Click to Play
0 plays
“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 7:21 (NIV)*
Here we have one of the most searching, alarming, and dividing statements Jesus ever made. He is not speaking to atheists. He is not addressing pagans. He is speaking to people who call Him “Lord.” People who have spiritual language, spiritual activity, even spiritual power. Yet He says: many of them will not enter the Kingdom.
The central theme is unmistakable:
Entry into the Kingdom is not guaranteed by correct language, religious activity, or even supernatural ministry. It is guaranteed only to those who do the will of the Father.
The lyrics faithfully echo this emphasis:
> 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.
This brings us to a crucial dividing line in the Christian life:
Jesus Himself draws the line. He does not leave us to guess. “Let us look at what the Word of God says.”
These words occur at the close of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). Jesus has been setting forth the laws and character of the Kingdom of Heaven: the Beatitudes, the true meaning of the Law, the dangers of hypocrisy, the necessity of inner purity, trust in the Father, and the difference between the narrow and the broad way.
Now, at the end, He confronts His hearers with a decision. He presents:
He is not speaking to casual listeners only. He is speaking to disciples, people gathered around Him, people who have heard His teaching, who might be inclined to say, “Lord, Lord.”
The situation is very specific:
1. Jesus is acting as Judge.
“Many will say to me on that day…” (Matthew 7:22). “That day” is the day of judgment. He is not offering an opinion. He is pronouncing the criterion of final acceptance or rejection.
2. The people addressed are religious and charismatic.
They prophesy in His name. They drive out demons in His name. They perform miracles in His name. They are not powerless. They are gifted. Yet, they are rejected.
3. The issue is the will of the Father.
They say “Lord, Lord” but they do not do the Father’s will. They have spiritual activity without submission, gifts without obedience, power without holiness.
4. Jesus closes with the parable of the two builders.
He immediately defines what it means to do the Father’s will in this context:
> “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
> — *Matthew 7:24*
So the setting is: Jesus, as the Messianic King, at the end of His foundational teaching, pronouncing the difference between those who merely hear and speak, and those who hear and obey. That difference is the difference between entering and not entering the Kingdom.
Let us focus on two key expressions: “does the will” and “I never knew you.”
### 1) “Does the will” – ποιῶν τὸ θέλημα (poiōn to thelēma)
So when Jesus says:
> “but only the one who does the will of my Father…”
> — *Matthew 7:21*
He is not talking about a one-time decision. He is describing a person characterized by a continuous lifestyle of aligning their actions with the Father’s desire. It is not merely knowing the will, admiring the will, or talking about the will. It is doing the will.
This exposes a common deception: many assume that because they once prayed a prayer, or had a powerful experience, they have met the condition. But the Greek indicates a sustained practice—an ongoing, obedient walk.
### 2) “I never knew you” – οὐδέποτε ἔγνων ὑμᾶς (oudepote egnōn hymas)
So Jesus’ word is devastating:
> “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!”
> — *Matthew 7:23*
He is not denying awareness of who they are. He is denying relationship. There was never a true relational, covenantal knowing between the Lord and these religious workers. Their ministry did not flow from union with Him. Their activities were detached from obedience and intimacy.
This clarifies the lyrics:
> Then I will tell them plainly,
> “I never knew you. Away from me,
> you evildoers!”
The problem is not merely that they failed in ministry. The core issue is no true relationship with Christ, evidenced by persistent disobedience.
### “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’…”
Jesus here exposes the insufficiency of verbal confession alone.
Elsewhere Scripture does affirm the importance of confession:
> “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
> — *Romans 10:9*
But Paul speaks of confession flowing from a believing heart, which, if genuine, produces obedience (Romans 10:10; Romans 6:17–18).
In Matthew 7, Jesus addresses those whose lips say “Lord,” but whose lives deny Him. Their confession is orthodox, but their practice is lawless.
He repeats it in the lyrics:
> Not everyone who says “Lord, Lord”
> will enter the kingdom of heaven.
This repetition underscores the danger: it is possible to be very vocal about Jesus, very emphatic (“Lord, Lord”), and yet utterly unsubmitted to Him.
#### Spiritual reality: Confession without obedience is self-deception.
James says:
> “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
> — *James 1:22*
Many are deceived not because Satan lied to them directly, but because they heard the Word and failed to obey it. The deception arises from hearing without doing.
### “Only those who do the will of my Father in heaven.”
Here Jesus draws the line: *only* those. This is exclusive. It cuts through all human excuses.
Similar statements appear throughout the New Testament:
The lyrics rightly emphasize:
> Only those who do the Father’s will
> will enter the kingdom of heaven.
This is not salvation by works in the sense of earning merit. Rather, it is salvation evidenced by obedience. Faith that does not produce obedience is not biblical faith (James 2:17).
#### Spiritual reality: The will of the Father is revealed, authoritative, and non-optional for disciples.
Jesus lived this way Himself:
> “For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.”
> — *John 6:38*
To call Him “Lord” yet refuse His obedience standard is to deny His very example.
### “Many will say to me on that day…”
Notice: many, not few. This is one of the most sobering words in Scripture. Many, not a marginal fringe, will appeal to their spiritual accomplishments.
> “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name
> and in your name drive out demons
> and in your name perform many miracles?”
They emphasize “in your name” three times. They base their confidence on:
All of these are valid, biblical ministries. Jesus Himself did them. The apostles did them. The New Testament encourages us to pursue spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 14:1).
But here is the key: spiritual gifts are not the test of true discipleship. Obedience is.
Jesus warned earlier:
> “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves… By their fruit you will recognize them.”
Deepen your worship with these related songs:
No more songs available