Article by: Kenneth J. Ester
Understanding - Matthew 7:21-23
Matthew 7:21-23 (NASB)
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 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; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
How often we see people post this to show how there will be many who think they are saved who will not go to heaven.
The truth is however, this scripture isn't even talking about true believers. It is not talking about Christians in general, and all you need to do to know this is just read the verse in context. In this case, try to start reading at verse 15.
Matthew 7:15-20 (NASB)
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.
You see, Jesus was not talking about believers. He was talking about false prophets! It is the false prophet who will seem to perform miracles in His name. It will be the false prophet who claims to cast out demons when they truly did not. It will clearly be the false prophet who will prophesy in Jesus name. It has nothing to do with Christians who don't go to heaven. It has everything to do with false prophets who pretend to do things in Jesus name when they don't truly believe themselves.
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 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; leave Me, you who practice lawlessness.’
How often we see people post this to show how there will be many who think they are saved who will not go to heaven.
The truth is however, this scripture isn't even talking about true believers. It is not talking about Christians in general, and all you need to do to know this is just read the verse in context. In this case, try to start reading at verse 15.
Matthew 7:15-20 (NASB)
15 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? 17 So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 So then, you will know them by their fruits.
You see, Jesus was not talking about believers. He was talking about false prophets! It is the false prophet who will seem to perform miracles in His name. It will be the false prophet who claims to cast out demons when they truly did not. It will clearly be the false prophet who will prophesy in Jesus name. It has nothing to do with Christians who don't go to heaven. It has everything to do with false prophets who pretend to do things in Jesus name when they don't truly believe themselves.
