Matthew 7:21-33
“Notice what you notice.” Here we have, in my mind, one of the scariest verses in Scripture, with Jesus speaking: ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness’ (v.23).
So what does it take for one of us to become an “unknown”. Not doing the “will of My Father” (v. 21)…? So we ask ourselves, “What is the will of the Father, what does He want from us?”
And who are the “many” to whom Jesus is referring: On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord,… (v. 22). Here’s my most positive take on these verses. Maybe these “many” are already in the group of “goats on His left” at the last judgment (Mt. 25:31-46), to whom He says, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels… (v. 41, ff.). If that’s the case, don’t be on His left!! Follow the example of the “sheep on His right”: ‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ (vv. 35-36). Let’s get to work!!
If any of you has any wisdom to share, please do so!!
Slava Bohu!
Yes, the “scariest” verses in scripture—those in which Jesus rejects people who thought they “knew” him. So Fred’s comments reinforce the injunction to “be doers of the Word, and not hearers only.” Still, the lingering doubt persists: what if in all this “doing” I have somehow neglected the “knowing”? I believe I have a strong relationship with Jesus and the Father. Guess I’ll just put my trust in that, and in His mercy . . .
I think this reading for today ties in with Patrick’s sermon – our, or at least my, need to repent every day for “what we have done and what we have left undone”. As you said, let’s get busy!