Perhaps you’ve heard that not everyone who calls Jesus “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven (Matt 7:21). And that Jesus will blindside such folks on the last day when he claims not to have known them, and he commands them to depart from him (Matt 7:23). Have you ever feared finding yourself among that number of woefully deluded souls?
Context matters. When we learn to read the Bible properly—and not merely as a collection of isolated quotes or arbitrary threats—we’ll find that some of our most familiar sayings have more nuance or qualification than we typically assume.
The Text
The warning Jesus issues near the end of his Sermon on the Mount is, in fact, rather sobering. Anyone unmoved by it ought to be the first to fear:
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ ” (Matt 7:21-23)
It is clear that calling Jesus “Lord” is not enough, on its own, to gain a person entry into the kingdom of heaven. Neither is speaking prophesy, nor casting out demons, nor doing mighty works in the name of Jesus.
And these facts ought not surprise anyone who has read the Bible.
- Balaam spoke true prophecy from the Lord (Num 23-24), but did not end well (Num 31:8, 16).
- Saul had his demons cast out (1 Sam 16:23). Judas Iscariot, along with the other 11 disciples, was authorized to cast demons out (Mark 3:14-19).
- Solomon did mighty works of wisdom (1 Kgs 3:16-28) and temple construction (1 Kgs 6:1, 7:51). Yet he did not stay the course (1 Kgs 11). (Though it’s possible that Ecclesiastes represents Solomon’s repentance in old age.) We could also cite Jonah, Joab, King Uzziah, Demas, and Judas Iscariot as examples of those who did “mighty works” but arguably may not have entered the kingdom of heaven.
- Of course, Judas is our chief example of one who called Jesus “Lord” without membership in the kingdom.
So the warning is real, and particular examples can be given. But what does the warning mean, and who exactly should tremble at it?
Preceding Context
In the preceding paragraph, Jesus sets an expectation that his community, his kingdom on earth, will consist of a number of wolves dressed up like sheep. These are what he calls the “false prophets” (Matt 7:15).
Jesus says two times that “you will recognize them by their fruits” (Matt 7:16, 20). The nature of the fruit matches the nature of the tree. Good fruit comes from good trees. Grapes come from vines. Thorns come from thorn bushes. You can’t pick up a fig and conclude it came from a thistle.
And the trees that fail to bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire (Matt 7:19). This is exactly what John said when describing the coming judgment (Matt 3:10b).
So the argument goes like this: The new community of Jesus will have false prophets within it. You will recognize them by their fruits, which prove what sort of tree the person is. And the unfruitful tree will be burned.
This paragraph demands a “so what” question: So what kind of fruit signals that one presenting as a sheep is in fact a wolf? What exactly is the fruit of a false prophet?
A Preliminary Answer
Matt 7:21-23 begins to answer that question by explaining what we are not looking for. Jesus thereby flips the question around. Instead of defining the fruit of a false prophet, he first defines what is not the fruit of a true sheep:
- Calling Jesus “Lord”
- Speaking prophecy in Jesus’ name
- Casting out demons in Jesus’ name
- Doing mighty works in Jesus’ name
Such fruit does not guarantee that the apparent sheep is an actual sheep. There could still be a wolf lurking underneath the wool dressing gown. They are called “false prophets” for a reason!
A Fuller Answer in the Subsequent Context
So we look to the next (and final) paragraph of the Sermon to get the answer we’ve been looking for.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock… And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” (Matt 7:24, 26)
Here is now something observable. Does the person not only hear Jesus’ words, but do them? This is the mark of a true sheep. Does the person only hear his words but not do them? This is the mark of a wolf in sheep’s clothing.
And the “doing” he refers to cannot be the “doing” of theatrical rituals, such as naming Jesus’ name, speaking prophecy, or casting out demons. The “doing” almost certainly refers back to everything Jesus has covered in this Sermon.
Being poor in spirit, meek, peacemaking, etc. (Matt 5:2-16). Honoring God’s law from the heart and not merely outwardly (Matt 5:17-48). Avoiding ostentation in the practice of piety (Matt 6:1-18). Seeking the kingdom instead of money and possessions (Matt 6:19-34). Living generously and graciously in community (Matt 7:1-12).
These are the folks, the true sheep, who “enter by the narrow gate,” which is hard but leads to life (Matt 7:13-14).
And they know how to recognize the “many” who try entering through the wide gate that leads to destruction. The fruit of the false prophets is the outward exercise of religion divorced from the personal and private transformation of the heart to love God and love his people.
Conclusion
If this warning from Jesus doesn’t cause you to tremble, you are most likely in danger from it. Please re-examine whether your religion is any deeper than outward conformity to a set of public practices. If your life doesn’t change when you hear this word of Christ, yours will be a pitiable case on the day of judgment.
But if your heart quails at the thought of ever missing your Lord Jesus and his kingdom, you’re probably already well on your way down that narrow road toward eternal life (Matt 5:3-6).
Context matters.
Thanks to Bonnie S for the idea for this post.
For more examples of why context matters, click here.
B. Johnson says
This interpretation holds that by the phrase, “the will of My Father,” Jesus meant a life characterized by obedience to all that the Father has commanded. As a result, those who do the will of the Father would be people who live godly, holy lives.
May I suggest a different way of looking at this passage? I propose that this passage is actually warning against using your works to determine if you will enter the kingdom of heaven.
This necessitates looking first at Matt 7:13-14. Jesus tells us the way to enter—by “the narrow gate.” In fact, this is “the way which leads to life” and “there are few who find it.” On the other hand, “the way that leads to destruction” is “broad” and “there are many who go in by it.”
In Matt 7:15-20, He then describes one reason why so few will find that gate—because they are led astray by false prophets who promote that broad way. The false fruits are their false doctrines—the way is not broad, but narrow. Jesus warns us here to pay attention to their teachings; to use discernment and reject them!
Next, in Matt 7:21-23, Jesus returns to the subject of 7:13-14—entering, and gives us examples of these false prophets’ doctrines. First, entering the kingdom is not based upon calling him Lord, and second, it is not based upon the works you do. Instead, it is based upon doing “the will of My Father in heaven.”
Here’s the crux of the matter: you need not go all the way back to Matthew 5 to determine what is the “will of My Father,” you need only to look to where Jesus told us how to enter in Matt 7:13-14, “by the narrow gate…which leads to life.”
Jesus Christ is that gate, and one may only enter through Him, by believing in Him for eternal life, rather than depending on one’s own obedience. The will of the Father is to believe in the Son, as Jesus said in John 6:40, “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Unfortunately, there may be many who do good works—baptizing, praying, witnessing and the like, but have never done the will of the father, that is, to believe in Christ alone for salvation. As a result, in Matt 7:23 Jesus rebukes them and denies them entrance into the kingdom. My prayer is that they believe the saving message of eternal life through Him!
Peter Krol says
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. I really appreciate what you have written, and I fully agree that salvation is found in no other name than Jesus Christ, and belief in him.
However, I do think the context of this passage suggests that Jesus is helping us learn how to “recognize them by their fruits.” Though justification is by faith alone, it is not a a faith that stands alone. And so, faith without works is dead. Without the works of obedience (fruit) to what Jesus has commanded in this sermon, one has good ground to question what sort of tree one is dealing with.
This reading fits with the argument of the entire sermon. Remember that all three chapters are a single sermon, so we should expect to see it fit together. Going to chapter 5 for help is not going “all the way back…to determine what is the ‘will of My Father.'” It is simply following Jesus’ train of thought through this unified discourse.
In contrast, you have imported ideas “all the way” from John’s gospel (that Jesus is the gate, that “believing” is the will of the Father) to reach your conclusion. Matthew may not have had John’s theology in mind; the context matters.
Frank Crawford says
You will know them by their fruit necessarily means when they are not producing fruit you will not know them. You will not know they are Christian. Neither will they. There are times when a christian does not produce fruit. Example is when we are faithless, ex. 1tim2 13 If we are faithless he is faithful for he cannot deny himself. So we know it is possible to be a faithless Christian. Jesus says remain on the vine for without me you can do nothing. If you want to continue producing fruit then remain on the vine or in other words keep the faith. Paul was a disciple and he said i have kept he faith. However we know again from 2 tim 2 13 its possible to be faithless and et eternally secure. There are Christians who aren’t decipling like Paul who did keep the faith. They asked Jesus How do we do the works of God? Jesus said the work of God is to believe on the one He has sent. Thats it, its belief. If you remain in belief or keep the faith as in remain on the vine you will bear much fruit. The narrow door is when we receive eternal life the narrow path is descipling. Remain in the faith to be a disciple. As in 2 tim we dont have to remain in the faith to remain saved. But fruit does allow other Christians including ourselves to know that we are Christian. Christians go in and out of seasons sometimes, and at times bear little or no fruit. However it says in the Bible no christian can bear bad fruit, Ever! A christian can be having a hard time, not bearing fruit. But Jesus prunes us to produce even more fruit. If we are a desiple we bear fruit. A saved christian does not have to bear fruit, only a disciple does. The 2nd and 3rd soils also are saved. They heard the word with great joy. They received the word, what? That they are saved. Yet, the word either got choked out or due to cares of life. You have to have the word for it to be choked out in the first place.. The soil that produced much fruit is a desciple.. You can see if a christian is faithless he cannot produce fruit apart from the vine, what other explanation is there. Yet, he remains saved. You have ever gone through hard testing you will also be glad that we are under grace now. We access this grace through faith, But we know we remain saved if faithless. If you don’t feel God’s grace does not mean its not there. The Bible says Does our faithlessness nullify God’s faithfulness. And the answer it says in bible, it does not. I forget the exact words while I write this, but its so true God’s grace extends to far further than you can imagine.
Robert Zeurunkl says
Could you maybe flesh out these qualifications a bit. I enjoy the company of God’s people at church. I like being of service (cooking meals for folks, offering rides if they need them, etc), and helping others. And I *love* to encourage people. I feel more at peace when I am among my church family than I am my real actual family (I am the only believer in my family). Church is something I actutally look forward to. I am one of the “younguns” in my church, it’s average age being well above mine, but I love them like they are the godly grandparents I never had.
But – How much of this might I be doing just because I’m a friendly guy and I like being around friends, and enjoying their company?
Peter Krol says
Thanks for the excellent question, Robert. All that you described is wonderful and to be commended. The church is supposed to be a new family, with ties closer than blood.
I can’t really answer the question for you, as I don’t know you or your situation. But I would encourage you to consider whether Jesus is at the center of your church and your relationships within the church. Are you close to these people because each of you is following Christ? Or are you close to these people because you just like being close to each other?
Love and unity in a church community is like tuning an orchestra. The musicians cannot get in tune by listening to each other and trying to match pitch with one another. There must be one standard (usually an oboe). Everyone gets in tune with the oboe, and by default, they will then be in tune with one another.
In the same way, if you and each of the folks in church get in tune with the Lord Jesus, you will find yourselves also in tune with one another.
Dustin Dyer says
I believe the people Jesus was speaking of in Matthew 7:21 were trusting in Jesus plus their many wonderful works to get into heaven. They were clearly boasting to the Lord saying, “look at what we did to deserve heaven”. The one thing they did not say to Him is, “we trusted that you died and shed your precious sinless Holy blood as full payment for our sins”. If they had trusted in that alone, Jesus would have said, “well done good and faithful servants”. All the many places in the bible that speak about salvation clearly state that it is by faith alone! All of our obedience to Christ is how we walk closer to Him and grow spiritually. You cannot serve the Lord effectively out of fear, but you surely can serve Him out of Love. When you know that Christ paid it all and it is truly a free gift and you cannot earn it, you enter into his rest and you have the peace that surpasses all human understanding. Having assurance of your salvation empowers you to serve God. Perfect love casts out all Fear. There is no fear in love because fear has torment. To be saved stop looking at yourself and start looking at Jesus! Salvation is not a reward you earn, it is Gift you recieve!
Jackie Bevans says
Best answer
Jackie Bevans says
Although Jesus is present deity he did not minister under the conditions of the New covenant after he became the high priest in the heavenliesi Bears thinking through and it could give us pause to some of these areas for one example believer does not backslide a born-again Believer can get into what we call the spirit of error one is a state another is a standing
Paul Robinson says
Am I missing something here? As I understand the situation:
When Jesus was making these statements – the cross was a long way into the future, the possibility of loving God personally was NOT possible – and one could NOT be born again.
Was much of this NOT spoken of the Pharisees and their false religion?
It seems to new that Christians often spiritualize scripture with NO thought for its context . . . while everything you say is TRUE, its ONLY in hindsight we can make that claim – those he was speaking to would have had NO concept of the cross or salvation.
I propose that this is an attack on the Pharisees . . . who HAD the means to cast out devils, etc, but with impure motives.
But I may be wrong.
William Smith says
My understanding- The Pharisees who rejected Jesus claimed to be righteous under the law, and were offended at thought of needing to be saved by grace and mercy. They believed they had established their own righteousness under the law, when the truth is the law was never given to establish righteousness but to reveal the sinful state of a persons heart and their need for a savior in God. It was pride in their religion, an outward appearing of righteousness, while being spiritually dead inside that condemned them, and blinded their eyes to the truth.
EMatte says
Yes best answer!
Those were relying on their own works and self righteousness to gain access to heaven rather than the finished, complete work of the Saviour.
Mark says
This Scripture seems a non-sequitur. How could a person that wasn’t operating in the power of the Holy Spirit perform “mighty works” or cast out demons? On the other hand, if they *were* operating in the power of the Holy Spirit, how could Jesus say “I *never* knew you?”
Whichever way you look at it, it doesn’t make sense.
William Smith says
Consider this, it is possible for a demon to “appear” to be cast out for the purpose of spiritual deception. It is also possible for demonic entities to perform miracles if allowed by God, also for the purpose of spiritual deception. The spiritual subversion may cement a persons self righteousness in their religion, and draw them further away from God.
John holm says
Christ was a living example on how to do the will of the father. Christ is the door. But just as Christ did, we must be obediant to god’s laws to do that. All have a choice, or there be no good or bad, Christ is still as this is being written, doing the will of his father. To do that will, we must follow Christ’s example. After all, who else would really be qualified, as an example. Love agape love.