The title to the kingdom. As our Lord concludes his sermon, bringing us before the judgment-seat, so should we habitually judge ourselves as in the searching light of eternity. He advises us— I. THAT BY TRUE OBEDIENCE TO THE WILL OF GOD WE PROVE TITLE TO THE KINGDOM . 1 . That will is embodied in the "sayings" of Jesus. 2 . Profession is no substitute for obedience. 3 . Zeal in the cause of religion is no substitute for religion. The... read more
(Cf. Luke 13:27 .) And then will I profess unto them . Openly in the face of all men (cf. Matthew 10:32 ). I never knew you . Even when you did all these miracles. etc., I had not that personal knowledge of you which is only the result of heart-sympathy. There was never anything in common between you and me. Although this is, perhaps, the only example of this sense of ἔγνων in the synoptic Gospels, it is common in John. Depart from me . The absence of recognition by Christ,... read more
Profess unto them - Say unto them; plainly declare.I never knew you - That is, I never approved of your conduct; never loved you; never regarded you as my friends. See Psalms 1:6; 2 Timothy 2:19; 1 Corinthians 8:3. This proves that, with all their pretensions, they had never been true followers of Christ. Jesus will not then say to false prophets and false professors of religion that he had once known them and then rejected them; that they had been once Christians and then had fallen away; that... read more
Matthew 7:22-23. Many will say to me in that day Many, both preachers and hearers, both ministers and people, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? Have we not declared the mysteries of thy kingdom; preached excellent sermons; written edifying books; explained and enforced the doctrines of thy word, even the prophecies thereof, and shown their fulfilment: nay, have we not ourselves foretold future events, and in thy name have cast out devils From those possessed by them, and... read more
45. The two ways (Matthew 7:13-29; Luke 6:43-49)There are two ways of life. One is the easy way of pleasing self, which most choose and which leads to destruction. The other is the narrow way of denying self for Jesus’ sake, which leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14).One reason why many do not follow the narrow way is that they are deceived by those who teach their own views on how people can find meaning in life. Their teaching at first sounds reasonable, but in the end it proves to be destructive.... read more
knew = got to know. Greek. ginosko. See App-132 . from = away from. Greek. apo. App-104 . iniquity = lawlessness. See App-128 . read more
And they will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.In Matthew 7:22, above, "that day" obviously refers to the judgment; and in this verse Christ claims for himself the right to consign men to banishment from his holy presence. The entire tone and tenor of this sermon is predicated on the assumption that Christ is God. Language of the kind recorded here would be the utmost nonsense if this is not his claim. Biederwolf said, "A man who can read the New... read more
Matthew 7:23. I never knew you— To know frequently signifies, in Scripture, to acknowledge or approve. The meaning is, "Though I called you to be my servants, and you professed yourselves such, I never knew you to be such, nor approved of you. I knew indeed that ye were the slaves of other masters,—mammon, your own belly, and ambition; therefore, as your lives have been contrary both to my precepts and your own profession, I will have nothing to do with you." There is an incomparable dignity in... read more
23. And then will I profess unto them—or, openly proclaim—tearing off the mask. I never knew you—What they claimed—intimacy with Christ—is just what He repudiates, and with a certain scornful dignity. "Our acquaintance was not broken off—there never was any." depart from me—(Compare Matthew 25:41). The connection here gives these words an awful significance. They claimed intimacy with Christ, and in the corresponding passage, Matthew 25:41- :, are represented as having gone out and in with Him... read more
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The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 7:21-29
The saying and hearing contrasted with the doing. This passage bears internal and intrinsic evidence of standing in the original position at the end , and as the end of the discourse. Its connection with what precedes is also apparent. "Fruits" have been spoken of as the test of the false or the true prophet. And the discourse finishes with a forcible setting forth of the fact that practice, not profession, is the passport, whether into the kingdom of heaven on earth or into the... read more