Others say, "Why not both, with exceptions made like Cornelius who was filled with the Holy Spirit, and spoke in tongues, prior to baptism?" When, however, you analyze the possibilities, belief is always an essential ingredient. No Christian should ever refuse to obey Christ clear commandments—to do so is to disobey.
Trust this helps,
JimR_/
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