Does God know you? Dieu te connait-il ?

Matthew 7:23 Communicates disassociation or estrangement.

John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Mt 7:23.

Obedience

Wise people hear His words and respond in obedience; foolish people disregard His words, fail to act according to His teachings, and suffer destructive consequences.

John D. Barry, Douglas Mangum, et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Mt 7:24–27.

The kingdom is not only words, it is expressed in deeds.

The disciple is one who interfaces deed and word, for the deed demonstrates the word and the word interprets the deed.

Jesus’ words in this sermon are not to be passed off as an idealism, rather, they are to become the guideline for the disciples’ life.

They make us aware that we live only by and in His grace, that there is no ability of our own to behave this sermon without the enabling power of the Spirit.

His call to obedience is evident and in this section Jesus makes clear that the deed verifies the word.

Jesus even says that many will have prophesied using His name, will have cast out demons in His name and will have performed wonderful works using His name, but they are not His disciples; He did not know them or own them! This awareness calls each of us to fidelity to Christ and faithfulness to His Word, to fellowship in a group of disciples and openness to the “binding and loosing” function of the believing community.

The brotherhood or fellowship of believers is not needed simply to inspire our piety or to excite our spiritual aptitudes, but is a community of counsel and discernment, of encouragement and guidance.

Myron S. Augsburger and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Matthew, vol. 24, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982), 18.