Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Matthew 7:23

"And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." — Matthew 7:23 (ASV)

If vv.15–20 deal with false prophets, vv.21–23 deal with false followers. Their cry of “Lord, Lord” (v.21) reflects fervency. In Jesus’ day it is doubtful whether “Lord” when used to address him meant more than “teacher” or “sir.” But in the postresurrection period, it becomes an appellation of worship and a confession of Jesus’ deity. Already here Jesus is implicitly claiming to be more than a mere teacher, since his name becomes the focus of kingdom activity; and he alone decrees who does or does not enter the kingdom (vv.22–23). Thus the warning and rebuke would take on added force when early Christians read the passage from their postresurrection perspective.

The determinative factor regarding who enters the kingdom is obedience to the Father’s will (v.19; cf. 12:50). This is the first use of “my Father” in Matthew (cf. Lk 2:49); as such, it supports the truth that Jesus alone claims to be the authoritative Revealer of his Father’s will.

“That day” is the Day of Judgment (cf. 25:31–46; 2 Thessalonians 1:7–10; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 4:8). The false claimants have prophesied in Jesus’ name and by that name exorcised demons and performed miracles. There is no reason to judge their claims false; rather, their claims are insufficient.

Verse 23 presupposes an implicit Christology of the highest order. Jesus himself not only decides who enters the kingdom on the last day but also who will be banished from his presence. That he never knew these false claimants shows how close to spiritual reality one may come while knowing nothing of its fundamental reality (e.g., Judas Iscariot; cf. Hebrews 3:14).