Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?

Mat 7:22
Many will say to me in that day,
1)Lord, Lord,
2)have we not prophesied in thy name?
3)and in thy name have cast out devils?
4)and in thy name done many wonderful works?

Mat 7:23
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

The proper interpretation regarding these grandiose claims should rightly be as follows:
1) a lie
2) a lie
3) a lie
4) a lie.

God does not accuse nor condemn them for lying. He tells us exactly why they were lost in verse 22–“…you who practice LAWLESSNESS. They were doing things religiously “Without law” or without God’s authority to do them. Today, people don’t think it matters what you do as long as you are sincere, or do it in the name of Jesus; an attitude that the devil is pleased to promote. If someone says “STOP! In the name of the law!” That means by the authority of the law. Jesus said ALL authority has been given to me on heaven and earth.”Matt. 28:18. Colossians 3:17 says we are to do “ALL”. in the name of the Lord or by His authority. Whatever we do must be “of faith” and faith comes by hearing the word of God. That’s why we need Bible authority for what we believe and practice in religion. Or else WE might be among those people in Matt. 7

whose works are they boasting of? Christ's, or their own?

one thought on this:

Matthew 7:23 is a Bible verse that states: "Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.'" This verse emphasizes that true confession of faith involves more than mere lip service; it requires loyal obedience to Christ12. The departure from Christ's presence and being sent to everlasting burnings are seen as both a display of strict justice and Christ's almighty power

(excerpt)

I never knew you;
which must be understood consistent with the omniscience of Christ; for as the omniscient God he knew their persons and their works, and that they were workers of iniquity; he knew what they had been doing all their days under the guise of religion; he knew the principles of all their actions, and the views they had in all they did; nothing is hid from him. But, as words of knowledge often carry in them the ideas of affection, and approbation, see ( Psalms 1:6 ) ( 2 Timothy 2:19 ) the meaning of Christ here is, I never had any love, or affection for you; I never esteemed you; I never made any account of you, as mine, as belonging to me; I never approved of you, nor your conduct; I never had any converse, communication, nor society with you, nor you with me. The Persic version reads it, "I have not known you of old", from ancient times, or from everlasting; I never knew you in my Father's choice, and my own, nor in my Father's gift to me, nor in the everlasting covenant of grace; I never knew you as my sheep, for whom, in time, I died, and called by name; I never knew you believe in me, nor love me, or mine; I have seen you in my house, preaching in my name, and at my table administering mine ordinance; but I never knew you exalt my person, blood, righteousness, and sacrifice; you talk of the works you have done, I never knew you do one good work in all your lives, with a single eye to my glory; wherefore, I will neither hear, nor see you; I have nothing to do with you. In this sense the phrase is used in the Talmud F25:

(here)

Matthew 7:23 - Bible Verse Meaning and Commentary

Yeah, I always thought it interesting how they are telling Jesus about the cool things "they" supposedly did.... as if He wouldn't know already . Sounds like they were expecting their supposed works to get them into heaven, too.... rather than the work of Christ.

Also, if Jesus NEVER knew them then they could not have actually prophesied or cast out demons, because it is only through The Holy Spirit that a person could effect such things. Didn't go so well for the unsaved Jewish "exorcists" in Acts 19....


13Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, [a]“We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

15And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”


16Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, [c]overpowered them, and prevailed against [d]them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.

i really don't know what to think of this... need to study more.
but i loved your excellent point of "as if He wouldn't know already"

i just remember Pharaoh's magicians did some stuff they oughtn't have been able to do. their "miracles" may have been illusion, or they may have been empowered by the adversary. what do you think?

Yes, they were liars because their father was the father of lies. Jesus said to them:

"You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.

- John 8:44

Hi notmyown! I definitely believe that the adversary has power and can lend it to people to do things that look impressive (which is probably what was going on with Pharoah's magicians) . That is why we are told to "test the spirits".

However, although I am not an expert on EVERYTHING the devil could be allowed to do, Jesus seemed to indicate in Matthew 12 and Mark 3 that casting out demons isn't really something Satan does:


22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the [a]blind and mute man both spoke and saw. 23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by [b]Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”

25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? 27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. 28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.


I have actually seen a few people on TV who were acclaimed as "exorcists", one of them wore a clerical collar and a cross and mentioned God but never said anything to indicate he was actually saved...or actually casting out any demons. He said he was able to do it because he had so much education and knowledge....nothing about the power of Jesus. Perhaps he is one the passage would be speaking of, perhaps not... I can't judge his heart but someday all of our hearts will be judged.

Yep, false prophets (vv 15-20) lie.

folks that join a denomination that is fashionable and known to be doing good works, but they don't join Jesus.

I disagree.. If the Bible says they will say to Jesus on that day LORD LORD then the Bible is true and they will say LORD LORD.. And yeah they may have done many things in His name.. Including the ones mentioned.. Don't you know the Bible says that in the end times they will be able to do lying signs and wonders to deceive those who will be lovers of unrighteousness.. These are works based salvation believers because they will be trying to justify their place with the LORD in eternity by their many wonderful WORKS.. They never believed in grace salvation and that's why Jesus never knew them..

I don’t think the point here is that they were lying or that it’s even about whether or not they could do the things they said. Read verse 23. He tells us WHY they are being rejected. It’s because they are doing things with out “law” or outside of God’s law. Religious people in general do not think it matters what they do in the name of religion. But , this story proves that it does. Matt. 28:18 Jesus said ALL AUTHORITY has been given to Him in heaven and on earth. That means the pope has NO authority, “traditions” are NOT authority, neither are “Boards”, councils, Associations, or Synods. None of these have any authority to change or dictate anything about God or His Word, the Bible. The Bible is our only authority because it is divinely inspired by God.

In the book of Deuteronomy, the warning to “BE CAREFUL” to obey God’s laws is written at least 13 times (I haven’t finished counting them all). It’s important to have a “Thus saith the Lord” for everything we do. Col. 3:17

Real Faith comes by hearing the word of God. Romans 10:17

For me two things. When Christ walked this earth so many came up to Him saying "Rabbi Rabbi" "Master master" "lord lord". 2nd again for me after the great tribulation when He comes (AMEN) sets foot on the earth He gathers the nations. Those are the sheep and goats.

Some get stuck on "did these things in His name". That was not what He was saying. Since He left He told us these signs shall follow them that believe.. that along is huge and some will have all kind of excuses as to why its not happening in their life or round them and then will lash out hurt make fun of those that are doing what Christ said for they believe. It was about "I never knew you". They were not once saved then lost it. He said I never knew you. Christ said I am the way I am the truth and the life no one comes to the Father but by through me.

thank you for your post. i think they're rejected because the Lord NEVER knew them. they aren't His sheep. they never belonged to Him. as such, yes, they're lawless.

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

It would appear they would have to be lying for how can they do these things if Jesus never knew them which means they were not led of the Holy Spirit so they did not have the power to do these things.

2Ti 3:4 lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
2Ti 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

They deny the Spirit leading them and never come to the truth, and are lovers of pleasures, iniquity, more than lovers of God.

They cannot even come to the truth what it is to be a Christian so they have to be lying about what they did.

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

Without Jesus we can do nothing so they had to be lying.

But the truth is many people will say anything at judgment to try to get out of their situation of not abiding by the truth and know they are not accepted by Jesus.

It will be crazy all the things that will spout out of the mouth of all the people that did not believe the Bible, or Jesus as Lord and Savior as they try to get out of their situation.

All the arrogant, self exalting, people that acted tough, and liked to fight physically, and verbally, will be trembling.

But we reap what we sow so if we offend people, and not care about the poor and needy, and like to hurt people, then we will not be shown mercy at judgment and we will suffer.

I believe our mind is like a tape recorder and records all things we ever done as a witness against us if our sins are not forgiven for God can bring it up what we did.

For it would seem like He would want a witness against us to prove what we did and our mind could be that witness if we did not go by the truth to where our sins are removed and cannot condemn us.

Like the Gospel must be preached in to all the world as a witness to all nations and then comes the end.

For God always gives us a sufficient witness so there is no excuse on the part of a person.

Even creation testifies of a God, and of His attributes which one of them is love, so the world is without excuse.

Which might explain all the variety of life, and abundance of life, and things on earth, and in heaven which is all above us that we can see to testify that they could not be unless there is a Creator that put them there.

In regard to Matthew 7:22, Jesus never knew these many people (vs. 23) which means they were never saved. These many people in Matthew 7:22 had the wrong foundation. They were trusting in their works to save them and not in Christ alone. (Ephesians 2:8,9) Their hearts were not right with God, so their "attempted external obedience" (apart from the righteousness of God which is by faith and the blood of Christ - Romans 3:24-28; Philippians 3:9) was still stained with sin. Hence, workers of iniquity/practice lawlessness.

Matthew 7:21 - Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Seeking salvation by works is not the will of the Father. John 6:40 - For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. Instead of Lord, Lord, didn't WE, the correct answer for these many people in Matthew 7:22 would have been Lord, Lord, didn't YOU die for our sins, were buried and rise again the third day to provide for us eternal life? We trust in you alone as the all-sufficient means of our salvation.

In regard to Matthew 7:21-23, (I will never forget, prior to my conversion several years ago while still attending the Roman Catholic church) I read Matthew 7:22 and was astonished! I remember thinking to myself, these many people accomplished all of that, "prophesied in His name, cast out demons, and did many wonderful works" but that still was not "good enough?" Then I thought to myself at that time, how am I going to "top that" and be "good enough?" Such is the mindset of the natural man who believes that obtaining salvation is based on works.