And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. who r these people

Question

What kind of people do you think Jesus is talking about,

Answer 1

These people are those who try to get into heaven by works, and not by truly knowing Jesus. He says that He didn't know them. That means no relationship had been established. Instead, they tried to merit salvation. As you can see by the verse just prior to the one you quoted:

"Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name, drove out demons in your name, and performed many miracles in your name, didn't we?'" (Matthew 7:22)

These people even performed miraculous signs, but didn't "know" Jesus. They knew "about" Jesus, but were trusting in something besides Him.

Answer 2

These are people who think they know god but do not. Similar to the lesson of the ten virgins, half of which fully expected to enter with the bride groom (Christ). Not only hypocrites but also those who say they believe in god but do not keep his commandments. This could defiantly directed to Christ’s own followers. One should probably be asking themselves if they practice there faith 24/7, or are they a 1 hour/ 1 day a week Christian.

Answer 3

Good question!

Jesus mentiones earlier in that passage a warning against "false prophets". The Jewish people knew well who and what a prophet was: they were holy men who were gifted by God with special insight.

Today, we have cult leaders like David Koresh or those who claim special "visions" like Joseph Smith. In the ancient past, there were people like Mohammed. False prophets, all. They claim special communication and power from God, yet they contradict what's already laid out in the Bible.

There are also evangelists who seem content with embarassing themselves on television to get money for their churches. They cater to people's fears and desire to be saved though faith healing and emotional appeals for money. False prophets, all.

Answer 4

Well, that's easy enough let's look at the scriptures and find out.

Matthew 7:21,22,23- Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord did we not prophesy in thy name and in thy name cast out demons, and in thy name perform many miracles? then I will profess to them plainly I never knew you depart from me you evil doers.

I Think it is plain from the text that these people are Christians who believed they were doing the will of Jesus. After all they performed miracles or at lest thought they did, The propghcied in the name of jesus and cast out many demons, or at least they thought they did.

When I was a Christian and pentecostals would try and convince me that I needed to speak in tongues and believe in miracles and modern day prophecy, I would go to this text and have them read it and they would get so mad. I don't know why, i did not write this. I have even had one very "good" Pentecostal preacher sabatage my machine and then go to the boss telling him I needed to be fired because I did not know how to run the machine. It took some time and doing, but I finally got the boss to catch this man setting me up for failure. The preacher was mad because he kept bugging me telling me I had to speak in tongues and I showed him this scripture then he got hell bent on trying to get me fired. We ran the same machine, he in the daytime and me at night.

This is just one scripture that proves that it does matter what you believe and do and that there is a right way and a wrong way to be saved and in God's grace. Just because you have said the sinner's prayer and asked Jesus to come into your heart and possibly you have spoken in tongues, that does not mean you are saved. Christians need to follow the bible example of how to be saved. That is if the bible is true. If it is not, then it does not matter does it?

Answer 5

Jesus was talking about people who aren't real Christians. For example, some people go to Church just to look like good people, when they aren't saved and don't know Christ as their Savior or have a personal relationship with Him. Some people also spread the Word of the Bible or say they're Christians just to impress people instead of trying to impress Him. God knows our hearts and who these people are, so if you truly know Him as your Savior and are willing to confess your faith to anyone (for Him, not just to look good and seem like a good person), then you don't have to worry.

Answer 6

The people Jesus never knew are the ones that never confessed Him Lord of their life & believed in their hearts his atonement for sins & resurrection.

These are religious people that never had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. They were never born of God. Jesus can never say to one who is born of God, "I never knew you.".

Also they practice iniquities, for instance pediphiles may claim to be a man of God, yet they abuse little children. These pedephiles are really a sinner needing a Savior.

A born again child of God cannot abide in sin (make it a comfortable habit) because of the Holy seed within. There is no way they could abide as a pedephile.

Answer 7

Non Christian's

Answer 8

iniquity means being bent towards our own ideas. such as placing mans tradition above God's Law

Answer 9

Well, no offense... but I don't think Jesus ever said anything of the sort since he was dead by the time the words were written.

However that aside, it was at one time my thought that it referred to the people that weren't Christians.

Answer 10

Don't have to "think" about who he was speaking to. The Bible makes it clear that he was speaking about those who profess faith and belief in Him, say they did this and that in His name, but actually did it for their own gain......