The Most Terrifying Verse In The Bible?

By Lindsey Adkins

Introduction to a Christian Tragedy

A quick search on the web shows Matthew 7:21-23 is regarded as one of the most terrifying passages in the Bible, shooting fear through the veins of Christians everywhere.[1]

7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’

7:23 And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23) [2]

It’s easy to see why the notion of people who thought they were on their way to heaven, but were really on their way to hell, terrifies so many. But like a Greek tragedy, could the commonly prescribed remedy for avoiding this tragic fate, actually be what brings it about? Are the things we do to stop this from happening, the very things that bring it to fruition?

The Fear of Many

Readers of Matthew 7:21-23 fear they will be one of the, many (v. 22) who thought they were saved, but in fact are not. If Jesus addresses those who are doing deeds in His name, we must conclude that these people are not entirely ignorant of Jesus. If they not only knew of Him, but even did many things in His name, why are they not accepted? This is precisely what makes the verse so terrifying. How can we know that this will not be our fate?

The Logic of Spurious Faith

Those who do the will of the Father (v. 21) enter the kingdom. In contrast, those who were told to depart practiced lawlessness. If we want to enter, we must do the will of the Father. And since those who practice lawlessness (v. 23) were told to depart, doing the will of the Father must be practicing righteousness. So those who practice righteousness, do the will of the Father, and gain entrance into the kingdom. Those who practice lawlessness will be told to depart.

Many Christians argue that the people in the illustration may have believed in Jesus, but not with saving faith. It was a head faith that never manifested in the heart. Their faith lacked real commitment and obedience which is evidenced by them being referred to as those who practice lawlessness. In other words, they had spurious faith. This amplifies our original fear; we could have faith in Jesus, but still be turned away, because it may turn out, our faith is spurious.

Since neither faith or regeneration can be seen physically, how can we know it has taken place? If we have spurious faith, how will we know? After all, we cannot wait to find out on judgement day; it will be too late. How do you and I know if we are the elect? How do you and I know we are saved? How do you and I know if our faith is real?

According to this logic, if we examine our fruit and see a transformed life with good works, then we have a genuine faith. We are never sinless, so it is not perfection that we are looking for, but rather a life characterized by good works. A person in-dwelt with the Holy Spirit walks in newness of life and desires righteousness.

If we have a spurious faith, our belief in Jesus might be nothing more than intellectual assent. If this is the case, our desires and works will remain the same, and our fruit could be characterized as bad. Like the many (v. 22), in the passage we may say, Lord, Lord, (v. 21) but our actions prove we are not regenerate; we are still those who practice lawlessness. Genuine faith produces good works. As the sayings go: “It is faith alone, but faith is never alone.” And, “it is not faith plus works, but faith that works that saves.”

The Cost of Reverse Engineering Salvation

Although you and I know that faith alone in Christ alone saves us, many of us desperately apply this logic and examine ourselves. Many of us see good fruit, but we also see a lot of bad fruit—selfishness, anger, a focus on vanity or materialism, and even ribbons of bad intentions and self-ambition woven into our good deeds. The result of our examination leads us to characterize ourselves as sinners with bad fruit. And if a good tree does not produce bad fruit, then we must have a spurious faith. What should we do now to obtain the genuine faith that produces good works, and a transformed life?

With no straightforward answer given, you and I easily pick up on the implied solution. If genuine faith produces good works, then we must produce good works. By default we start trying to bear good fruit, and have, a “faith that works.” We stop doing the things that would characterize us as those who practice lawlessness (v. 23) and start doing good works to affirm our eternal salvation. And so, we reverse engineer our salvation.

Many object to this accusation: “Accompanied works are not for salvation, but only prove that regeneration has taken place.” But since we are talking heaven or hell, you and I will do whatever it takes to enter. If our eternal destiny is based on whether or not we have lived an obedient life and practiced righteousness, then our works need to confirm this reality.

Sadly, this kind of reverse engineering twists the meaning of Matthew 7:21-23 into a Christian tragedy. [3] We are so terrified of our fate, so desperate to avoid being told to depart, that we will do anything we can to avoid it. But in our efforts to avoid it, we subsist in a terrifying limbo teetering between heaven and hell and ultimately bring the very thing we are so terrified of to fruition.

But, what if the commonly held teaching of this passage is wrong?

John 6:28-29: Doing the Will of the Father

In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus teaches that entering the kingdom is predicated on doing the will of the Father (v. 21). So what is the will of the Father? If doing the will of the Father is following His commands as revealed in the Bible, then what commands? The Ten Commandments? Or, all 613 laws of Moses? You and I know that no one obeys even one law or commandment perfectly. But, would we be “characterized” as someone who submits to God’s commands in general, or do we “practice” disobedience?

An undeniable level of subjectivity looms over the words “practice,” and “characterize,” leaving a breeding ground for uncertainty and tempting us to pop out the scales to see if our actions tip more towards obedience or disobedience. And, although we generally “practice” righteousness and would be “characterized” as obedient, because we still sin, our conclusions are subjective. Indeed, our salvation remains unknowable; uncertainty continues to govern our lives. Surely, there must be another understanding of Matthew 7:21-23, one that allows you and I to live by faith in our Lord, not doubt in ourselves.

Consider Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:21-23 in light of His conversation in John 6:27-29.

7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

7:22 Many will say to Me in that day, “Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’

7:23 And then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ (Matthew 7:21-23)

6:28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.” (John 6:28-29)

The unbelieving crowds are explicitly told the will of the Father in the Gospel of John, which is the only self-proclaimed evangelistic book in the Bible (John 20:30-31). In John 6:28, the crowds following Jesus across the Sea of Galilee suffer the same doubt you and I endure looking to our works or obedience for assurance of salvation:What shall we do, that we may work the works of God (John 6:28) ? They, too, want to know which commands to keep. What were the important works that would characterize them as workers of good, and not those who practice lawlessness (v. 23)? Jesus answers not with a prescription for good works based upon the Ten Commandments or even the 613 laws of Moses, but with a simple explanation: This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent (John 6:29).

Instead of equating those who do the will of My Father in heaven (v. 21), with people who subjectively practice righteousness (by keeping His commands, but not fully), what if people do the will of Jesus’ Father by believing in the Him whom He sent (John 6:29). Indeed, Jesus reminds the crowds later: And this is the will of Him who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him, may have everlasting life (John 6:40).

According to Scripture, if we take, but he who does the will of the Father, as those who subjectively practice righteousness, then no one enters the kingdom. Keeping the law or practicing righteousness according to the law is more than a lost cause and a hopeless pursuit; it is a foregone conclusion…there is none righteous (Romans 3:10) and (t) here is none who does good, (n)o not one (Psalm14:3). The Apostle Paul emphatically states, by the works of the law, no flesh will be justified (Galatians 2:16). And, the Apostle James is of no comfort: For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all (James 2:10). Our own righteousness in any form or by any degree cannot accomplish the will of the Father (v. 21).

You and I might know people who are not born again believers who attend church regularly and tithe, who work diligently within various Christian ministries, and who give financial support to the poor and needy. As much as the plight of these individuals saddens our hearts, like the Apostle Paul, we understand:

4:3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing,

4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4).

In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus addresses a seemingly righteous group of individuals who have prophesied in His name, cast out demons in His name and performed many wonders in His name (v. 22). Surely, the power to prophesy, cast out demons, and work wonders—all in His name—proves they are regenerate. Not so! Jesus affirms that not even individuals performing miraculous works can reverse engineer their salvation: I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness (v. 23)! Even those who have cast out demons or performed wonders will be told to depart if they have not done the will of the Father… if they have not believed in His Son for everlasting life.

Perfect Assurance According to Jesus’ Promise

Ironically, within Christendom, good works, such as loving the brethren, self-control, and desiring to turn from sin, are often looked to as the necessary fruit that proves regeneration. According to this way of thinking, assurance of our salvation comes from looking to our good works. But as you and I have seen in Matthew 7:21-23, whether we exhibit dazzling signs (performing wonders), or less dazzling signs (loving the brethren), we will still be turned away if we have not done the will of the Father. Where then, can you and I find perfect assurance of our salvation? In the promise of our Lord and Savior consistently found throughout the only self-proclaimed evangelistic book in the Bible, the Gospel of John.

1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

1:13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

4:14 … whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”

5:24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.”

6:27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

6:35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”

6:40 “And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

6:47 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.”

6:51 “I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

11:26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

11:27 She said to Him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”

20:30 And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book;

20:31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

(The Gospel of John)

Unfortunately, within Christendom, many people work to earn their salvation, keep it, or prove it. Instead of believing in God the Father’s Son, they reverse engineer their salvation and point to their good works for assurance. Their approach is completely wrong. Kingdom entrance is predicated solely on, doing the will of the Father by believing in His Son. Perfect assurance of eternal salvation rests upon Jesus’ promise of eternal life as the Christ, the Son of God.

Conclusion

In Matthew 7:21-23, the many (v.22) point to their works for the reason they should be allowed to enter the kingdom. But, like all of humanity, their works only prove they are workers of lawlessness. Their works can never prove they are regenerate. Only Jesus is good. If they had only trusted in the work of Jesus. If only they had believed in the One whom the Father sent (John 6:29). Like a Greek tragedy, their departing moniker, you who practice lawlessness, is not only appropriate, but a reference back to their very defense. [4] As if to drive home the point, your works did not help your case, but actually revealed your lawlessness.

But there is good news—we don’t have to be terrified of this passage. You and I don’t have to participate in this Christian tragedy. In fact, as believers we bypass this judgment altogether! Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life (John 5:24). Let’s not point to our filthy rags for assurance of salvation, but instead let’s do the will of the Father and believe in Him whom the Father sent. Only then can we be sure of our eternal destiny!

Copyright © 2022 by Lindsey Adkins