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“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ 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 who is in heaven.”
— Matthew 7:22–23 (NIV)
Here we have one of the most searching statements Jesus ever made. It is addressed, not to atheists, not to idol worshipers, but to people who call Him “Lord” and operate in spiritual gifts. This passage cuts right through religious activity and confronts a central issue: the will of the Father.
Many today are content with the language of Christianity, the atmosphere of Christianity, even the power manifestations of Christianity. But this passage teaches that there is one decisive question that will determine our eternal destiny: Did we do the will of the Father?
The lyrics you have given simply echo and repeat this solemn warning. They press us to face a reality many would prefer to ignore: it is possible to be active in ministry, to use the name of Jesus, and yet be utterly unknown by Him.
So we begin where Jesus begins: “Let us look at what the Word of God says.”
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These words come from the closing section of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). Jesus is not speaking to a pagan crowd; He is speaking to disciples and a multitude attracted by His teaching and miracles (Matthew 4:23–25; 5:1).
### The Setting
He is not giving an evangelistic appeal to outsiders. He is issuing a final examination to those who already claim to follow Him. He is separating the merely religious from the truly obedient.
### Who Is Speaking?
The One who speaks is not merely a teacher commenting on future judgment. He is the Judge Himself. Notice the words:
He assumes the role that, in the Old Testament, belongs to God alone: the final Judge of all humanity. That is an implicit but unmistakable claim to deity.
### “On That Day”
“On that day” is a technical expression in Scripture pointing to the Day of the Lord, the day of final judgment and revelation (see Joel 2:31; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; 2 Corinthians 5:10). Jesus is telling us in advance the basis on which He will evaluate our lives.
He is not asking us what our denomination was, or what gifts we operated in, or how many conferences we attended. His question is much more direct: Did you do the will of my Father?
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To penetrate this passage, we will look at two key Greek expressions: “knew” and “lawlessness.”
### 1. “I never knew you” – οὐδέποτε ἔγνων ὑμᾶς (oudepote egnōn hymas)
The verb “knew” is from γινώσκω (ginōskō), which often carries the sense of relational, experiential knowledge, not merely intellectual awareness.
In biblical language, “to know” often implies intimate, covenantal relationship. For example:
When Jesus says, “I never knew you,” He is not saying He lacked information about them. He is saying:
> “There has never been a real covenant relationship between you and Me. You used My name, you performed religious works, but you never belonged to Me.”
That immediately exposes a false assumption: using the name of Jesus is not the same as knowing Jesus.
### 2. “Workers of lawlessness” – οἱ ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν (hoi ergazomenoi tēn anomian)
The word translated “lawlessness” is ἀνομία (anomia), from a- (without) and nomos (law). It describes not merely breaking a rule, but living as if there were no law, no boundaries, no authority over you.
1 John 3:4 defines it clearly:
> “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.” (NASB)
So “workers of lawlessness” are people whose persistent practice is to act independently of God’s moral order. They may be religious, they may be gifted, they may even be successful in ministry—but the governing principle of their lives is self-will instead of God’s will.
Now we can see the contrast:
Lawlessness is not only immoral behavior. It is any lifestyle where my will displaces God’s will—even in the name of ministry.
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Let us now walk through the themes of the lyrics and connect them with the whole counsel of Scripture.
### A. “Many will say to me on that day…”
The first shocking word is “many.” Jesus does not say “a few misguided people,” but many.
This same word appears just a few verses earlier:
There is a majority path in religion that ends in destruction. Numbers, popularity, or visible success are no guarantee of truth.
Jesus is warning us: Do not be reassured by how many are doing it. Be concerned with whether it is the will of the Father.
### B. “Lord, Lord…”
Repetition in Hebrew and Greek culture signals intensity and urgency. “Lord, Lord” is not casual speech. It implies:
These are people who:
Yet Romans 10:9 shows us what true confession is:
> “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.”
Mere confession is not saving if it is empty of heart obedience. Luke’s Gospel records Jesus asking:
> “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46)
Here is the central issue: Lordship without obedience is an illusion.
### C. “Did we not prophesy in your name… drive out demons… perform many miracles?”
The three activities listed are all charismatic or supernatural:
1. Prophesy in your name – speaking forth in the name and authority of Jesus.
2. Cast out demons in your name – engaging in deliverance ministry using His name.
3. Do many miracles in your name – manifesting power that appears to validate ministry.
These are not small things. Yet Jesus does not dispute their claims. He does not say, “You did none of that.” He bypasses their works and goes to relationship and obedience.
This shows:
1 Corinthians 1:7–8 shows the Corinthian church was rich in gifts, yet 1 Corinthians as a whole exposes their immaturity and carnality.
Balaam prophesied accurately (Numbers 23–24), but his heart was corrupt, and he died under God’s judgment (Numbers 31:8; 2 Peter 2:15).
In Acts 19:13–16, Jewish exorcists used the name of Jesus and Paul. They saw some results, yet were ultimately exposed and attacked by demons because they lacked true relationship and authority.
God may honor His name, His Word, and His people’s faith, even when the vessel is flawed. But that does not guarantee the vessel’s salvation. Your ministry record is not your passport to heaven.
### D. “Then I will tell them plainly…”
The phrase “tell them plainly” translates a verb meaning “to confess, declare publicly” (ὁμολογέω, homologeō) in some textual traditions, or “to profess, declare” with clarity. The emphasis is on open, undeniable judgment. There will be no debate, no negotiation, no appeal.
Jesus will not speak in parables on that day. He will speak with absolute directness:
> “I never knew you…”
This indicates that it is possible to have a long religious career entirely outside true saving relationship with Christ.
### E. “I never knew you. Depart from me…”
The greatest tragedy in eternity is not what we depart from, but whom we are separated from. Hell is not only punishment; it is exclusion from the presence of the Lord:
> “…These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.” (2 Thessalonians 1:9, NASB)
The essence of salvation is nearness to God. The essence of judgment is distance from Him.
Notice the basis of the command “depart.” It is not “you made mistakes.” It is:
> “You who practice lawlessness.”
There is a consistent pattern of unrepentant self-will. The Greek participle indicates ongoing practice, not an occasional stumble. These are people who made lawlessness their lifestyle, even while using the language and tools of ministry.
### F. “Not everyone who says ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…”
There is a direct confrontation here with superficial Christianity:
Jesus explains the true test:
> “…but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
There is an exclusive condition. The Greek is literally “the one who is doing (ὁ ποιῶν, ho poiōn) the will of my Father.” It is a present participle—indicating an ongoing lifestyle, not a one-time decision.
This aligns perfectly with many other New Testament statements:
There is a self-deception possible in hearing, studying, and even teaching the Word, while never truly doing it.
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If everything depends on doing the Father’s will, we must know what that will is.
### 1. The Will of the Father in Salvation
Jesus defines the Father’s will in John 6:40:
> “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”
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