Scripture Focus: Matthew 7:21-23
Introduction: Knowing About Someone vs. Truly Knowing Them
There are some things in life I don’t know much about. Cars, for example. I can nod politely when someone starts talking torque, carburetors, or transmissions, but if pressed, I’d have to admit—I really don’t know what I’m talking about.
The same can happen in relationships. I might know a pastor’s name, their church, or even details about their ministry. I could throw out facts to make it seem like I “know” them. But if I found myself in a small group with that pastor and you and he turned to me and said, “Hey, I’m Robert—what’s your name?” the awkward truth would be exposed. I don’t actually know him, and he certainly doesn’t know me.
That’s an uncomfortable moment in human relationships. But in Matthew 7, Jesus says there will be people on Judgment Day who face something infinitely more sobering. They will stand before Him and hear the words:
“I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.” (Matthew 7:23, NLT)
The stakes are not embarrassment but eternity. Heaven or hell hangs in the balance. And so we must wrestle with two life-defining questions:
- Do I know who Jesus is?
- Does Jesus know me?
The Danger of Self-Deception
Jeremiah reminds us that “the heart is deceitfully wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9). We not only face the blinding influence of Satan, “the god of this world,” but we also carry within us a capacity for self-deception.
Jesus describes two kinds of people who will be shocked on Judgment Day—not because others deceived them, but because they deceived themselves.
Group 1: Those Who Say the Right Things
In Matthew 7:21, Jesus warns:
“Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord, Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”
This group has the correct religious language. They call Jesus “Lord,” acknowledging His divinity and even claiming Him as Messiah. They may even quote Acts 2:21: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
But Jesus says it isn’t enough. Why? Because they lacked obedience to the Father’s will.
What Is the Father’s Will?
Scripture gives us a clear picture:
- Believe in Jesus – “For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life.” (John 6:40)
- Obey His Word – “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.” (Matthew 7:24)
- Follow His specific leading – Just as Jonah was sent to Nineveh and Jesus submitted to the Father in Gethsemane.
True belief always produces obedience. James is blunt: “Faith without works is dead.”
Group 2: Those Who Do the Right Things
The second group is even more shocking:
“On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, we prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’” (Matthew 7:22–23)
These people weren’t just talking the talk—they were doing the right work. Prophecy. Exorcisms. Miracles. Things that look like unmistakable signs of God’s power.
And yet, they too are rejected.
Judas: The Poster Child of Empty Works
How can someone do God’s work and still not know God? The Bible gives us a living example: Judas Iscariot.
- Personally called by Jesus to be one of the twelve disciples.
- Empowered to heal, preach, and cast out demons (Matthew 10:1–8).
- Present for miracles, teachings, and private moments with the Savior.
And yet, Jesus said: “I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil.” (John 6:70). In His prayer, Jesus referred to Judas as “the one headed for destruction” (John 17:12).
Judas looked like the real thing, but he missed the heart of it: a genuine, saving relationship with Christ.
You may also like: How did Judas die?
What Does It Mean That Jesus “Never Knew You”?
When Jesus says, “I never knew you,” He doesn’t mean He lacked awareness; rather, He means He never had a relationship with you. He’s omniscient—He knows every hair on our heads. Instead, He speaks of a covenant relationship.
In Hebrew thought, “knowing” someone implied intimacy—like the deep bond between husband and wife. It means shared life, not just shared facts.
Salvation is not about reciting a prayer or performing mighty works. It’s about entering into a covenant relationship with Jesus through faith and repentance.
Romans 10:9–13 makes it clear:
- Confess Jesus as Lord.
- Believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead.
- Call on His name and be saved.
Modern Examples of Self-Deception
It’s easy to point fingers at Judas, but the danger is closer to home. Consider the story of Elizabeth Holmes, founder of the health-tech company Theranos.
Holmes claimed her device could run hundreds of blood tests from a single drop of blood. She raised millions in funding, silenced critics, and pressed forward—even as evidence mounted that it didn’t work. She deceived investors, employees, and patients. Most tragically, she deceived herself.
Eventually, the lie caught up with her. She was convicted of fraud and sentenced to prison.
Now imagine standing before God, having deceived yourself about your spiritual condition. There won’t be an 11-year sentence—only eternity.
Bought by Mistake
Imagine buying a safe to protect your valuables. You opt for a less expensive fireproof option over a more expensive model that looks just as good. Then a house fire reduces it to a puddle of melted metal. Everything inside—family heirlooms, savings, documents—is gone.
You thought you were secure. But you weren’t.
That’s exactly what happens spiritually when people rest their eternal hope on the wrong foundation:
- An emotional response years ago without ongoing faith.
- Their family’s faith, as if salvation came with a “family plan.”
- A lifetime of religious works, detached from a genuine relationship.
When the fire of God’s judgment comes, only an authentic relationship with Jesus will stand.
The Real Test: Evidence of Relationship
So how do we know if Jesus truly knows us? Here are searching questions drawn from Matthew 7 and Romans 10:
- Do I love the Lord and His ways?
- Am I convicted when I sin?
- Is there evidence of the Spirit’s work in me?
- Does my life bear the fruit of obedience?
These aren’t checkboxes to earn salvation—they’re the overflow of knowing Christ.
Grace That Saves and Transforms
At this point, some may feel uneasy. Jesus’ words are meant to shake us, but not to strip assurance from those who truly belong to Him. He also promises: “No one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand” (John 10:29).
The good news is that salvation is by grace through faith. Yes, works matter—but only as evidence of the root, not as the root itself. We stand secure not because we said the right words or did the right deeds, but because Jesus died and rose again for us.
And this grace doesn’t lead to passivity. It stirs worship, calls us to sacrificial living, and drives us to share the gospel with others urgently.
A Call to Action
Today, Jesus’ warning invites us to examine ourselves.
- If you realize you’ve only known about Jesus but don’t truly know Him, don’t delay. Confess Him as Lord. Believe in His death and resurrection. Surrender to Him in faith.
- If you’re a believer, let these sobering words fuel gratitude and worship. Rest in His grace. Live in obedience. Share the gospel with urgency.
The ultimate question is not simply whether you know Jesus—it’s whether Jesus knows you.
Conclusion
On Judgment Day, no amount of religious language or impressive works will substitute for a genuine relationship with Christ. Saying “Lord, Lord” won’t be enough. Casting out demons won’t be enough. Even miracles won’t be enough.
Only those who know Jesus—and are known by Him—will enter the Kingdom.
Don’t settle for melted-metal safes or false assurances. Don’t live under self-deception. Today is the day of salvation.
Because the question of eternity is not just: Do you know about Jesus?
It’s: Does Jesus know you?
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