NOT EVERYONE WHO SAYS “LORD”
The words of the Lord in Matthew 7:21-23 are indeed sobering. He declares that not everyone who calls Him Lord will enter the kingdom, but only the one who does the will of the Father. This is not a warning directed at the openly rebellious, but at those who appear religious. Some will even claim impressive works. They will say, in effect, that they spoke powerfully, acted boldly, and did many things in His name. Yet the Lord’s response is decisive. He never knew them, because they practiced lawlessness (Matthew 7:21-24).
This should not be dismissed lightly. It is entirely possible for a person to engage in religious activity for years and still fail to align with the will of God. The issue is not sincerity alone, nor effort alone, but obedience. Jesus immediately follows this warning by comparing two builders. One hears His sayings and does them, building on the rock. The other hears but does not act, building on sand. The difference is not exposure to truth, but response to it (Matthew 7:24-27).
To understand the will of the Father in this context, one must return to the teaching that precedes it. The Sermon on the Mount lays out the character and conduct that God requires. It begins with the Beatitudes, where the Lord describes those who are blessed. They are poor in spirit, recognizing their need. They mourn over sin. They are meek, not self-assertive. They hunger and thirst for righteousness, showing a deep desire for what is right. They are merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers (Matthew 5:3-9). These are not outward displays, but inward realities that shape behavior.
The Lord then teaches that His followers must be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Their lives are to influence others, not through display for its own sake, but through consistent good works that direct attention to God (Matthew 5:13-16). This already challenges superficial religion. It is not about being seen, but about genuinely living in a way that honors the Father.
Jesus goes further by addressing righteousness. He states plainly that unless one’s righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, he will not enter the kingdom (Matthew 5:20). The religious leaders were meticulous in outward observance, yet the Lord exposes the deeper issue. Anger without cause is condemned alongside murder. Lust is condemned alongside adultery. Truthfulness must be consistent, not selective. Retaliation is replaced with restraint, and love must extend even to enemies (Matthew 5:21-44). This is the will of the Father at a heart level.
Religious acts themselves are also addressed. Giving, prayer, and fasting are not rejected, but the motive behind them is examined. If they are done to be seen by others, they lose their value before God. The Lord emphasizes sincerity. Prayer is to be directed to God with genuine dependence, not empty repetition. The model prayer reflects a focus on God’s name, His kingdom, and His will, as well as trust for daily needs and forgiveness (Matthew 6:1-15). God is not impressed with display, but with devotion.
The Sermon continues by addressing priorities. One cannot serve both God and material wealth. Anxiety over physical needs is misplaced when God’s care is understood. The instruction is clear: seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, trusting that necessary things will be provided (Matthew 6:19-34). This again shows that the will of the Father involves trust and proper focus, not divided allegiance.
In dealing with others, Jesus warns against hypocritical judgment. One must first remove his own faults before addressing the faults of another. This does not eliminate discernment, but it demands humility and self-examination (Matthew 7:1-5). The treatment of others is further summarized in what is often called the Golden Rule. One is to treat others as he would want to be treated, which the Lord identifies as the essence of the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12).
The Lord also speaks of the narrow gate and the difficult way that leads to life, contrasted with the broad way that leads to destruction (Matthew 7:13-14). This indicates that true obedience is not the majority path. It requires deliberate choice. False prophets are to be identified by their fruits, not their claims (Matthew 7:15-20). This reinforces the earlier warning. Words alone do not determine standing before God. Conduct reveals reality.
When all of this is considered together, the meaning of Matthew 7:21-23 becomes clear. The will of the Father is not limited to isolated religious acts. It is a comprehensive way of life shaped by the teachings of Christ. Those who ignore these teachings while appealing to their works misunderstand the nature of obedience. The Lord is not impressed with activity that is disconnected from His instruction.
Should this produce fear in the faithful believer? It should produce reverence and careful self-examination, not paralyzing fear. The one who is sincerely striving to follow the teachings of Christ, who responds to His word and seeks to apply it, has reason for confidence grounded in obedience (1 John 2:3-5). The warning is directed at complacency and hypocrisy, not at genuine faithfulness.
Yes there will indeed be surprises, but not for those who truly take to heart the words of Christ. The issue is not how much religious activity fills a life, nor how visible one’s works may appear, but whether the heart has been shaped into love. It is not the loud profession, but the quiet practice of mercy that endures. To hear Him rightly is to reflect Him, and to reflect Him is to treat others with patience, kindness, and grace.
The one who builds upon the rock is not the one most occupied with outward acts of devotion, but the one who walks in humble obedience, showing compassion, forgiving freely, and doing good without seeking recognition. This is the life that stands, because it is rooted not in performance, but in love lived out toward others.
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Righteous Father, help us to hear the words of Your Son and to do them. In Jesus’ name, amen.
BDD
