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“Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
— Matthew 7:23 (NIV)
Or more literally:
“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’”
— Matthew 7:23 (NASB)
This is one of the most solemn statements that ever fell from the lips of Jesus. It is not addressed to atheists. It is not addressed to idol worshipers. It is addressed to people who call Him “Lord,” who minister in His name, who operate in supernatural gifts, and yet are rejected by Him.
The central theme of the lyrics you have provided is this fearful possibility: a person may be active in religious life, even in powerful ministry, and still hear Christ say on the final day, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.”
The question before us is not, “Do I call Jesus ‘Lord’?” but, “Does Jesus truly know me, and do I do the will of His Father?”
Let us look at what the Word of God says.
> “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 in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘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 who practice lawlessness.’”
> — Matthew 7:21–23
This passage confronts us with three great issues:
1. The difference between confession and obedience.
2. The difference between spiritual gifts and spiritual character.
3. The difference between outward ministry and inward relationship.
Our aim is not to produce fear that leads to despair, but to produce godly fear that leads to repentance, reality, and alignment with God’s will.
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Matthew 7:21–23 comes at the end of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). Jesus is drawing His great sermon to a sober climax. He is separating:
In Matthew 7, there is a progression:
1. The narrow and broad ways (7:13–14):
Few find the way that leads to life; many go the way that leads to destruction.
2. False prophets (7:15–20):
They come in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.
3. False disciples (7:21–23):
Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord” will enter, but only those who do the Father’s will.
So, this statement—“I never knew you; depart from Me”—is part of Jesus’ warning concerning final judgment.
### Who is speaking?
Jesus Himself is speaking, not as a mere teacher, but as the future Judge of all humanity. Notice the divine claims He makes:
This is a clear assertion of His divine authority. He is not merely explaining what God will say; He declares what He will say.
### To whom is He speaking?
He is speaking first to His disciples (Matthew 5:1–2), but in the hearing of the crowds. He is not warning pagans about their indifference. He is warning religious people about their deception.
Those who are addressed in Matthew 7:22 are:
This is one of the most sobering revelations in Scripture: it is possible to be active in ministry, gifted in the supernatural, publicly impressive, and yet inwardly lawless and unknown to Christ.
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To grasp the weight of Jesus’ words, we need to examine two key terms:
### 1. “Knew” – Greek: *ginōskō*
The verb “knew” in Matthew 7:23 is ἔγνων from the root *ginōskō*. This word signifies more than intellectual awareness. It often denotes:
In the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), *ginōskō* is used to translate the Hebrew *yadaʿ*, which includes intimate, personal knowledge. For instance:
So when Jesus says, “I never knew you,” He is not saying, “I did not know who you were,” but rather, “I never had a true covenant relationship with you. You were never truly Mine in the way of love, loyalty, and obedience.”
This exposes a crucial truth: to be saved is not simply to know about Christ, but to be known by Christ.
Paul echoes this:
### 2. “Lawlessness” – Greek: *anomia*
The phrase “you who practice lawlessness” uses the word ἀνομία (*anomia*), from *a-* (without) and *nomos* (law). Literally:
In the New Testament, *anomia* does not merely mean “ignorance of law,” but an active rejection of God’s moral order; it is rebellion against God’s will.
John defines sin in these very terms:
> “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness (*anomia*).”
> — 1 John 3:4 (NASB)
Jesus uses the same word of the end times:
> “And because lawlessness (*anomia*) is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.”
> — Matthew 24:12
So, the people in Matthew 7:23 are not simply weak or immature believers struggling with sin. They are practitioners of *anomia*—habitual, unrepentant violators of God’s will—who use religious activity to cover their rebellion.
This deepens our understanding of the lyrics:
> “I never knew you—
> depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
They are not “workers” of righteousness, but “workers” of lawlessness. They have labored, but in the wrong field. Outwardly they claim Christ; inwardly they reject His yoke.
---
Let us now take the themes in the lyrics and examine them in the light of Scripture.
### A. “Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you who practice lawlessness!’”
The adverb translated “plainly” or “openly” (Greek: *homologēsō*) is related to confessing or declaring. Jesus is saying: “I will publicly declare this.” There will be no secrecy about this judgment.
This language echoes Psalm 6:8 (quoted in many translations of Matthew 7:23):
> “Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;
> For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.”
> — Psalm 6:8 (NKJV)
In the Old Testament, “Depart from me, you evildoers,” is an expression of separation from those who reject God’s law. Now, Jesus takes that divine prerogative upon Himself. He is the one who separates the righteous from the lawless.
We must note: hell is, ultimately, separation from Christ. To be told “Depart from Me” is the essence of eternal loss.
“These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.”
### B. “I never knew you—depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.”
This repeated line underlines two realities:
1. No relationship: “I never knew you.”
2. Persistent rebellion: “You workers of lawlessness.”
Notice, Jesus does not say, “I knew you once, but you fell away.” He says, “I never knew you.” Their entire religious career was carried on outside of true relationship.
This aligns with 1 John 2:19:
> “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us…”
Their departure from obedience reveals that they were never truly of Christ.
### C. “Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”
Here Jesus draws a decisive distinction between:
To call Jesus “Lord” is to acknowledge Him as Kurios—Owner, Master, Supreme Authority. Yet He explicitly says: saying this is not sufficient.
Luke gives a parallel:
> “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”
> — Luke 6:46
So the real test of lordship is obedience.
This does not mean we are saved by works. Scripture is clear: we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9). But the same passage continues:
> “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
> — Ephesians 2:10
True faith inevitably produces obedience. Obedience does not earn salvation, but it proves salvation. James states it starkly:
> “Faith without works is dead.”
> — James 2:26
So when Jesus says “only the one who does the will of My Father,” He is speaking of a faith that works through love (Galatians 5:6), a faith that submits to God’s revealed will.
### D. “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’”
Notice several features:
1. “Many” – not a few. This deception will be widespread.
2. “On that day” – the Day of Judgment (cf. 2 Timothy 1:12, 18; 4:8).
3. They appeal to their ministries, not to Christ’s finished work.
Their defense is: “We did… we prophesied… we cast out demons… we did many mighty works.” There is no mention of repentance, faith, the cross, or obedience. Their confidence is in what they did for Him, not in what He did for them.
Jesus does not deny that these activities occurred. He does not say, “You did not prophesy,” or “You did not cast out demons.” He simply declares: “I never knew you.”
This makes clear:
Balaam prophesied genuinely by the Spirit (Numbers 23–24) and yet was a corrupt prophet. Saul prophesied (1 Samuel 10:10–11) yet later was rejected by God.
Jesus already warned earlier in this same chapter:
> “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
> — Matthew 7:15
How do we discern?
> “You will know them by their fruits.” (7:16)
Not by their gifts, not by their numbers, not by their miracles, but by the fruit of their lives: holiness, love, obedience, humility.
### E. “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’”
We have already examined “knew” (*ginōskō*) and “lawlessness” (*anomia*). Notice also the verb “practice” (Greek: *ergazomenoi*—“those who work, labor, produce”). They work lawlessness. Lawlessness is their regular occupation.
Compare with Romans 2:6–8:
> “He will render to each one according to his works:
> to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, He will give eternal life;
> but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.”
Everyone is working something. The issue is: What are you working? Righteousness, or lawlessness?
Jesus gives an explicit contrast in Matthew 7:24–27 right after this passage:
The difference is not in hearing but in doing.
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The purpose of this passage is not to leave us in terror, but to drive us to authentic discipleship. How then do we respond so that we will not hear “Depart from Me,” but rather “Well done, good and faithful servant”?
Here are four concrete responses.
### 1. We must examine ourselves honestly before the Lord
Paul writes:
> “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?”
> — 2 Corinthians 13:5
We must ask the Holy Spirit to search us:
This is not morbid introspection, but Spirit-led examination. Psalm 139:23–24 should become our prayer:
> “Search me, O God, and know my heart;
> Try me and know my anxious thoughts;
> And see if there be any hurtful way in me,
> And lead me in the everlasting way.”
### 2. We must renounce lawlessness and submit to the Lordship of Christ
Repentance is not a feeling; it is a decision. It is a turning from *anomia* to obedience. Hebrews 1:9 describes Jesus:
> “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness (*anomia*).”
If we belong to Him, we must share that attitude.
This involves:
Romans 6:19:
> “Present your members as slaves to righteousness, leading to sanctification.”
Faith in Christ and submission to Christ cannot be separated. Romans 10:9:
> “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Confessing Him as Lord means yielding to His authority in practice.
### 3. We must seek a real, personal relationship with Christ, not mere religious activity
The crucial issue of Matthew 7:23 is relationship: “I never knew you.” It is possible to be busy “for God” and yet be far from God.
Jesus speaks of those who honor Him “with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” (Matthew 15:8).
We must cultivate:
Philippians 3:8–10 shows Paul’s priority:
> “I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord… that I may know Him…”
This is *ginōskō*—experiential knowledge. Out of that relationship, obedience and service flow naturally.
### 4. We must align our lives with the revealed will of the Father
Jesus said: “Only the one who does the will of My Father in heaven.”
Where is the Father’s will revealed?
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
Hebrews 10:7 applies Psalm 40:7–8 to Jesus:
“Behold, I have come… to do Your will, O God.”
To walk in the will of God we must:
1. Submit to Scripture even when it confronts our preferences.
2. Let the Holy Spirit apply the Word to specific areas of our lives.
3. Be willing to change course when God’s Word exposes our wrong path.
Romans 12:1–2 speaks of presenting our bodies as living sacrifices and being transformed by the renewing of our minds, “so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
If we are not willing to be transformed, we will not know or do His will.
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### Proclamation
Say this aloud, thoughtfully, in the presence of God:
“I affirm today that Jesus Christ is my Lord.
I renounce all lawlessness and every form of rebellion against God.
I turn away from trusting in my own works, my ministries, my gifts, or my religious activities.
I put my trust wholly and only in the finished work of Jesus on the cross and in His resurrection.
I declare that I am not content to say ‘Lord, Lord’ while living in disobedience.
By the grace of God, I choose to do the will of my Father in heaven.
I present my body, my mind, my will, my emotions, my relationships, my finances, and my future to God as a living sacrifice.
I ask that Jesus would truly know me and own me as His.
I belong to Him—spirit, soul, and body.
The Lord knows those who are His, and I choose to depart from lawlessness and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with all who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
I refuse the deception of empty confession without obedience.
I receive the grace of God to walk in truth, to bear good fruit, and to stand unashamed before Jesus on that day.
Amen.”
### Prayer
“Lord Jesus Christ,
You are the Judge of all the earth, and Your judgments are true and righteous altogether. I tremble at Your words: ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ I ask You to confront every area of unreality in my life.
Holy Spirit, search me. Expose every form of lawlessness, every hidden rebellion, every area where I call You ‘Lord’ but do not do what You say. Grant me the gift of true repentance. Enable me to turn from sin with my whole heart and to submit to the will of the Father.
Father, I thank You for the blood of Jesus that cleanses from all sin. I do not trust in my own works or my own ministry. I trust only in Your grace. Write Your law on my heart. Put Your fear within me, that I may not depart from You.
Lord Jesus, I ask for a real, living relationship with You—day by day, moment by moment. Let me know You, and more importantly, let me be known by You. Teach me to hear Your voice and to obey quickly and joyfully.
On that Day, I ask for grace that I may stand before You without shame, clothed in Your righteousness, and hear You say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of Your Lord.’
I ask this in Your holy name, Lord Jesus.
Amen.”
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