Thoughts to Ponder from Matthew 7:21-29

Matthew 7:21-29 (ESV)

I Never Knew You

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 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ ²³ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Build Your House on the Rock

²⁴ “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.²⁶ And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. ²⁷ And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

The Authority of Jesus

²⁸ And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, ²⁹ for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

“Lord, did we not prophesy in your name?” (Matthew 7:22).

We might be wondering what Jesus means here. After all, prophesying, casting out demons, and performing mighty deeds are all things that the apostles did plenty of. Also, Jesus tells the apostles on another occasion that these very activities are some of the signs that will mark them out as his disciples (Mark 16:17). So how could he be displeased with anyone who seems to be doing exactly what he asks?

Jesus wasn’t trying to scare people away from serving him. He spoke these words so that he could make an important point: In his kingdom, action cannot be separated from obedience. Those who hear his word and act on it are building on a solid foundation, while those who don’t listen to his word have nothing to support them, no matter how magnificent their deeds may be. It’s not that they haven’t done anything – in fact, they may be very busy – but they haven’t based their lives on the right foundation.

All of this points to the very special way in which Jesus wants us to listen to his word. Recall that in his first example in this passage, Jesus didn’t rebuke the disciples for not knowing the Scriptures but for not knowing him (Matthew 7:23).

This is the key to the whole passage. Jesus does want us to listen to his word, but he also wants us to look for the person behind them as well, the Word within the word. He wants us to come to him through his word so that our inner lives can be conformed to his likeness. He wants to do so much more in us than teach us the right way to act. He wants to reshape us so that we know the right way to be.

Try reading this passage again, only more slowly this time. As you read, take note of whatever words or verses the Spirit highlights in your heart. What is he telling you? Is he asking you to spend more time with him so that you can come to know him? Is he affirming your desire to follow him more closely? Whatever you hear in prayer, resolve to follow through on it – and know that you are building your house on solid rock.

Lord, increase my desire to soak up your word and your Spirit. May you be present in all that I say and do. Amen.

From The Word Among Us, June 25th, 2009.