Few verses unsettle sincere Christians more than Jesus’ warning:
“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.”
— Matthew 7:21
Many believers read this line and quietly wonder, Have I done enough? What if I’ve missed some hidden requirement? The fear intensifies when they recall what follows:
“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.’”
— Matthew 7:22‑23
Preaching, exorcisms, public miracles—surely these are impressive credentials. Yet Jesus dismisses them. If those works do not secure entrance, what possibly could?
The main issue other Christians have is the fact that Jesus says "not everyone that says to me 'Lord, Lord'", implying that the people pleading their case claim His name. These are professing Christians, yet Christ claims "I never knew you".
The Context We Often Skip
The key lies in the verses immediately preceding the “Lord, Lord” passage—words regularly quoted but seldom traced to their target:
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits.”
— Matthew 7:15‑16a
Notice the pronoun. The “them” we are to recognize is not the average church member but false prophets—self‑anointed teachers who masquerade as heralds of truth. Jesus is not arming believers to grade one another’s moral performance; He is training the flock to detect counterfeit doctrine.
He elaborates:
“Every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. … Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”
— Matthew 7:17, 20
Throughout Scripture, fruit often signifies outward conduct—yet here, in a discourse about prophets, the primary fruit is their message: what they teach about God, grace, and salvation. A prophet’s miracles, exorcisms, or ministry success are irrelevant if his gospel is corrupt.
“Workers of Lawlessness”
When Jesus brands these ministers “workers of lawlessness,” He is not condemning them for committing more sins than the rest of us (we all fall short, 1 Jn 1:8). He is exposing their core transgression: replacing God’s revealed plan of salvation with a man‑centered program of religious achievement. Their “mighty works” dazzled crowds but could not erase guilt. In God’s ledger, such self‑reliant piety is spiritual law‑breaking.
The Father’s Will—Stated Explicitly
If Matthew 7 raises the question, Jesus answers it elsewhere with crystal clarity:
“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
— John 6:40 (ESV)
No mystery, no hidden clause. The singular, saving will of the Father is faith in the Son. Works—however spectacular—do not substitute for that trust; rather, they become meaningful only after faith, as grateful obedience.
Putting the Pieces Together
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False prophets tout miraculous résumés, yet peddle a gospel of self‑effort.
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Jesus tells His followers to diagnose such teachers by their doctrinal fruit, not by counting their deeds.
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Those who boast in works but never trusted Christ hear, “I never knew you.”
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Scripture then unveils the genuine requirement: believe in the One the Father sent.
The terror some Christians feel over Matthew 7:21‑23 dissolves once the passage is read in context. Jesus is not urging perpetual self‑inspection or tallying of moral successes; He is warning against counterfeit gospels that substitute performance for faith. The Father’s will is—and always has been—simple, profound, and liberating:
Look to the Son
In that trust, the anxiety of “Lord, Lord—have I done enough?” is replaced by the assurance, “Lord, Lord—You were enough.”