Jesus is not merely warning people against hypocrisy. He is confronting a much deeper spiritual danger: the possibility of having an outward appearance of Christianity without an inward relationship with God.
A person may attend church regularly, know Scripture, preach eloquently, participate in ministry, pray publicly, give generously and even witness what appear to be extraordinary spiritual manifestations — yet remain estranged from the very Lord in whose name these activities are performed.
What, then, does Jesus mean?
Does He expect us to earn our salvation through good works? Does He mean that miracles, prophecy and ministry are unimportant? What exactly is the will of the Father? And how can an ordinary Christian be certain that his or her faith is genuine?
Let us examine this passage carefully, in its biblical context, and distinguish sound Christian theology from some common misconceptions.
PART 1: UNDERSTANDING WHAT JESUS WAS REALLY SAYING
1. The context: Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 7:21–23 should not be interpreted in isolation.
It appears towards the conclusion of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5–7), in which He teaches what life in God's kingdom should look like.
Throughout this sermon, Jesus addresses:
The character of a genuine follower of God.
The importance of righteousness that comes from the heart.
Loving our enemies and forgiving those who wrong us.
Practising generosity without seeking recognition.
Praying sincerely rather than performing for an audience.
Trusting God rather than becoming consumed by material possessions.
Avoiding hypocrisy and judging others self-righteously.
Building our lives upon His teachings rather than merely listening to them.
Notice the progression.
Jesus is not describing a religion built around outward appearances. He is describing a transformed life rooted in a genuine relationship with God.
Immediately before Matthew 7:21–23, Jesus warns about false prophets:
Matthew 7:15–20: False prophets may look harmless outwardly, but they are recognised by their fruits.
Immediately afterwards, He gives the parable of the wise and foolish builders:
Matthew 7:24–27: The wise person hears His words and puts them into practice, while the foolish person hears but does not obey.
These three passages belong together:
False prophets are recognised by their fruits.
False disciples are exposed by their failure to do the Father's will.
Wise disciples demonstrate genuine faith by putting Jesus' teachings into practice.
The central message is unmistakable:
Christianity is not simply about what we profess with our lips. It is about whether our lives are genuinely surrendered to Christ.
2. What does "Lord, Lord" actually mean?
Jesus begins:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven..."
Why does He repeat the word Lord?
In biblical language, calling Jesus Lord is a confession of His authority, sovereignty and rightful place in our lives.
It is more than acknowledging that Jesus exists or that He is a remarkable religious teacher.
To call Jesus Lord is to recognise Him as the One who has authority over our decisions, priorities, conduct, relationships and ambitions.
Yet Jesus exposes a contradiction.
Some people call Him Lord with their mouths while refusing to recognise His authority in their daily lives.
They want Jesus as Saviour, but not necessarily as Master. They want His blessings, protection and miracles, but are reluctant to surrender their own ambitions, desires and preferences.
They acknowledge His title without submitting to His authority.
This is the danger of a merely verbal faith.
Consider the distinction:
Merely professing Christ | Genuinely following Christ |
|---|---|
Says Jesus is Lord | Submits to His Lordship |
Knows biblical language | Seeks to obey biblical truth |
Wants God's blessings | Desires God's presence |
Pursues recognition | Pursues faithfulness |
Participates in religious activities | Cultivates a relationship with God |
Seeks personal glory | Desires God's glory |
Of course, genuine Christians do not obey perfectly. They stumble, struggle and sometimes disobey.
The difference is not sinlessness. It is the direction of the heart: a genuine disciple desires to belong to Christ, responds to His correction and continues to grow in obedience.
This is perhaps the most startling aspect of the passage.
Jesus describes people who claim to have:
Prophesied in His name.
Driven out demons in His name.
Performed many miracles in His name.
These are not ordinary religious activities. They are extraordinary claims of spiritual accomplishment.
Yet Jesus responds:
"I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!"
Why?
Because extraordinary religious activity is not necessarily evidence of genuine spiritual transformation.
There are several important theological lessons here.
First, spiritual gifts are not proof of spiritual maturity.
A person may possess impressive abilities but lack humility, integrity, love and obedience.
Paul makes this distinction particularly clear in 1 Corinthians 13:1–3. Even extraordinary spiritual gifts, knowledge, faith and sacrificial giving amount to nothing without love.
Second, doing something in Jesus' name does not automatically mean doing it for Jesus' glory.
A person can use Christian terminology, conduct Christian ministry and even invoke the name of Jesus while pursuing personal recognition, influence, financial gain or power.
Third, spiritual manifestations do not replace a relationship with God.
Jesus does not say, "I knew you once, but you disappointed Me."
He says, "I never knew you."
This is a deeply significant statement.
The issue is not that these individuals performed too few religious activities. It is that their outward activities never established the genuine relationship with Christ that they claimed to possess.
There is also an important distinction: Jesus is not teaching that all supernatural ministry is false. Scripture acknowledges genuine spiritual gifts and miracles. He is teaching that such manifestations cannot serve as the ultimate test of someone's standing before God.
A ministry can be impressive in the eyes of people while its minister remains spiritually impoverished before God.
That should give every Christian leader, preacher, teacher and ordinary church member reason for humble self-examination.
4. What does "I never knew you" mean?
This statement deserves particular attention.
Surely God knows everyone? Doesn't Psalm 139 teach that God knows our thoughts, actions and even the words before we speak them?
Indeed, He does.
Therefore, Jesus is not suggesting that God lacks information about these individuals.
The word know here carries the meaning of a personal, relational and covenantal connection.
Consider the difference between knowing about someone and actually knowing someone.
You may know a great deal about a famous person. You may have read their biography, memorised their speeches and studied their achievements. But that does not mean you have a personal relationship with them.
Similarly, someone may know the Bible, understand Christian doctrines, memorise hundreds of verses and participate in church activities without genuinely knowing Jesus.
A relationship with Christ involves:
Trusting Him as Saviour.
Loving Him as Lord.
Spending time in His presence.
Learning His teachings.
Desiring to please Him.
Repenting when we sin.
Allowing His Word to shape our character.
Growing in love, humility and obedience.
Consider John 10:14, where Jesus says:
"I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me."
This is the language of relationship, belonging and intimacy.
The Christian faith is not fundamentally about becoming religiously accomplished. It is about being reconciled to God through Jesus Christ and living in fellowship with Him.
The greatest achievement of a Christian is not to become famous for doing things in Jesus' name, but to become faithful in knowing, loving and following Jesus Himself.
PART 2: WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO DO THE WILL OF THE FATHER?
This is the central theological question arising from Matthew 7:21.
Jesus says:
"...but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
What exactly is the Father's will?
Is it to perform good deeds? Attend church? Give money? Evangelise? Avoid sin? Become a missionary?
All these things may have a place in Christian life, but none of them, individually, provides a complete answer.
We need to understand the Father's will from the wider teaching of Scripture.
5. The first and foremost will of God: Believe in Jesus Christ
One of the clearest explanations is found in John 6:38–40.
Jesus explains that He came down from heaven not to do His own will, but the will of the Father who sent Him.
He then describes the Father's will:
"For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day." (John 6:40, NIV)
This is foundational.
The Father's will is that we believe in His Son and receive eternal life through Him.
Notice that Christianity begins not with human achievement but with divine grace.
We do not earn our way into God's kingdom through religious performance.
We enter through faith in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8–9 makes this unmistakably clear:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast."
But Paul does not stop there.
The very next verse, Ephesians 2:10, explains:
"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
These three verses provide an essential framework for understanding salvation:
We are saved by God's grace.
We receive salvation through faith, not by earning it through works.
We are saved for a life of good works.
This distinction is crucial.
Good works are not the price we pay to obtain salvation. They are the fruit that should emerge from genuine faith.
Or, put another way:
We are not saved by good works, but genuine saving faith will produce good works.
This is the theological balance we must maintain when interpreting Matthew 7:21–23.
6. God's will is that we become more like Jesus
Salvation is not simply about escaping judgement and securing a place in heaven.
It is also about becoming transformed into the likeness of Christ.
Romans 8:29 tells us that God's purpose is for believers to be conformed to the image of His Son.
This transformation is often described as sanctification.
It is the continuing work of the Holy Spirit in our lives, progressively changing our attitudes, values, character and conduct.
What does this transformation look like?
Consider the following:
Area of life | What God desires |
|---|---|
Love | Love God and love others sincerely |
Humility | Put aside pride and self-importance |
Forgiveness | Forgive those who have wronged us |
Integrity | Be truthful even when dishonesty is advantageous |
Purity | Honour God in our thoughts and conduct |
Compassion | Care for people who are hurting or disadvantaged |
Generosity | Share our resources without seeking recognition |
Patience | Respond graciously rather than react angrily |
Self-control | Resist temptations and destructive desires |
Faithfulness | Honour our commitments and responsibilities |
Galatians 5:22–23 describes the fruit of the Spirit:
Love
Joy
Peace
Forbearance
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
Notice that Paul speaks of fruit, not religious performance.
The fruit of the Spirit is evidence of the Holy Spirit working within a believer.
We should not interpret this as an expectation that Christians must display all these qualities perfectly every day.
Rather, we should see an increasing desire and willingness to allow the Holy Spirit to develop these qualities in us.
God is not merely interested in what we accomplish for Him. He is deeply interested in the kind of people we are becoming through Him.
7. God's will is that we obey His Word
Jesus repeatedly connects love for Him with obedience.
In John 14:15, He says:
"If you love me, keep my commands."
This is not an invitation to legalism. It is an expression of the relationship between love and obedience.
Think about a healthy marriage.
A husband who continually tells his wife that he loves her, but habitually lies to her, disregards her feelings and betrays her trust, cannot reasonably expect his words alone to establish the authenticity of his love.
Love naturally seeks the wellbeing of the person loved.
Likewise, genuine love for Jesus should produce a desire to honour His teachings.
This includes:
Loving our enemies rather than nurturing hatred.
Forgiving those who offend us.
Speaking truthfully rather than manipulating others.
Rejecting greed and dishonesty.
Treating people with dignity.
Resisting sexual immorality.
Caring for the poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged.
Seeking reconciliation rather than harbouring bitterness.
James 1:22 puts it beautifully:
"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
Notice the warning: it is possible to hear God's Word regularly and still deceive ourselves.
This is remarkably consistent with Jesus' message in Matthew 7.
8. God's will includes loving God and loving our neighbours
When Jesus was asked which commandment was the greatest, He gave two interconnected commandments.
Matthew 22:37–39:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.
Love your neighbour as yourself.
These commandments provide a wonderful summary of the Christian life.
Our relationship with God should be reflected in our relationship with people.
It is inconsistent to profess deep love for God while continually mistreating others.
1 John 4:20 makes this point forcefully:
"Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar."
This does not mean Christians will never experience anger, disappointment or hurt.
It means we cannot deliberately nurture hatred and unforgiveness while pretending that our relationship with God is healthy.
A genuine follower of Christ should increasingly demonstrate:
Love without expecting something in return.
Forgiveness without continually reopening old wounds.
Generosity without demanding recognition.
Kindness without calculating personal benefits.
Honesty without compromising integrity.
Compassion without discrimination.
These are not merely admirable personality traits. They are practical expressions of God's will.
9. God's will is that we live holy and purposeful lives
1 Thessalonians 4:3 states:
"It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality."
Holiness means being set apart for God.
It does not mean becoming detached from society or believing ourselves morally superior to others.
Rather, it means living differently because we belong to Christ.
Our workplaces, businesses, homes, marriages, friendships and private decisions should increasingly reflect the values of God's kingdom.
Micah 6:8 offers a concise description of what God desires:
"To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
What a wonderful description of authentic Christianity!
Not an obsession with appearing religious, but a life characterised by justice, mercy and humility.
PART 3: COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT DOING GOD'S WILL
Some misunderstandings of Christian theology can discourage sincere believers. Others can create false confidence in people whose faith has become centred on the wrong things.
Let us examine ten particularly important misconceptions.
10. Misconception No. 1: "If I do enough good works, God will accept me."
This is one of the oldest misunderstandings of salvation.
Some people believe that if they attend church, give generously, help the poor, avoid wrongdoing and perform enough charitable deeds, God will eventually consider them worthy of heaven.
But salvation is not a reward for accumulated good behaviour.
Romans 3:23–24 teaches that all have sinned and are justified freely by God's grace through the redemption that came through Christ Jesus.
Our good works cannot erase our sins or purchase God's forgiveness.
The correct understanding: We do good works because we have received God's grace, not in order to earn it.
11. Misconception No. 2: "Once I am saved, how I live no longer matters."
This is the opposite error.
Some people emphasise salvation by grace so strongly that they overlook the importance of obedience and transformation.
They may reason:
"Jesus has forgiven me. Therefore, I can continue living however I please."
But this is not biblical Christianity.
Romans 6:1–2 asks:
"Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!"
Grace is not permission to continue deliberately embracing sin.
Grace is God's undeserved favour, but it is also the power by which He transforms us.
Titus 2:11–12 explains that God's grace teaches us to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions.
The correct understanding: We are saved by grace, and that same grace teaches us to live godly lives.
12. Misconception No. 3: "If I serve actively in church, I must be spiritually mature."
Church involvement is valuable. Ministry is important. Serving others is biblical.
However, activity should never be confused with spiritual maturity.
A person can:
Preach regularly but neglect personal prayer.
Teach the Bible but refuse to practise its teachings.
Lead worship but harbour bitterness.
Give generously but mistreat family members.
Serve the church but neglect responsibilities at home.
Jesus' warning reminds us that spiritual activity does not automatically establish spiritual authenticity.
The correct understanding: Our ministry should flow from our relationship with Christ, rather than become a substitute for it.
13. Misconception No. 4: "God's will is always whatever makes me happy."
Many people interpret God's will according to their personal preferences.
If something is comfortable, profitable or exciting, they assume God must approve of it.
But God's will is not necessarily the easiest or most convenient path.
Jesus Himself demonstrated this in Gethsemane.
In Luke 22:42, He prayed:
"Yet not my will, but yours be done."
Jesus was facing the cross, and His prayer expressed complete submission to the Father's will.
Sometimes obedience requires sacrifice, patience, courage and the willingness to relinquish something we deeply desire.
The correct understanding: We should seek God's approval rather than expect God to approve everything we desire.
14. Misconception No. 5: "God's will is only about finding my calling or career."
Some Christians spend considerable time wondering:
Am I in the right job?
Should I start a business?
Should I become a missionary?
Should I move overseas?
Should I marry this person?
What is God's special purpose for my life?
These are legitimate questions.
But there is a danger in becoming so preoccupied with discovering God's specific plan for our future that we neglect His clearly revealed instructions for our present.
We may be searching for a mysterious calling while ignoring the opportunity to forgive someone, help a struggling neighbour, fulfil a responsibility or speak an honest word.
The correct understanding: Before worrying excessively about God's undisclosed plans for tomorrow, faithfully obey what He has already revealed in His Word today.
15. Misconception No. 6: "Extraordinary spiritual gifts prove that God approves of me."
Matthew 7:22–23 directly confronts this misconception.
Spiritual gifts are valuable, but they do not automatically demonstrate spiritual maturity or guarantee someone's standing before God.
1 Corinthians 12 teaches about the diversity of spiritual gifts.
1 Corinthians 13 explains that these gifts must operate in love.
A person may be gifted without being mature.
A person may be influential without being humble.
A person may be successful in ministry without being faithful in private.
The correct understanding: Seek spiritual gifts, but pursue the character of Christ even more earnestly.
16. Misconception No. 7: "If I am suffering, I must be outside God's will."
Some believers mistakenly assume that God's favour always produces comfort, prosperity and freedom from difficulties.
Yet Scripture presents a very different picture.
Jesus suffered. Paul suffered. The apostles experienced persecution, hardship and imprisonment.
Faithfulness does not guarantee a trouble-free life.
Sometimes following God's will means standing for truth when doing so is unpopular, forgiving when it is difficult or persevering when circumstances are discouraging.
The correct understanding: God's presence and approval are not measured by the absence of adversity.
17. Misconception No. 8: "God's will is mainly about avoiding serious sins."
Avoiding sin is essential, but Christianity involves much more than maintaining a list of things we must not do.
Jesus calls us to love, serve, encourage, forgive, give and make a positive difference.
Consider the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25–37.
The priest and Levite avoided helping an injured man. The Samaritan, however, demonstrated compassion through practical action.
The lesson is not merely that we should avoid hurting others.
It is that we should actively seek opportunities to love others.
The correct understanding: God's will involves both turning away from evil and deliberately doing good.
18. Misconception No. 9: "If I feel guilty or uncertain, I must not be a genuine Christian."
This misunderstanding can cause unnecessary spiritual anxiety.
Genuine Christians sometimes struggle with doubts, temptations, weaknesses and failures.
Even the apostle Paul described the struggle between wanting to do what is right and experiencing the pull of sin in Romans 7.
The Christian life is not one of uninterrupted spiritual confidence.
There are seasons of discouragement, spiritual dryness and personal struggle.
The important question is whether we continue turning towards Christ.
The correct understanding: Spiritual maturity is not the absence of struggle. It is a growing willingness to depend on Christ, repent, receive His grace and persevere in faith.
19. Misconception No. 10: "Doing God's will means obeying every religious rule imposed by other people."
Jesus strongly criticised religious leaders who placed burdensome traditions upon people while neglecting the weightier matters of God's law.
Matthew 23:23 identifies justice, mercy and faithfulness as matters of greater importance.
Christianity is not about unquestioningly following every human religious tradition or pleasing every church leader.
Our ultimate authority is God and His revealed Word.
We should respect spiritual leadership, but no pastor, preacher or religious organisation has authority to replace Scripture.
The correct understanding: Test religious teachings against God's Word, and let Scripture rather than human expectations govern your conscience.
PART 4: MISGUIDED MOTIVES THAT CAN CORRUPT CHRISTIAN SERVICE
One of the most important lessons from Matthew 7:21–23 is that even apparently good religious activities can be driven by motives that are inconsistent with the heart of God.
We must therefore examine not only what we do, but also why we do it.
Jeremiah 17:10 reminds us that the Lord searches the heart and examines the mind.
Here are eight motives that Christians should guard against.
20. Seeking recognition rather than God's approval
Some people serve because they enjoy being noticed.
They want to be regarded as spiritual, influential, knowledgeable or indispensable.
They may volunteer enthusiastically when others are watching but show little interest in serving when nobody is around.
Jesus addresses this in Matthew 6:1:
"Be careful not to practise your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them."
He then gives examples involving charitable giving, prayer and fasting.
The problem is not being seen doing good. The problem is doing good primarily to attract admiration.
A useful question: Would I still do this if nobody knew about it and nobody thanked me?
21. Using Christianity to advance personal ambitions
There is nothing inherently wrong with ambition.
We should aspire to develop our abilities, achieve excellence and make meaningful contributions to society.
However, Christian service becomes distorted when we use our faith to acquire influence, status, wealth or power.
Examples include:
Building a ministry primarily to become famous.
Using religious authority to control others.
Preaching messages designed mainly to attract popularity.
Treating church positions as prestigious appointments.
Exploiting people's trust for financial gain.
Jesus warned against those who loved positions of honour and public recognition (Matthew 23:5–7).
A useful question: Am I building God's kingdom, or am I using God's kingdom to build my own reputation?
22. Serving God to obtain material blessings
Some people approach Christianity almost like a commercial transaction.
They reason:
"If I give more money, God will make me wealthy."
"If I serve more faithfully, God will ensure my business succeeds."
"If I pray sufficiently, God must give me what I want."
God certainly invites us to bring our needs before Him. He is a loving Father who cares about His children.
But we must distinguish trusting God from trying to manipulate Him.
Job's story is particularly instructive. His faith was tested when he lost much of what he possessed.
True faith is not merely loving God for what He gives us.
It is loving Him for who He is.
A useful question: If God does not grant me the particular blessing I desire, will I still trust, love and worship Him?
23. Performing religious activities to quiet an uncomfortable conscience
Sometimes people use religious activities to compensate psychologically for behaviour they know is wrong.
For example:
Being dishonest in business but giving generously to church.
Neglecting one's family but becoming highly active in ministry.
Harbouring bitterness while participating enthusiastically in worship.
Living dishonestly during the week but appearing exceptionally devout on Sunday.
This is a dangerous form of spiritual compartmentalisation.
We cannot use religious activities as a substitute for repentance.
In Isaiah 1:11–17, God rebukes the Israelites for maintaining religious ceremonies while continuing to practise injustice and wrongdoing.
God calls them instead to stop doing wrong, learn to do right, seek justice and defend the oppressed.
A useful question: Is my religious activity helping me become more obedient, or am I using it to avoid confronting areas of my life that need changing?
24. Seeking power rather than serving others
Some people are attracted to Christianity because of the supernatural.
They become fascinated by miracles, prophecy, spiritual warfare, visions and manifestations.
These subjects have their place in Christian theology.
However, spiritual power must never become an obsession or a means of elevating ourselves above others.
Jesus demonstrated the proper use of authority through humble service.
In Mark 10:45, He said:
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
The greatest example of spiritual authority is not domination but sacrificial love.
A useful question: Am I seeking spiritual authority to serve people, or to make people serve me?
25. Obeying God only when obedience is convenient
It is relatively easy to obey God when doing so brings personal satisfaction.
It is considerably more challenging when obedience costs us something.
For example:
Forgiving someone who has deeply hurt us.
Refusing a profitable but dishonest business arrangement.
Admitting that we were wrong.
Keeping a promise when circumstances become inconvenient.
Choosing integrity when dishonesty would be financially advantageous.
Standing up for what is right when doing so risks criticism.
Jesus demonstrated complete obedience to the Father, even when it meant going to the cross.
A useful question: Do I follow Jesus only when His teachings suit my preferences, or am I prepared to follow Him even when obedience is costly?
26. Comparing ourselves with other Christians
Another misguided motive is the desire to feel spiritually superior.
We may compare our church attendance, Bible knowledge, generosity, prayer life or ministry achievements with those of others.
We then conclude that we are more faithful.
But Christianity is not a competition.
In Luke 18:9–14, Jesus tells the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.
The Pharisee proudly lists his religious accomplishments. The tax collector humbly asks God for mercy.
Jesus says it was the tax collector, rather than the Pharisee, who went home justified before God.
The lesson is powerful:
God is not impressed by self-righteousness. He welcomes a humble and repentant heart.
27. Doing good things without genuine love
Perhaps the most important warning comes from 1 Corinthians 13.
Paul describes someone who possesses extraordinary gifts, remarkable knowledge, great faith and even a willingness to sacrifice possessions.
Yet without love, these accomplishments amount to nothing.
It is possible to:
Correct people without compassion.
Preach truth without gentleness.
Give money while humiliating the recipient.
Serve others while secretly resenting them.
Help people while expecting them to become indebted to us.
Christianity requires truth, but truth must be expressed in love.
Ephesians 4:15 encourages believers to speak the truth in love.
A useful question: Do people experience more of Christ's love through their encounters with me?
PART 5: HOW CAN WE KNOW WHETHER WE ARE GENUINELY DOING THE FATHER'S WILL?
Having examined Jesus' warning, we should now turn to a more personal and constructive question.
How can ordinary Christians examine their lives without becoming trapped in religious anxiety or constantly questioning whether they are good enough for God?
I suggest seven practical spiritual disciplines.
28. Establish a genuine personal relationship with Jesus
Do not allow Christianity to become merely a collection of religious activities.
Make knowing Jesus your priority.
Spend time reading the Gospels, particularly Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Observe:
What Jesus taught.
How He treated people.
What He valued.
How He responded to opposition.
How He demonstrated compassion.
How He confronted hypocrisy.
How He submitted to His Father.
Then ask yourself:
"What would it mean to follow Jesus in my circumstances today?"
Remember John 15:5:
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
Christian fruitfulness flows from our continuing relationship with Christ.
29. Read the Bible with the intention of obeying it
There is a difference between reading Scripture to accumulate knowledge and reading it to allow God to transform us.
Try this simple four-step approach:
Step 1: Read. Identify a passage and understand what it says.
Step 2: Reflect. What does this passage reveal about God, human nature and the Christian life?
Step 3: Respond. Is there something I need to believe, change, confess, forgive or practise?
Step 4: Act. Identify one practical action you can take today.
For example, after reading Ephesians 4:32 about forgiving one another, consider whether you are holding on to resentment towards someone.
Perhaps the appropriate response is to pray for that person, relinquish your desire for revenge or take a step towards reconciliation where appropriate and safe.
This is how Scripture moves from the page into everyday life.
30. Cultivate a consistent prayer life
Prayer is not simply presenting God with a list of requests.
It is also an opportunity to worship, express gratitude, confess our failures, seek wisdom and surrender our desires to Him.
A helpful daily prayer framework is:
Adoration: Acknowledge God's greatness, goodness and holiness.
Confession: Honestly acknowledge where you have fallen short.
Thanksgiving: Express gratitude for His grace and blessings.
Supplication: Bring your needs and the needs of others before Him.
Surrender: Ask for the willingness and courage to obey His will.
Prayer should gradually reshape our priorities.
Rather than simply asking God to bless whatever we have already decided to do, we learn to ask Him to guide our decisions and align our desires with His purposes.
31. Examine the fruit of your life
Jesus teaches in Matthew 7:16:
"By their fruit you will recognise them."
This is an invitation to examine the direction of our lives.
Consider:
Am I becoming more patient?
Am I more forgiving than I used to be?
Am I increasingly honest?
Am I less preoccupied with personal recognition?
Am I more compassionate towards people in need?
Am I learning to control my temper?
Am I becoming more generous?
Am I more willing to admit my mistakes?
Am I increasingly concerned about pleasing God?
Do not expect perfection.
Instead, look for evidence of genuine growth.
Sometimes the progress is gradual and almost imperceptible. But over time, a life rooted in Christ should increasingly reflect His character.
32. Practise obedience in ordinary, everyday situations
We sometimes imagine that doing God's will requires extraordinary achievements.
We think of becoming missionaries, preaching to thousands, establishing charitable organisations or performing remarkable acts of service.
But much of authentic Christian living takes place in ordinary circumstances.
It may mean:
Being patient with an elderly parent.
Keeping an honest account of business transactions.
Encouraging a discouraged colleague.
Refusing to participate in workplace gossip.
Being faithful to one's spouse.
Helping a neighbour who needs assistance.
Apologising when we have offended someone.
Treating service staff with dignity.
Giving someone our undivided attention.
Doing our work conscientiously.
These may seem like small things, but they matter enormously.
Luke 16:10 teaches that whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much.
Do not underestimate the spiritual significance of ordinary faithfulness.
33. Repent quickly when you recognise wrongdoing
A genuine Christian is not someone who never sins.
A genuine Christian is someone who takes sin seriously and continually turns towards God for forgiveness and transformation.
1 John 1:9 offers this wonderful assurance:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness."
Repentance involves more than feeling sorry.
It means recognising that we have gone wrong, acknowledging our responsibility, turning away from the wrongdoing and seeking to walk in a different direction.
Sometimes it also requires making restitution, apologising or correcting the consequences of our actions.
Do not allow pride to prevent repentance.
And do not allow past failures to persuade you that God's grace is no longer available.
34. Serve others with humility and love
Christian service should be an expression of gratitude for God's grace.
Look for opportunities to make someone else's life better.
You do not need a title, position or public platform.
You can serve God through:
Encouraging someone who feels forgotten.
Helping a person facing financial difficulties.
Visiting someone who is lonely.
Sharing your knowledge with someone who needs guidance.
Supporting a worthwhile charitable cause.
Praying for people experiencing hardship.
Being a dependable friend.
Showing kindness when you have nothing to gain.
Remember Matthew 25:35–40, where Jesus describes acts of kindness towards the hungry, thirsty, stranger, sick and imprisoned as acts done unto Him.
A beautiful Christian life is not necessarily the most visible one. It may be the one in which countless small acts of love quietly make a difference.
PART 6: A PERSONAL SPIRITUAL EXAMINATION
35. Twelve questions every Christian should occasionally ask
The following questions are not intended to make us fearful or cause us to doubt God's grace.
They are intended to encourage honest reflection and help us identify areas where our faith needs strengthening.
My spiritual reflection checklist:-
An important qualification: these questions are not a scoring system for determining whether God will accept us. Our salvation rests upon Christ, not our ability to achieve a perfect score.
Rather, they help us examine whether our profession of faith is being reflected in the direction of our lives.
PART 7: HOW CAN WE HAVE ASSURANCE OF SALVATION WITHOUT BECOMING COMPLACENT?
This is perhaps the most important pastoral consideration arising from this passage.
Some people may read Matthew 7:21–23 and become frightened.
They may wonder:
"Have I done enough?"
"Am I sufficiently obedient?"
"What if I have failed God?"
"What if my faith is not genuine?"
We must be careful not to interpret Jesus' warning in a way that undermines the assurance Scripture gives to genuine believers.
There are three important biblical truths to hold together.
1. Our assurance rests upon Jesus Christ, not our personal performance
John 5:24 records Jesus' promise:
"Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life."
What wonderful assurance!
Our confidence is grounded in what Jesus has accomplished through His death and resurrection.
We are not saved because we have accumulated sufficient good deeds.
We are saved because Jesus has done what we could never accomplish for ourselves.
2. Genuine faith produces evidence of spiritual transformation
Although our works do not save us, they provide evidence that our faith is alive.
James 2:17 says:
"Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
James is not contradicting Paul's teaching about salvation by grace.
Paul addresses the basis of our justification: God's grace received through faith.
James addresses the nature of genuine faith: a living faith that expresses itself through action.
They are addressing different aspects of the same truth.
A healthy tree does not produce fruit in order to become alive. It produces fruit because it is alive.
Likewise, good works are the natural outcome of genuine faith.
3. God is patient with our weaknesses and continues His work in us
Philippians 1:6 provides another wonderful promise:
"He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
This is immensely encouraging.
God does not abandon us every time we stumble.
He continues to work in those who belong to Him.
When we fail, we can return to Him in repentance and faith.
When we struggle, we can ask for His strength.
When we fall, we can seek His forgiveness and get up again.
When we recognise shortcomings, we can allow the Holy Spirit to continue transforming us.
The Christian life is not a performance in which we must prove ourselves worthy of God's love. It is a journey of grace in which we increasingly learn to love, trust and obey the One who first loved us.
PART 8: THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS FROM MATTHEW 7:21–23
Let us bring the entire study together.
Jesus' warning | What we should learn |
|---|---|
Not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" will enter heaven | Verbal profession alone is insufficient |
Only those who do the Father's will | Genuine faith produces obedience |
Some will boast of miracles and prophecy | Spiritual gifts do not guarantee spiritual maturity |
Jesus says, "I never knew you" | Religious activity cannot substitute for a relationship with Christ |
Jesus calls them evildoers | Persistent lawlessness is incompatible with genuine discipleship |
I would emphasise five particularly important lessons.
First, know Jesus rather than merely know about Him.
Christianity is fundamentally a relationship with the living Christ, not merely an intellectual understanding of religious teachings.
Second, pursue obedience rather than religious appearances.
Do not become so preoccupied with looking like a Christian that you neglect becoming more like Christ.
Third, pursue character rather than recognition.
A person's spiritual maturity is not measured by the size of their ministry, the number of followers they attract or the recognition they receive.
Fourth, pursue love rather than self-interest.
Our love for God should increasingly be reflected in our treatment of other people.
Fifth, depend on grace rather than personal achievement.
Never imagine that your religious accomplishments make you worthy of salvation. Remain grateful for what Christ has done and allow His grace to transform your life.
PART 9: A PERSONAL CHALLENGE — LIVE TO PLEASE THE FATHER
Perhaps the greatest danger in reading Matthew 7:21–23 is to examine other people instead of ourselves.
It is easy to identify religious hypocrisy in a preacher, church leader or fellow Christian.
But Jesus' words should first bring us to our knees in humility.
Instead of asking whether others are genuine Christians, let us ask whether our own lives are increasingly reflecting the character and teachings of Jesus.
Imagine what our lives might look like if we took this passage seriously.
We would be less concerned about being admired and more concerned about being faithful.
We would spend less time comparing ourselves with others and more time allowing God to transform us.
We would become more intentional about forgiving, encouraging, helping and loving people.
We would be less interested in using Christianity to obtain personal advantages and more interested in making Christ known.
We would recognise that our homes, workplaces, businesses, friendships and private decisions are all opportunities to honour God.
And perhaps most importantly, we would stop treating Christianity as something we merely practise on Sundays and begin embracing it as a way of life.
The ultimate question is not how impressive our religious achievements appear to other people.
It is whether we genuinely belong to Christ, trust Him, love Him and increasingly reflect His character.
May our ambition never be merely to do great things in Jesus' name.
May our greatest desire be to know Him, walk with Him, obey Him and live to the praise and glory of God.
A CLOSING PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your Word, which lovingly challenges us to examine our hearts and the authenticity of our faith.
Forgive us for the times when we have been more concerned about outward appearances than inward transformation.
Forgive us when we have sought recognition rather than humility, personal advantages rather than sacrificial love, and our own ambitions rather than Your perfect will.
Lord Jesus, we do not want merely to call You Lord with our lips. We want to know You personally, love You sincerely and follow You faithfully.
Teach us to understand Your Word and give us the courage to put it into practice.
Holy Spirit, transform our hearts. Help us become more loving, forgiving, patient, generous, truthful and compassionate.
Where there is pride, cultivate humility.
Where there is bitterness, cultivate forgiveness.
Where there is selfishness, cultivate generosity.
Where there is fear, strengthen our faith.
Where there is temptation, give us the strength to resist.
Where there is spiritual complacency, awaken in us a renewed desire to seek Your presence.
Father, help us recognise that salvation is Your gracious gift, made possible through Jesus Christ, and that our lives should become a grateful response to that amazing grace.
May our faith be genuine, our motives pure, our service sincere and our obedience wholehearted.
May the way we conduct ourselves at home, at work, in our relationships and in our communities reflect the love and character of Jesus.
Above all, may we never become so occupied with doing things in Your name that we neglect the most important thing of all: knowing You and walking faithfully with You.
In the precious name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Recommended further Bible study
To deepen your understanding of Matthew 7:21–23, I recommend studying these seven passages alongside it.
Scripture | Central lesson |
|---|---|
John 6:38–40 | The Father's will is that we believe in Jesus and receive eternal life |
Ephesians 2:8–10 | Saved by grace through faith, created for good works |
John 15:1–8 | Abiding in Christ and bearing spiritual fruit |
Galatians 5:16–25 | Living by the Spirit and developing godly character |
James 2:14–26 | Genuine faith expresses itself through action |
1 Corinthians 13:1–13 | Spiritual gifts without love are meaningless |
Matthew 25:31–46 | Genuine faith expressed through practical love and compassion |
Final thoughts:
"Don't just work for Jesus. Walk with Jesus."
"Don't just speak about Jesus. Let others see Jesus in the way you live."
May we all aspire to hear not the applause of people, but to live faithfully before our Heavenly Father, trusting wholly in the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
