11 · Words of Jesus

I Never Knew You

Matthew 7:21–23

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Jesus stands before people appealing to him while the scene conveys the contrast between religious claims and genuine discipleship.

Some call Jesus Lord yet remain unknown to him.

Can mighty works replace knowing Jesus?

Choose a perspective

There is no score – choose the perspective you find closest and discuss why.

Discuss: What distinguishes acts in Jesus' name from actually following him?

After your discussion: compare with our assessment

Our assessment

A captures Jesus' warning that religious confession and impressive deeds are not, by themselves, sufficient evidence of genuine discipleship. C captures two expressions Jesus emphasizes: doing the Father's will and “I never knew you.” The passage therefore concerns both action and relationship with Jesus.

11 · Matthew 7:21–23

Go deeper

Text & context

Full translation

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. 22 Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” 23 Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you. Depart from me, you who practice lawlessness.”

Translated from the Greek text – SBLGNT

What is happening here?
Matthew 7:21–23 stands at the end of the Sermon on the Mount. Immediately before it, Jesus warns about false prophets and says a tree is known by its fruit. Here he says that even religious words or spectacular works in his name do not automatically demonstrate genuine discipleship. The people call Jesus “Lord, Lord” and point to prophecy, casting out demons, and mighty works in his name. Yet Jesus directs attention toward doing the Father's will and says, “I never knew you.” Immediately afterward comes the image of hearing Jesus' words and doing them, in contrast with hearing without doing.
Notice this

The people are not indifferent toward Jesus. They say “Lord, Lord” and three times point to acting “in your name.” The problem is not that Jesus is absent from their religious language. Also notice “never.” Jesus does not say the relationship once existed and was later lost. What this means in a broader theological discussion must be considered alongside other passages.

Language & translation

From the Greek

Κύριε κύριε – Kyrie kyrie

Lord, Lord Kyrios means lord or master. The repetition makes the address emphatic.

ποιῶν τὸ θέλημα – poiōn to thelēma

the one who does the will Poiōn comes from poieō, “to do,” and thelēma means will.

δυνάμεις – dynameis

mighty works Dynamis can refer to power, ability, or a mighty deed; the plural is often used in the Gospels for mighty works.

οὐδέποτε ἔγνων ὑμᾶς – oudepote egnōn hymas

I never knew you Egnōn comes from ginōskō, to know. Oudepote means “never”; Jesus does not say “I no longer know you.”

ἐργαζόμενοι τὴν ἀνομίαν – ergazomenoi tēn anomian

you who practice lawlessness Ergazomai concerns doing or practicing something. Anomia means lawlessness.

Translation note

Independent English translation from the Greek text, using SBLGNT as the primary Greek edition.

Compare for yourself

Read Matthew 7:15–27 and compare especially:

  • Kyrie kyrie
  • poiōn to thelēma
  • dynameis
  • oudepote
  • ginōskō
  • anomia

Notice how verses 21–23 stand between the teaching about fruit and the teaching about hearing and doing Jesus' words.

Continue the conversation

Discuss further
  1. Why does Jesus choose prophecy, exorcisms, and mighty works as examples?
  2. What might “I never knew you” say about the difference between religious activity and relationship?
  3. How should “doing the Father's will” be understood without turning discipleship into a competition in achievement?
  4. Can religious success make it harder to recognize that something is wrong in one's own discipleship?
Parallel passages
  • Luke 6:46
  • Luke 13:25–27
  • Matthew 7:15–20
  • Matthew 7:24–27
Sources
  • The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition (SBLGNT), Michael W. Holmes, ed.
  • Matthew 7:21–23
  • Luke 6:46
  • Luke 13:25–27
  • Standard Greek lexical resources for kyrios, poieō, thelēma, dynamis, ginōskō, ergazomai, and anomia