Matthew 7:21-23

I Never Knew You

21 ¹"Not everyone who ²says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will ³enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who ⁴does the will of my Father who is in heaven.

22 ⁵On that day ⁶many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not ⁷prophesy in your name, and cast out demons ⁸in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?'

23 ⁹And then will I declare to them, 'I ¹⁰never knew you; ¹¹depart from me, ¹²you workers of lawlessness.'

Matthew 7:21-23 In-Context

19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.

20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

21 "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.

22 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?'

23 And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.'

24 "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.

Cross References

• 1. Luke 6:46; Romans 2:13; James 1:22
• 2. [Hosea 8:2]
• 3. [John 3:3, 5]
• 4. Matthew 12:50
• 5. Matthew 25:11, 12; Luke 13:25-27
• 6. Malachi 3:17, 18
• 7. [Numbers 24:4; John 11:51; 1 Corinthians 13:2]
• 8. See Mark 9:38
• 9. [See ver. 22 above]
• 10. Matthew 10:33; [Psalms 101:4]
• 11. Matthew 25:41; Psalms 6:8
• 12. Matthew 13:41; Psalms 5:5