Many People will do Great Works in the Name of Jesus and Never be Saved. Why? – Quicken Me

In one of the most sobering passages in scripture, Jesus says that there will be “many” who enthusiastically confess him as Lord, prophesy (teach & preach under inspiration) in his name, cast out demons in his name (not try or pretend to, but actually do it), and do many mighty works (could also be translated miracles or works of power) in his name. Yet these people will be told to depart into eternal condemnation because they never knew Jesus.

It does not say that they once knew Jesus then fell away, it says he never knew them at all; they were never saved, never reborn. Yet these people seem genuinely shocked at their judgment.

[Mat 7:21-27 NASB] [21] “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. [22] “Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ [23] “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.’

To best understand this passage it must be taken in context. Jesus is actually concluding a sermon. One must read Jesus’ full dissertation in Matthew 5-7 in order to understand the passage. The answer should not necessarily come from somewhere else in scripture while one guesses what Jesus is talking about, nor should Matt 7:21-23 be taken out of context and plugged into topical sermons without referencing all of chapters 5-7. If you are reading this and have not read all Matt. 5-7, it would be beneficial to do so before continuing.

We could break down Jesus’ sermon like this:

Matt 5:3-16 The characteristics of citizens of the kingdom of heaven
Matt 5:17-20 Introducing how citizens of the kingdom of heaven practice righteousness
Matt 5:21-48 Specifics on how to practice righteousness, particularly against the false traditions of the religious teaching of the day.
Matt 6:1 – 7:12 Specifics in practicing righteousness through living by faith.
Matt 7:13-27 False believers vs. True believers

Let’s first look at Jesus’ full conclusion of the sermon:

[24] “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. [25] “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. [26] “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. [27] “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell–and great was its fall.”

“Therefore” is an important word here. It is referencing the previous thought. So in light of what Jesus just said about those who say “Lord, Lord” being cast away, we read an illustration about those who hear and do the words or Jesus vs. those who hear and don’t do the words of Jesus. Each is likened to a house. One house has a good foundation, the other a bad foundation. It’s likely these houses both looked similar from the outside, as a house’s foundation is typically not visible.

The next thing that is essential to see is that Jesus is attaching salvation and damnation to “these words of Mine” (vs 24). Jesus is continuing his public speech when he says this, so “these words” are referencing Matthew 5:3 up to this point. I’m reiterating that again because it seems Jesus has provided the core of the information we need to understand our main passage in his previous words.

We know that in order to enter heaven one must do the will of the father (vs 21) and act on the words Jesus just spoke (vs 24), and we know Jesus speaks the will of the Father (John 12:49). One must look to the previous verses then to know the words Jesus spoke and the will of the Father. Jesus’ primary motif is the possessing of the kingdom of heaven, hence he begins with clear and precise qualification beginning with the first beatitude of “poor in spirit” = kingdom of heaven through “persecuted for righteousness sake” = kingdom of heaven. He builds on these beatitudes and ends by referencing those who will reject his sayings and therefore never be eligible for the Kingdom of Heaven. Let’s do a brief survey of each section then.

Matt 5:3-16 The characteristics of citizens of the kingdom of heaven

Only those who are poor in spirit, who recognize their own spiritual poverty, who mourn over their sinful state, who hunger and thirst after true righteousness are ready to receive salvation. One can do many works that appear Christ-like to the world, but to realize one’s sorrowful state, repent and turn to Christ is the essential foundation, and is in itself a work of God in someone’s life.

Matt 5:17-20 Introducing how citizens of the kingdom of heaven practice righteousness

[Mat 5:17-20 ESV] [17] “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. [18] For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. [19] Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. [20] For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus begins the next portion of his sermon by stating that he has come to fulfill the law. He then sets up the next section by referencing “these commandments”. The language would seem to imply that he is speaking of the commandments he is about to reference. While one could try to argue that these are new commandments, one could better show how that these are the Torah commandments shown in their proper application and outside of the extra-biblical traditions incorporate overtime by the religious leaders in the second temple period. Jesus himself would go on to keep the law perfectly and die a substitutionary death for sinners. All would be fulfilled in him.

Jesus’ statement about one’s righteousness having to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees sets up the “you have said,, but I say…” portion of his dissertation. The commandment Jesus is about to reference is how one’s righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees. It would make no sense for him to say the statement and move on to another topic. The words that Jesus has spoken and will continue to speak over the next chapter and a half are what we must “act on” (7:24) so that we “do the will” (7:21) of the father.

Matt 5:21-48 Specifics on how to practice righteousness, particularly against the false traditions of the religious teaching of the day.

Jesus shows clear examples of the difference between doing works related to God and doing the will of God because of relationship with God. For example: they have heard it said that whoever commits murder will be liable to the court. This is true and good. However, if one withholds from murder in order to avoid punishment but secretly hates in their hearts, they are not doing the will of the Father regardless of any outward appearances of righteousness. Not murdering or not being violent may look good on the surface, but God is more interested in a genuine relationship. Hence a hateful heart, or lustful heart is the same as murder and adultery to him. It’s impossible to be righteous without a genuine relationship with God, without knowing (7:23) him. One could argue from Jesus’ sermon that one who truly knows God would never think they could substitute their righteous works for his.

Jesus shows us that it’s possible to keep the letter of the law and still be a transgressor of the law. If the scribes and Pharisees were keeping the letter of the law, those who would enter the kingdom of heaven must exceed what they are doing (). This can only be done by fulfilling the later half of the “you have heard it said… but I say unto you…” statements. A glance over the qualifications for the kingdom of heaven up to this point force one to realize that it’s impossible to enter in outside of the grace of God.

Matt 6:1 – 7:12 Specifics in practicing righteousness through living by faith.

These examples show the importance on valuing the unseen things and storing up treasures for heaven, not for earth. Some examples are giving, prayer and fasting. These should all be done faithfully to the invisible God. The spiritual reward is negated if done to be seen by others. Again, to be righteous one is seemingly forced to have a genuine relationship with God. There is no getting around it; whether it’s keeping the letter of the law without keeping the heart behind the law, or doing seemingly righteous works with the wrong motive, God will not except either. One who feels justified by external works and external appearance only is one who does not know God, and one who will give say “Lord, Lord!” and give their resume on the last day yet be turned away with the accusation of being a work of iniquity/lawlessness.

These teaching began with Jesus’ statement that he came to fulfill the law and prophets (5:17). This section ends with him in a sense telling them to do the same.

[Mat 7:12 NASB] [12] “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

Matt 7:13-27 False believers vs. True believers. Conclusion.

Jesus concludes by contrasting those who will not enter with those who will.

13-14) Many will enter the broad gate to destruction, only a few the narrow gate to life

15-20 False prophets will arise. One can differentiate between the good and the false by the fruit. Jesus led with the beatitudes describing the characteristics of those who would enter the Kingdom of Heaven (5:3-10). It’s likely that this is the fruit he is referring to, for it is evident that works, miracles and prophecy are not necessarily signs of a good tree. Again, it’s tempting here to jump to other passages like Galatians which talks about the fruit of the Spirit, and while that may be theologically accurate in terms of what to look for in a true believer, one should first look for the answers provided in context. Jesus has given us his own list of fruit in this sermon: treating others how you would want to be treated, faith, love (both friends and enemies) being poor in spirit, mourning, meekness, hungering after righteousness, peace, pureness of heart and suffering persecution are some that I see, although there are probably more.

21-27 is the conclusion of the matter and our key scripture. Only those who do the will of the Father will enter the kingdom. The will of the father is that we do what he says (Matt 12:50). Perfectly? No. Sincerely? Always. Jesus’ whole sermon (5-7) describes those who sincerely keep his word and those who misrepresent it by having a corrupt foundation. The ones who are surprised on judgment day may have thought they were sincerely doing the will of God; they had never been poor in spirit and hungry enough to allow God to work repentance in them. Again, the text says, “I never knew you”. This is not a case of starting out well then missing the mark due to performance, this is a case of never been reborn, never being a sheep, never being saved to begin with. In a frightening prophecy, Matthew records those who will do works or power, cast out demons, preach in the name of Jesus, yet will be turned away.

This should an admonition to us all to make sure our foundation is solid and that the relationship we have with God through Jesus Christ is built entirely on him, not any religious traditions we may have been incorporated into that modify the behavior but not the person. Those who truly have Christ as their foundation will do the will of God. Those who do not have Christ as their foundation may attempt to do the will of God but will really be working lawlessness.