Matthew 7:21-23

It Is Not Enough To Say ‘Lord, Lord'. The Test Of Men Is Found In Doing The Will Of God (7:21-23).

Jesus now widens His words to include all who profess to be disciples. He declares that a man may be totally orthodox in what he says, but that that is not enough. The true test of whether a man is acceptable to God will come out in his life. A faith that does not result in obedience is no faith at all (compare Romans 6:1; James 1:22; James 2:14; James 2:26). These are solemn words of Jesus and we dare not water them down. (Calvin put it more theologically when he said, ‘We are saved by faith alone, but the faith that saves is not alone').

We should, however, also note the significance of His words. It is not so much the title ‘Lord, Lord' (which could in another context simply mean ‘teacher, teacher') which draws attention to His uniqueness, but the quiet claim that His decision at the day of Judgment will in some way determine the destiny of men. It is He Who will say ‘depart  from Me '. The truth or otherwise of their relationship to Him will settle once and for all their eternal destiny.

Analysis.

a Not every one who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter into the Kingly Rule of Heaven (Matthew 7:21 a),

b But he who does the will of my Father, Who is in heaven (Matthew 7:21 b).

c Many will say to me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord' (Matthew 7:22 a).

b Did we not prophesy by your name, and by your name cast out demons, and by your name do many mighty works? (Matthew 7:22 b).

a And then will I profess to them, I never knew you, depart from me, you who work iniquity (Matthew 7:23).

Note that in ‘a' calling Him ‘Lord, Lord' does not bring men into The Kingly Rule of Heaven now, while in the parallel He will therefore in the future, ‘in that Day', command them to depart from Him. In ‘b' entry into the Kingly Rule of Heaven necessarily requires doing the will of His Father in Heaven, while in the parallel what they think of as enough to guarantee their entry will prove not to be so. Central in ‘c' is their false claims ‘in that Day', claims that will fail.