The "I Never Knew You" Passage

These familiar words of Jesus in the above passage are frightening, and they should be because they are meant as a warning. But a warning about what? Why does Jesus demand these people to depart? Some say it must be because they “trust in their works” rather than Christ, i.e., they are relying on a “works-salvation” instead of a salvation through faith. Now I do not deny that the individuals whom Jesus rejects in the passage trust in their own works, but it is beside the point. Jesus says nothing about it. He says they “do not do the will of the Father,” and, as He subsequently words it, they “practice lawlessness.” Their condemnation is due to their disobedience. It's actually that simple.

The Lord’s lesson here is that these people are disobedient to God despite being religious. They acknowledge Jesus as “Lord,” meaning they are people who consider themselves Christians. They also engage in such religious acts as “casting out demons,”and “prophesying in Jesus’ name.” The takeaway is that being religious is not necessarily the same thing as serving God. One can behave religiously while simultaneously live contrary to God’s will. The world knows no shortage of religious people, but only those who truly live for Christ “enter the Kingdom of heaven,” which amounts to salvation (see Matthew 19:16-26 where “eternal life,” “entering the Kingdom,” and “being saved” are parallel concepts).

Yet, typically, theologians are reluctant to see any tie of obedience to salvation, or at least, are uneasy about making such a connection for fear of ending up with a “works salvation.” This is why they tend to miss the plainly stated reason for Christ’s rejection of these people and instead view it as “trust in works.” We call this “eisegesis,” that is, interpreting the text in such a way that reflects one’s own ideas rather than what is actually written

It is true that Paul in his writings rejects the idea that justification can be earned by our own righteous conduct (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 3:20). But in the passage at hand, the Lord is not speaking about earning salvation. He is not discussing the basis of justification, whether it be grace or personal merit. Instead, He is speaking on how righteous fruit, that is, obedience to God, is an essential character product of one who is saved in His Kingdom. “Doing the will of God” does not earn salvation, but it is necessary. So says Jesus.

The portentousness of the Lord’s words should motivate us to diligently study the God’s will and serve Him accordingly rather than having a false confidence in our own religiosity. A man may engage in good deeds externally, frequent the church pews, drop money in the plate, help old ladies cross the street, and even preach, but all the while having a heart far from God (Matthew 15:7-9). Personally, I recommend a habitual study of the sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapters 5-7. It will do well for avoiding membership with the pitied souls in Matthew 7:21:22-23.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, in Your name did we not prophesy, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name do many miracles?’ “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.” Matthew 7:21–23 LSB