Why did God said :" I never knew you, you workers of iniquity!"? (Matthew7:21-23)?

Question

Matthews 7:21 " Noe everyone who says to Me, ' Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 " Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name? 23 "And then I will declare to them,' I never knew you, depart from Me, you workers of iniquity!"

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Answer 1

Jesus knew that people would invariably take His religion of love and warp it into other things. They would use His name and call on Him, and do all kinds of "wonders," but since they preached a gospel of hate and exclusion instead of love, Jesus will recognize them for the phonies they are.

Evangelical TV preachers and other fundamentalists come right to mind, don't they?

Answer 2

Notes in one of my books on the Gospels:

Depart....ye that work iniquity ~ In spite of all their professions they had been evil doers. Their religion expended itself in professions and prayers. Hence, in "that day" they are commanded to depart. What it is to so depart we may learn from Matt 25:41. It is evident from this passage that many are self-deceived.

And notice Matt 7:20 where it says "Therefore by their fruits you will know them" which warns us that many who preach and teach are not preaching the truth so beware of them if they aren't following God's word. Jesus knew what was in their hearts where we have to study the Word and listen to others and what they teach. If they aren't teaching what the scriptures say, find another and another until you find the church that does.

Many people preach but do not preach or teach the truth. That was true in Jesus day and it is, unfortunately, VERY true today. Many people will say "Lord, Lord" but they won't all make it to heaven. Christ died for one church, not all the thousands that are out there so that means the majority are not teaching the truth according to the scriptures and Matt 25:41, they will spend eternity with the devil in hell.

Answer 3

There are similar statements made throughout scripture that relate that on the day of judgment, there will be a lot of people who identified themselves as Christian that will be condemned. (Matt 25:46)

I sometimes use Paul's statement to Timothy in 2 Tm. 3:5 "having a form of godliness but denying its power." Some people look like Christians, but are not (Matt 13:30).

In this particular instance, Jesus is saying that simply calling the Lord (making a confession of His name) is insufficient for salvation; one must "do the will of the Father". This is the same thing John says in 1 John 2:3-4 "Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."

God does not honor what we think is right, He only honors what He has revealed is right.

Answer 4

This is what happens when text is taken out of the complete context of the Gospel reading. The meaning of this text goes back to the fact that it takes more than just faith in Christ to be saved. It is through faith in Christ that we do works for Christ, but we must do it out of love and unselfishness, and most people included in this passage do it because, oh I am saved simply because I do, that is fool hearted and also will not get you anywhere or any closer to Christ. It is a combination of both, Faith and Works, that gets you close, but that day of judgement will come and to boast about it and think you are in, is not the key.
Remember to read all the text, and look at it in the context of the full story.
God bless and have a great day.

Answer 5

If the whole point of your question is "do I know Christ". Yes, I know that he was a normal human being, wo believed in social justice, but whole existence was turned into a bloody religion by power-thirsty bigots. I' taking you out of my contacts.

Answer 6

At the time Jesus spoke these words he was speaking about the hypocrisy in the religious leaders of his time. But it also applies to our day. Many people claim to be Christian, but do not follow the Word of God. For instance, one of the commandments is not to kill. But what do the clergy do? During the two world wars they actually blessed the troops to go out and kill fellow christians on the other side. Then there are those who appear to be good christians on the outside, but behind the scenes are doing things completely opposite.

Answer 7

I'm with Jon M.

I never had any doubt what this meant. I always said if Jesus does come back, a lot of his so-called followers are going to be surprised to find out that their hateful, judgemental, narrow-minded ways did not score any brownie points with their Messiah.

He will say something about "what part of loving your neighbor didn't you understand?"

Answer 8

Jon M hits the nail on the head.

Matt 7:21 might be a clue for the self rightious personalities whom elect to call on Truth (Jesus) to spread a lie (Satan).

Again, Jesus represented truth for mankind and Satan symbolically represented the liar, the deceptor of all mankind, the Ego...OR, MAN AND MANKIND....Gog AND Magog...

Symbolically the bible reads rather easy and requires no Institutional Interpretations to delute it's m,essage to the massess.

Answer 9

It means that the rest of the bible is correct when it tells us that we will be judged by our works. Of course, works done in faith, like feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and being kind to and loving the "unlovable" are pleasing to God. Works of the law done in order to try and obligate God to save you only bring on greater condemnation.
"For without faith it is impossible to please him." That means with faith it is possible to please him. How do we do that?
Notice that my bible quote does not say "Faith pleases him" it says without Faith it is impossible to please him. It means that self righteous works are condemnable, while works done in faith gain the rewards of God's favor and eternal life.

Closed Circuit to CJ: The cross had not happened yet, so why would it be mentioned? That would have made little sense being that nobody had any clue that Christ was going to die in that way.

Answer 10

Ask yourself who call Jesus Lord? The answer is christians so by Jesus saying get away from me you workers of lawlessness he saying there are christians that he does not accept

Answer 11

Jesus is saying that just because a person claims to be a follower of him and a worker for him doesn't mean that they are. And just because you claim to be a person if God doesn't mean you are and will go to Heaven.