Episode 48 - Matthew 7:21-23 - I Never Knew You

Scripture: Matthew 7:21–23 (ESV) “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. 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?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’” Episode Summary In this passage Jesus brings a sobering challenge. He reminds us that spiritual performance is not the same as spiritual connection. The people He describes are active, capable, and impressive, yet something essential is missing. Relationship. Integrity. A life that reflects the heart of God. Jesus is not trying to frighten us. He is inviting us to a faith that is honest and rooted. A life built on knowing Him and doing the will of the Father, not on appearances or accomplishments. Takeaways Jesus cares about authenticity. What we do flows from who we truly are in Him. Saying the right words is not the same as living the right way. Spiritual gifts are not proof of spiritual maturity. God desires relationship more than performance. The will of the Father is revealed in the whole Sermon on the Mount. Recommended Reading and Sources N. T. Wright, Matthew for Everyone Dale Allison, The Sermon on the Mount Craig Keener, The Gospel of Matthew The Jewish Annotated New Testament HarperCollins Study Bible About the Podcast Gospel at a Glance walks through the gospels one short passage at a time, finding depth, challenge, and comfort in just a few verses. Follow for daily reflections that invite you to see how the kingdom of God still breaks into ordinary life. Connect: Email: [email protected] Substack: gospelataglance.substack.com Instagram: @gospelataglancepodcast Keywords Matthew 7, Lord Lord passage, Scripture reflection, authenticity, doing the will of God, spiritual maturity, Sermon on the Mount, Jesus teaching Hashtags #GospelAtAGlance #Matthew7 #SermonOnTheMount #ChristianPodcast #FaithJourney #DailyDevotional #JesusTeaching #SpiritualFormation #AuthenticityInFaith